ImagesMagUK_May_2021

www.images-magazine.com MAY 2021 images 43 IS BRAND PROFILE brand quickly started to grow; sustainable styles started to emerge such as the W110 Cotton Gymsac and the W115 Cotton Stuff Bag. Today, the brand has a total of 84 styles which it continues to evolve, expanding its sustainable silhouettes and striking new colourways. What new items has Westford Mill introduced for 2021? Building on the success of the W150 Organic Cotton Mesh Grocery Bag, we’ve introduced the W151 Organic Cotton Mini Mesh Grocery Bag, a smaller version of the W150 which has a shorter carry handle of 38cm and features a cotton panel below the handle, ideal for decoration. The style is available in an array of earthy colours. All of our mesh grocery bags are made using 100% organic cotton and are Gots- and OCS-certified, meaning they are both ethical and sustainable, from manufacturing to finished product. The new W710 Organic Cotton Tea Towel is made from 100% pure organic cotton and is Gots- and OCS-certified. It has a simple, high-quality finish which is not only made to last, but also designed to look great in the kitchen. The W710 features a handy ‘loop’ for hanging it up in your kitchen and is machine-washable for easy cleaning. The print-ready, premium cotton surface offers the perfect base to have your designs brought to life. Are there any difficulties that you had to overcome when designing products made from just organic and/or recycled fabrics? Our goal is to use recycled or sustainable components for the entire product, however we can often find it a challenge to source sustainable trims such as zips and buckles. However, we continue to develop and improve our product offerings and are regularly reviewing options with our suppliers to ensure we offer increased options in sustainable styles. Our company ethos is to provide proof of authenticity when it comes to offering sustainable products, we therefore ensure our products are enrolled in OCS, Gots or GRS programmes. Are there any differences that decorators need to be aware of when decorating these items? There are no differences decorating onto these items compared with their non-recycled/non-organic alternatives. However, we would encourage decorators to consider complementary, eco-friendly consumables when decorating the products. Whatever the fabric base, all of the products in the Beechfield Brands portfolio are designed with decoration in mind and must adhere to our high standards of quality and durability. How has Westford Mill influenced the direction of the other brands at Beechfield Brands? Westford Mill was formed with a simple goal in mind – to create sustainable bags and accessories and thoughtful designs for a sustainable future with no compromise on quality, value and style. This focus has influenced our other brands to follow suit, designing thoughtful, eco-friendly products with the conscious customer in mind. Beechfield Brands has a long association the Carbon Literacy Project – is that something you’re still associated with and, if so, why do you think it’s important? We continue to support the Carbon Literacy Project as we have done for a number of years. It provides a crucial role in the education of individuals and businesses about their carbon dioxide impact and how to reduce these emissions. We have also rolled out Carbon Literacy training to employees at Beechfield Brands. Through Westford Mill, we are also members of the 1% for the Planet initiative – a non-profit organisation. We recognise our own responsibility to the planet and take it very seriously, which is why 1% of our Westford Mill annual sales are donated to projects that share and reflect our passion. It’s not just about money, though, we also make sure our staff are given the time and opportunity to actively volunteer in environmental and community projects local to them. What the best sales and/or marketing advice you could give to Images readers to help them sell more recycled or organic accessories from your brands? As with many things, it is a question of education and awareness. Our products are fit for purpose and designed for ease of decoration. As with accessories in general, the biggest help or advice we can offer is just to let their customers know we have recycled and organic products available. Often it is a natural add-on to a larger order, for example, adding an organic beanie suggestion to a workwear sweatshirt order, or a recycled hold-all to a gym T-shirt order. Just make the suggestion; let them know it is available and it is sustainable. www.beechfieldbrands.com The slimline BG283 Recycled Cross Body Pouch from BagBase is ideal for keeping small essentials close at hand The BG287 Recycled Twin Cooler Backpack is inspired by Scandinavian design The W151 Organic Cotton Mini Mesh Grocery Bag has a cotton panel that is ideal for decoration Westford Mill’s newW710 Organic Cotton Tea Towel is Gots- and OCS-certified