our second status update
Welcome to our second status update! In 2022 we made some big decisions. After having multiple meetings with suppliers worldwide and being ghosted, ignored and forgotten (because of our requests for transparency), we realized that sourcing hemp sustainably, ethically and transparently was not in the cards for our first product. When we wanted to know where the hemp was coming from, all that was offered to us was a transactional certificate (TC), a TC is a document that verifies that goods being shipped or delivered from one organization to the next conform to a given standard. We needed more than this. It was important that Nero and I could visit the farms the hemp was grown on and see the entire process of growing and harvesting, as well as the individuals whose hard work was contributing to the creation of our end product. So, we decided to steer in a new direction but will continue to look for a hemp supplier whose values more closely align with ours.
After deciding not to prioritize hemp, we focused on a material that has always been on our radar for Yannai, organic cotton. After months of research and meetings with six different organic cotton suppliers, we finally found one. They have almost 40 years of experience producing organic cotton textiles. They support more than 160 families across three different valleys in Peru. Their values around sustainability, ethics and transparency directly align with ours. Like Yannai, this supplier believes in educating consumers to understand organic cotton's benefits, including improving workers' living conditions, respecting the environment, and promoting fair trade.
We also finalized our sock manufacturer, who is not only Canada's oldest sock manufacturer but also happens to be located here in Toronto. Working with them has been great as they align with our mission and goal here at Yannai. We can't wait to show what we have been stirring up with them. We'll be back soon with another update!
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