Neutral, the Spanish brand that will help you build a sustainable closet fund

"Neutral is born from the need to generate a change in the textile industry," says the founders of this Spanish brand.Friends of Childhood, Jaime Gil, Nacho Aragón and Rodrigo Fernández launched Neutrale in 2018, just after finishing their business administration studies, with the firm intention of raising awareness of society about responsible consumption, away from fast fashion: “We consider that we are part of the generation of change and for us it was something necessary, not for the brand, but as people.We want to change the way things are done and contribute our grain of sand trying to minimize the footprint we leave in the world.It is intrinsic to neutral DNA, all the products we develop always have to have something that improves the environment and serve as a means to educate our generation in the importance of taking care of our planet ”.

His unisex designs - "Our intention is to gradually create a community that shares the same values regardlessquality, and made in workshops in Portugal and Spain."Thus we reduce our environmental impact on transportation.We bet on these factories for their quality and tradition, share our values and also for their innovation in technology and ecological certificates, ”they point out.In addition, they work only with recycled or sustainable cotton, with natural dyes, which provide a unique finish to each garment, to which adds the absence of sales and the end of the collections for seasons: “We are lucky to have been born with thosevalues and we are educating our client to buy out of necessity and not for impulse ”.

At a decisive moment for the firm (they have inaugurated their first store in Madrid, at number 14 of Justiniano Street, in the Las Salesas neighborhood, which also serves as a base camp and office, and they are about to open a business ofRestoration, also in the Spanish capital - "we thought it was a different and beautiful way to evolve the brand, in a space where we will apply the same practices that we have created in Neutral, but lowered to the restoration" -), we talked with the three foundersof neutral about the current fashion industry and the importance of sustainable models.

How and when did this project come about?

Nacho had been going around a brand concept as a neutral and, at the end of the race, shared his idea with us.The three are some in love with the timeless product, value the quality and design of the garments and share a similar vision of the brand's objectives.So we do not hesitate to get into the project and develop Neutrale.In 2018 we launched the brand and continue working every day on it.We are proud to be working with such a clear mission: to promote among consumers the importance of conscious and ethical consumption.

What previous experience did you have each one?

The three we study business administration between London, Miami and Madrid, and we are the same group of friends, which facilitated Neutral.None had experience in the textile industry, so these first years have been a learning and they still are.We have been fortunate to be able to work with people who have understood and supported our project and have accompanied us from the beginning, teaching us necessary things for the development of Neutral.But we have also had difficult times.We know that we have a long way to go but every day is a new opportunity to learn.

What is the philosophy behind Neutral?

Neutral is born from the need to generate a change in the textile industry.Our mission is to raise awareness of the need to consume more ethically and conscious.We develop essential products for day to day: clothing, accessories and objects.Our purpose is to design timeless products, without collections and durable.Nor do we support the phenomenon of discounts.

Where does the name come from?

Of the purpose we have as a project, to create a concept in which you breathe calm, where we generate neutral, simple, quality and timeless product.

Why a unisex firm?

We consider that our product can be used by any genre.Our goal is to offer quality products but respect the environment and we believe that this goal of taking care of the planet can only achieve it if we join and work together to improve things things.Our intention is to gradually create a community that shares the same values regardless of age or sex.

What is sustainability in Neutral?

In neutral sustainability is the starting point for the development of all our products.On the one hand are the fabrics we use, organic cotton with Gots and recycled cotton certificate.The recycled fabric saves, during its production, 11.9 kg of CO2, 7762 liters of water and 29 kWh per kg.The result is a high quality recycling fabric and, above all, environmental respectful.On the other hand, production is made between Portugal and Spain, thus minimizing the carbon footprint.We have also started working with Dcycle, a company that is responsible for analyzing and decreasing the carbon footprint of our products.And our packaging is made of biodegradable materials.

One of your slogans is to consume less but better, can it be achieved that sustainability and profitability live together in the same project?

Yes, not only in consumption.As we told you earlier, our mission is to raise awareness among people that it is not necessary to consume why, but you have to buy because it is necessary.That is why we bet on quality, sustainable and long -lasting garments so that they become the perfect closet bottom.We want to educate our consumers in the importance of buying out of necessity and we believe that little by little, showing the advantages of durable and quality products, that need to buy for buying for buying will disappear.

How do you contribute from your brand to circular fashion?

We are aware that the fashion industry is the second most polluting in the world and that is why we bet on the circular model, which seeks to minimize the impact of the entire production process.Our last launch is a clear example of this bet, introducing into our products a special label in which little by little, as the garment is washed, a QR code appears that the customer can scan.Once scanned, access a guide in which the steps to follow are indicated to recycle your garment with us and thus reuse the product to create new thread for the fabric of future garments.Thus, we create a circular model in Neutral and this label will be introduced from now on in all our products.

