The House of LR&C | Our Impact

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OUR IMPACT
ON THE PLANET

Last Updated: January 2022

OUR SUSTAINABILITY PHILOSOPHY

For us, sustainability is an ongoing practice, a journey that’s all about moving in the right direction.  

 

As a new concept in retail, we feel lucky that we’re able to build truly sustainable brands from the ground up, while also leveraging years of industry experience and the massive efforts of others. 

And while we’re proud of the progress we’ve made, we know it’s just the beginning. We’re committed to achieving all our goals, big and small, and holding ourselves accountable along the way. So check back often to see how we’re evolving. We promise we’ll always be looking ahead, always moving forward.

Wonder what we’re focused on right now? Read our CSO's Sustainability Update.

Our CSO's Sustainability Update
CREATE FASHION BRANDS WITH SUSTAINABILITY IN THEIR DNA

AT THE HOUSE LEVEL

PUBLIC BENEFITS CORPORATION

complete

We registered as a Public Benefits Corp which means we’re legally obligated to consider the triple bottom line—people, planet, and profits—when making all decisions.

UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

ongoing

We define sustainability the same way the UN does. No vague, self-created terms. Only vetted, science-based targets.  

OUR TEAM

ongoing

Sustainability is a mindset not a department. It lives in every aspect of the business and is dispersed throughout the organization. Quarterly sustainability summits ensure engagement, transparency, and accountability to tangible targets.

THE GOODS MANDATE

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We believe sustainability and transparency go hand in hand. Our Goods Mandate outlines where we are today while helping us chart the course for a better tomorrow.  

CERTIFIED BCORP

complete

We’re a proud member of the B Corp community, a group of companies focused on using the power of business as a force for social, environmental, and economic good.

THE HOUSE BRANDS

HUMAN NATION

ongoing

100% of our of Human Nation fabrics meet our Best or Better standards (as defined in our Goods Mandate). In fact, 98% are at our highest level, Best. Plus, 100% compostable or recycled packaging. 

GOOD MAN BRAND

ongoing

We’re working on sourcing at least 70% of Good Man Brand fabrics from our Best or Better categories (as defined in our Goods Mandate), with a long term goal of 100%.

LITA BY CIARA

ongoing

More than 65% of The House of LR&C’s newest brand uses fabrics from our Best or Better categories (as defined in our Goods Mandate), plus 100% compostable or recycled packaging. 

ENSURE OUR PRODUCTS NEVER ENTER THE WASTE STREAM

RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTION

A NEW FASHION CALENDAR

ongoing

We only drop small, limited-edition collections twice a year to complement a core assortment of relevant, beautifully crafted silhouettes cut from proprietary fabrics. 

WE MAKE WHAT WE CAN SELL

ongoing

With the help of technology and community feedback, we produce small batches, buying as close to demand as possible to prevent overproduction and waste.  

PIECES THAT LAST

ongoing

We design beautiful, expertly crafted products that last the test of time—or what we call “vintage-now” pieces. Essentially, heirlooms in the making. 

CONSUMER USE

WASH LESS, WEAR MORE

ongoing

About 25% of clothing’s carbon footprint comes from washing and drying. We use stain-repellant and odor-resistant technologies so you can go longer between loads.

AVOID THE LANDFILL

ongoing

Some wear and tear on well-loved pieces might need a stitch or two, but not a forever farewell. We’re all about repairing and reusing.

RECIRCULATE

future

We want to help build a circular economy—one that designs out waste and pollution, keeps materials and products in use for longer, and regenerates natural systems. 

GIVING BACK

ongoing

We partner with community-based, grassroots organizations that make excess product available to communities in need. To date, we’ve donated over 1,000 pieces of clothing.  

MATURE INTO A CARBON NEUTRAL ORGANIZATION

TRANSPORTATION & DISTRIBUTION

GET CLOSER TO HOME

in progress

We’re tracking the impact of our transportation choices (sea, air, rail), consolidating shipments when possible, and expanding the number of distribution partners.   

LIKE-MINDED PARTNERS

ongoing

We partner with retailers—like Nordstrom and Kohl’s—that take sustainability seriously and have their own goals.  

CLEAN ENERGY

future

We have big long-term goals, like using only clean energy to transport and distribute our products. The fewer trains, planes, and automobiles, the better.

PACKAGING

REDUCE WASTE

in progress

From tissue paper and polybags to tags and labels, we aim to use as little packaging as possible. We reassess our strategy seasonally to make sure we’re maxing out every opportunity.  

PLANET-FIRST PACKAGING

in progress

Our mailers are 100% compostable and break down within 90 and 180 days in commercial composting environments and home composting environments, respectively.

