In a world where trends change as frequently as the seasons, it’s high time we pay attention to a movement that transcends the fickle nature of fashion. Picture this: clothes that not only make heads turn but also leave a positive mark on the planet we call home. Enter SANS FAFF, a sustainable clothing line founded in Singapore that “stands for conscious consumption, simplicity in design, and doing more with less.”
In the bustling world of fashion, where trends rise and fall with the capricious winds of style, there emerges a brand that embodies a delightful rebellion against unnecessary fuss and extravagant frills. Meet SANS FAFF, a clothing company born in Singapore that struts to its own rhythm.
SANS FAFF thrives on the philosophy that fashion should never be a daunting ordeal but rather an exciting journey of self-expression while being conscious of our resources and avoiding waste. Shedding the superfluous embellishments that clutter the industry, this remarkable brand weaves a tapestry of simplicity, sophistication, and a pinch of sassy charm. SANS FAFF celebrates the art of paring down to the essential, curating a collection that dances on the fine line between classic refinement and contemporary audacity while being sustainable.
What makes SANS FAFF special and sustainable?
They’re committed to being green. SANS FAFF uses lightweight bamboo fibre for their collections. But why bamboo, you ask? Other than the fact that bamboo fibre is utterly soft on the skin, and the more you wash, the softer it gets, the rationale behind selecting bamboo as a material is that, beyond its remarkable fibre durability, this plant boasts an exceptional reputation for its astonishing growth rate, rendering it a splendid renewable resource for clothing production (for brands adorned with verdant eco-friendly credentials, which, by the way, SANS FAFF possesses quite a few).
For mums and mummas to be, Sans Faff also has a “bump friendly” selection that allows you to wear these sexy and timeless dresses while expecting and after, thanks to the magic that is bamboo fibre.
We know how waste is a massive part of the fashion industry. In terms of textile waste alone, according to earth.org, of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. And Sans Faff is beyond aware of this, which is why they’ve set out and achieved being Singapore’s first waste-neutral fashion label in partnership with Nu Cycle. Nu Cycle is a groundbreaking global initiative that revolutionises waste management. It spearheads the realm of offset services by accommodating multiple waste streams.
With all of this in mind, Sans Faff goes the extra mile by implementing a plastic-free approach in both their packaging and hangtags, utilising recyclable paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). To further enhance their eco-friendly ethos, they have even introduced biodegradable mailer bags into their repertoire.
Let’s get to know SANS FAFF and their founder Brandy Dallas a little bit
Sans Faff was founded by Brandy Dallas, a former Tiffany & Co. Marketing Manager. “Working in luxury is a massive commitment,” Brandy tells our founder, and host of the Live Wide Awake podcast, Steph Dickson, during their one-on-one chat. She explained that while sustainable fashion has come a long way today, four or five years ago it was a different story, options were rather limited, and a number of slow fashion brands had quite a hefty price tag, which was how she unfortunately would still end up shopping at “H&Ms and Zaras”.
Steph sat down with Brandy to talk about the journey of starting Sans Faff, navigating through certifications, what she hopes for fashion in the next 10 years, and a little bit more.
SANS FAFF also lent Steph two of their bump friendly dresses to try on!
Really excited to understand and dive into your journey. So I’d love to start a little bit about your career in luxury and how you ended up starting a sustainable fashion brand.
Brandy Dallas (BD): Going back to my career, I was essentially a hardcore human rights activist and started my career in that space at the age of about 13. So for me, my interest in sort of making a change and making a difference has always been bubbling from a very young age. When I graduated from university, I started my career with an internship at GQ and Vogue in India, in Bombay. And that sort of was the game changer for me, because I loved every minute of it. That ended up taking me to work for a textile-integrated cotton factory in India for over a year. And from there, I basically moved to Singapore to start my career in luxury. So for me, it’s always been the same tangent of fashion and looking at the industry from all different perspectives.
Working at the factory and really seeing the back end of how things are produced and the human element that’s involved was really important. Now, at the time, there were definitely moments where I was like, “What am I doing in rural Punjab working in a textile factory?” But now, looking back, it all kind of makes sense.
I moved to Singapore in 2014 to begin my career at Marina Bay Sands, managing the marketing for luxury fashion brands at the Shoppes. It was amazing because I got to work with all of the major fashion brands. I got to see how Italian companies in high-end fashion work, and the level of craftsmanship and the quality of beautifully made items of clothing, bags, and everything else was incredible. From there, I joined Tiffany and Company and managed the marketing for Singapore for, I think, a little over two and a half years.
I can imagine that would’ve been really profound and life-changing. How did you go from working at Tiffany’s to deciding you wanted to launch your own sustainable fashion brand?
BD: It was a few things. Number one, I was working harder than I could have ever possibly imagined. Working in luxury fashion is a massive commitment. And for me, it was a mixture of, “Well, if I’m going to be working this hard, I would love to be working towards something of my own”. The other part of it would be that I personally struggle to find clothing that fits my aesthetic. At the time and now, it’s evolved considerably, because this would’ve been probably about four or five years ago. I was constantly bombarded by sustainable options that were printed, um, made from things like linens and fabrics that did not translate into the current lifestyle that I had working in luxury fashion and meeting like polished wardrobe essentials.