In Neutral there are no seasons and discounts, do you think this is one of the solutions to the crisis in the sector and one of the roads towards sustainability?

Yes, but we believe that the problem is not in the sales and promotions but in that there are times or moments in which the entire industry has to make discounts to sell.It is a very complicated issue, we are lucky to have been born with those values and we are educating our client to buy out of necessity and not for impulse.

Do you think the trends are obsolete?

Not at all, there will always be things that will be a trend and that will be more fashionable than others.Luckily or unfortunately sustainability is something that is currently a trend and that is why our mission is to make our generation understand the importance of taking care of what surrounds us today and tomorrow.

Where and how do you produce?

We currently produce in Spain and in Portugal, thus reducing our environmental impact on transportation.We bet on these factories for their quality and tradition, share our values and also for their innovation in technology and ecological certificates.We use recycled fabric that comes from Spain and organic cotton with Gots de Portugal certificate.We continue to investigate new sustainable production techniques that facilitate the development of durable quality products with a small environmental footprint, incorporating new processes and materials that allow us to achieve our transition to a circular model without waste.

How is the creative process?

We do not always start from the same point.Our products usually start from the idea of covering a need.Sometimes we see a fabric that meets our quality standards and from there we develop the product.Other times our products arise in response to issues that we ask, what do our customers need?What do we need in our catalog?How can we improve that garment in front of others on the market?Throughout the creative process we investigate much, we tried, let's remake, so that in the end we find a product to feel proud and represent 100% neutral philosophy.

How would you define the firm aesthetic?

We are looking for simple products, with small differentiating details and accompanied by a colored palette or Mediterranean touch.

In Neutral you advocate for transparency, how do you get it?

We try to provide detailed information to our customers about our products.Where we manufacture, with what fabrics or materials and their origin.There is more and more transparency in the fashion industry.It is good news since many companies have had to generate changes in their way of working with suppliers.

On your website you talk to integrate the latest technologies in pursuit of sustainability, can you give us any example?

As we mentioned earlier, one of our latest news consists of a label integrated in the products with a black square.As the garment is washed and losing its properties, the black square reveals a QR code and when you scan the code you access a guide in which you explain step by step how to recycle the garment with neutral.In this way we reuse the fabric to create a new thread for the next productions, we create a totally circular garment.

What is your main market?

Currently 80% of our sales occurs outside Spain in countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom or Holland.

Right now a large number of signatures are emerging for which sustainability is in the center, how is neutral different from the rest?

Indeed, more and more often sustainable marks or firms arise that are beginning a transition to the sustainable.We believe that our main point of differentiation is that Neutral arises from the need to take care of the planet, to change the way things are done and our desire to contribute something positive in the fashion industry.Today, there are brands that are changing towards a more sustainable fashion not so much for that intrinsic need for the care of the planet, but because they have identified a need in the market and opportunity for them.

How have you dealt with the crisis caused by the pandemic?

We have supported ourselves in our community.We have tried to generate a conversation with our clients and we have felt very wrapped by them.We appreciate every support message, thanks for an order made or feedback that we receive.For us the proximity to our clients is very important and during the pandemic we get it thanks to our social networks.Today, we take advantage of each visit to our store to try to meet them more.

How would you summarize these three years of life?

These years have been an adventure and continuous learning.We have gone through difficult times as a result of ignorance about the industry, but those moments have been minimal compared to the rest.As we mentioned earlier, we have been lucky enough to meet people along the way they have perfectly understood the project and have supported us from the beginning and we are very grateful to them.In addition, the team has gradually increased and we continue working day by day to transmit the Neutral message.In short, these years could be summarized as the beginnings of a project to which we have a lot of love and in which we really like.

Have you thought about expanding categories?

In Neutral we never stop developing the expansion of our catalog.The development of our products is based on fabrics that we liked or of needs that we have identified among our customers.This is why we are going to expand categories.Over time we will complete the catalog of products we offer but we are not in a hurry because we want to do things little by little and well done, taking care of every detail so that the final result is a product to feel proud.

You also want to start in the restoration, why?

We are in love with gastronomy and more, of our culture.We thought it was a different and beautiful way to evolve the brand, in a space where we will apply the same practices that we have created in Neutral, but lowered to the restoration.This space will be called Neutral Casa and we will open it in the Barrio de Justicia in September.

What are your future expectations?

Continue to consolidate neutral.We want to create a careful brand, which makes sense, and this in the end is built little by little, doing things with great care and taking care of all the details.We want to create a community that supports sustainability and also other areas such as culture or gastronomy, in short: a union of people who share values and philosophy of life.

@oneway2mars @Bionerd51 A few I want him to clarify: 1) golo meeting requested? Date? 2) any problem with GTx? 3) h… https://t.CO/U1YUWXZOGB

— realridge Fri Sep 27 01:22:36 +0000 2019