The Story Behind those Masked Scarves
Four months ago I was a freelance design consultant with dreams of starting a sustainably focused luxury accessories brand in Florence Italy. I had worked within the handbag production industry and was propelled by the incredible amount of waste I saw generated through the luxury production process. Sitting in a pelleteria (leather factory) in Scandicci, an important manufacturing town next to Florence, I eagerly presenting my brand concept. I left with a verbal commitment and a clear starting path to the production process.
Then the Corona Virus hit Europe, converging ferociously upon Italy. We were ordered to close almost all commercial activities and to stay within 200 meters of our homes for nearly two months. A decade of economic momentum came grinding to an immediate halt. Factories equip to produce the world’s most expensive handmade goods began producing personal protective equipment both to stay open and in service to the immense demand of local communities. However, masks selling for $.30 per piece could never support a production model built around goods that cost hundreds of dollars to produce. Government subsidies, grants and loans were merely a band-aid. At some point, daily operating costs would far exceed any profit. Additionally, many of these factories production pipelines would slowly dry up as brands began to reckon with the economic uncertainty of an international recession.
This is the scene we returned to after lockdown. It was immediately apparent that in this moment, the world was not looking for a new handbag brand. However, our partner, an independent family owned factory, needed something to help them bridge the gap between cotton paper masks and luxury leather goods. In this context, we knew we could design a solution. True to the values of Sieme, all of the fabrics are sourced from over stock and left-over production from Italian brands, helping to reduce material waste and giving us access to luxurious fabrications at approachable price points.
In addition to these commitments, our aspiration with Sieme is to design products as solutions to problems we see within our communities. In this way, we have pledged a portion of all profits from the masked scarves to the Clean Air Task Force. While we whole heartedly support the fight against Covid-19, many international governing bodies, non-profit and private sector industries are all working tirelessly to eradicate this pandemic. However, we have an even greater threat looming on the horizon. If we do not drastically reduce global carbon emissions by the year 2030, it is increasingly likely that face masks will become necessary future wardrobe staples. At Sieme, we would love nothing more than to render our masked scarves useless and get back to making the handmade Italian leather goods we are so passionate about. The Clean Air Task Force is working with national governments and the private sector to craft legislation and policies that can reduce and reverse carbon emissions by advocating for technologies like carbon capture. We urge you to read more about their efforts at www.catf.org. They are widely regarded as one of the most effective climate think tanks and organizations working to reduce carbon emissions.
While it is not the start we imagined, we are proud to launch Sieme in alignment with our founding beliefs. These masked scarves actively support our local factories immediate needs, reduce local material waste and advocate for reducing carbon emissions. We also pledge to recycle our fabric waste and utilize recycled and compostable tags, labels and packaging. We appreciate your support as we embark on this new journey. While it may feel as if the world is crumbling around us, at Sieme, we choose to look at this time as an opportunity to step up and begin to craft a new future and a better normal. We hope you will connect with us, follow our journey and join us.
All the creative vibes,
Cassandra Kane
Founder and Designer - Sieme