TAGS & LABELS

in progress

Sustainable clothes need sustainable labeling. We’ve removed all unnecessary tags and labels, and when we do use them, they’re made with 100% recycled and recyclable materials. 

MANUFACTURING

TRACEABILITY

in progress

Answering the question, “Who made our clothes?” is crucial. So, we want to know where and how our products are made at every stage of the supply chain. 

FACTORIES, FARMS & MILLS

ongoing

Partnering closely and critically with our suppliers and factories is a huge contributor to realizing our overall mission: make large-scale, positive impact.

DESIGN

FIBER STANDARDS

ongoing

The biggest contributor to a product’s overall impact is its materials. Whenever possible, we use more sustainable options, as outlined in our standards guide, The Goods Mandate.

THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATIONS

ongoing

Verifications from independent third parties can be one of the most powerful ways to ensure the integrity of a product or brand.

AIM FOR PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION

A Message from Therese Hayes, Our Chief Sustainability Officer



We’re a Black-owned, women-led, consciously created fashion brand that makes beautiful products using the best practices.
Because we shouldn’t have to choose between fashion and responsibility.

We’re a Public Benefits Corporation and Pending B Corporation.
Because we always want to be held accountable.

We believe that fashion can be made with love for both people and the planet.
Because our world shouldn’t have to pay the price for fashion.

We’re what the world needs now—a fashion brand built for impact.



In August of 2019, Christine Day asked me to join her on a new venture: to create a company with a conscience. Given that I initially met Christine when she hired me to establish athletic apparel retailer Lululemon Athletica’s first sustainability platform, I was all in. I couldn’t think of anything more thrilling than the chance to create something from the ground up that reflects our shared values—to create an apparel company that’s good for both people and the planet.

I know sustainability is an overused word, and personally, I don’t love it (it can be broad, lack meaning, and to be honest, doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue). But I do love the concept. At The House of LR&C, we interpret and apply this concept in its furthest-reaching and most comprehensive form—socially, economically, and environmentally. We believe this is the key to making real impact, a guiding principle that’s uniquely us: make a positive/high impact on people and a neutral/low impact on our planet.

In some ways, being a sustainable brand is easier for us because we don’t have to dismantle existing processes or convince a group of shareholders to change course. For us, sustainability is already the heart of the company. That said, it’s true that as a start-up in a crowded, greenwashed market, we’re charting the new and bumpy territory of creating relevant, desirable, and truly sustainable fashion—while also achieving more accessible margins.

We’re more than up for the challenge, though, because we’re committed to this ongoing journey. So, while we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in our first year—and we’ll celebrate progress as we make it—we know we’re just getting started. And because we believe it’s crucial to stay transparent and accountable, we’ll keep you updated on what and how we’re doing as we go.

There’s a lot more to come, but for now, I’m excited to share our first sustainability update with you. Thank you so much for being here.

Always working towards better,

Therese Hayes, CSO

WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON RIGHT NOW

PEOPLE

INCLUSIVITY

As a Black-owned, women-led, diverse, and inclusive company, we’re guided by our integrated approach to sustainability. We live by a series of ethical and anti-racist commitments that inform...

TEAM LEARNING

Our quarterly, company-wide sustainability summits keep us up to speed. Content includes things like new developments in the sustainability sphere, speakers from leading sustainable...

SUPPLY-CHAIN RELATIONSHIPS

We know that garment manufacturing has a long and exploitative history, so we’ve implemented strict codes of conduct and regular supplier audits to ensure we’re only partnering with...

GIVING BACK

We donate 3% of our revenue (meaning the total income from company sales—not just our net profit) to the direct support of marginalized communities through the Why Not You Foundation.

PLANET

BETTER MATERIAL STANDARDS

We started our environmental efforts where we knew we could make the most impact. Since most of a product’s life-cycle impact is determined by its materials, we created...

CIRCULARITY

What happens to a product post purchase is the second highest area of impact in its life cycle. Because we’re not about the fast-fashion / high-waste game, we create products that last...

PACKAGING & GARMENT CARE

We use 100% recycled or compostable packaging materials, and we’re working on reducing overall packaging, hang tags, and hangers, too. We also leverage stain and odor-repellent...

SHORT-TERM GOALS

USE MORE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

We plan to remove virgin plastic and virgin polyester from our supply chain. And while our 70%-sustainable-materials mandate already surpasses the industry standard, we...

MEASURE OUR FOOTPRINTS & SET REDUCTION TARGETS

Transparency and traceability are key factors in differentiating greenwashing from real sustainability efforts. We’ll expand our sustainability team to include...

CREATE A CIRCULAR PRODUCT LINE

One of fashion’s biggest issues is waste. The stats are staggering: one garbage truck of textiles is burned or dumped in a landfill every second, and less than 1% of clothing material is ever...