No matter where I looked, with the exception of Net Sustain, which also had a massive price tag attached to it, I was constantly being driven back to the H&Ms and the Zaras. I didn’t feel good about it, and I wanted to find an alternative, so I figured I’ll create it.
That’s amazing. How was that journey for you? I was really impressed by the extent to which your brand has gone. What was it in the beginning that wanted to make you do the sustainability piece? You’d come from luxury, and there’s not a lot of sustainability there, I would say. So where did that drive come from, and how was that journey to actually building a brand that is sustainable?
BD: I’m a firm believer that if you’re not a part of the solution, you’re a part of the problem. And that has always driven a lot of what I do, no matter what it is in life. Essentially, I believe there are no innocent bystanders. For me, I would say that I was ultimately driven towards sustainability because if I’m going to be creating a company, I won’t be able to sleep at night knowing that I’m just another part of the problem contributing to the massive issue of filling landfills and creating endless amounts of waste. So for me, I think that having integrity in what you do is so important, and being able to enter and start the industry and start this business, I needed to know that I can sleep well at night knowing that in my small way I’m trying my best to make a difference and make an impact, and that I’m ultimately accountable for what my brand does and how it contributes to the world and the impact that it has on the planet.
Yeah, absolutely. I think that’s really important. What did you decide to focus on? You knew you wanted to be part of the solution, so you started this brand. Where did that take you?
BD: For me, starting the brand, I always knew that I wanted to stick to monochromatic when we launched. I’m addicted to black and white, so that was a safe space for me. And you know, I invested in a few different weights of fabric that spanned across multiple, um, bodies and designs. So it was easier for us as a business to bulk buy our fabrics and then cut them into different designs.
When it came to black, I realised through my research that viscose has an incredible colour fastness. Being able to obviously create designs that will not only wash incredibly well, feel incredible, and also hold their colour was the priority. And the more I researched viscose, the more I realised how negatively they can impact the environment.
30% of the viscose in fashion is actually sourced illegally from endangered forests like the Amazon. The more I looked at it, the more I realised that wood-based viscose was not the answer and not something I wanted to get involved with. Then I realised that bamboo viscose was an amazing alternative. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. I can talk about bamboo all day long because I wear it religiously. It feels good on your skin, it breathes incredibly, and it’s ultra soft. It grows organically.
I’ve had the pleasure of feeling some of the incredible fabrics that you have, and they really are so so soft, so breathable. I think it’s really exciting to have such a luxurious-looking and feeling brand, but one that is made with a very, very sustainable fabric. I would love to hear a little bit more about the certification; it’s a minefield. How did you navigate through that, and what did you actually prioritise, and why was it important to you to also have these certifications?
BD: One of the practices that I’ve used with my brand is always looking at who is setting the bar for best practice in terms of whatever it is that I’m looking at when I build the business. And so there are a few major sustainable bamboo players on the market. And the more I research, the more I realise that what sets companies apart, especially when it comes to using bamboo-based fabrics, are fabric certifications. And so for me, we started with the FSC certification, which makes sure that no beautiful forests are cleared in order to make bamboo cash crops. So we know that it’s sustainably grown bamboo. The other one is our OEKO-TEX® certification. So no harmful chemicals are used in terms of wearing, using, or creating our fabrics. That, for me, is a good one, especially because a lot of baby clothes are made with OEKO-TEX® certification.
Another fun fact about bamboo is that it grows off of rainwater and doesn’t require boatloads of irrigation like cotton. It doesn’t require any pesticides because it’s naturally antimicrobial. So I think that for us, looking at how best we can legitimise and be held accountable for how we source, how we grow, and how we produce what we make, that’s ultimately what we had in mind.
What do you hope to see for the fashion industry in the next five to 10 years?
BD: I believe the Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Law, which is what they ultimately implemented in January 2023 this year, is just the beginning and the tip of the iceberg. And I think it’s incredible that one of the biggest contributors to luxury fashion is taking this step. And I think it’s just going to be a matter of time until other countries fall in line as well. And the steps that they’re taking as well are demanding transparency.
I think that with government intervention and creating policies that ultimately hold brands and consumers accountable, that will be the ultimate change that we need. And I think that we’ve seen this in other industries, like Big Tobacco.
There you have it! Whether you find yourself strolling through the city streets or going on a sexy dinner date, SANS FAFF has got you covered, quite literally. Impeccable tailoring, premium fabrics, and guilt-free from the environmental impact of the fashion industry—SANS FAFF whispers sophistication without uttering a single word. So, if you’re ready to bid farewell to the superfluous and welcome a touch of wit and activism into your wardrobe, step into the seductive and soft realm of SANS FAFF. After all, life is too short to be weighed down by excess; why not embrace the elegance of simplicity with a sustainable twist?