Eco Fashion World

HARRY THE GLADSTONE BAG

How on earth does one run a lifestyle brand that’s ethical and sustainable – that helps save the earth?

Today my wife Nicky and I run our own brand, Millican, a company that produces classic travelling and outdoor bags but also encourages our customers to make conscious choices about sustainability and eco-friendly living. But that’s no easy road, as I hope this article honestly shows.

Prior to Millican, I oversaw global operations for Kangol Headwear, fulfilling work but a job increasingly demanding in terms of work-life balance. After Nicky and I swapped city life for a home in the Lake District, foreign work travels seemed additionally arduous. I began to feel – if I’m investing all this time in work, wouldn’t it be wonderful to build something myself?

Nicky and I had been inspired for years about three things – outdoor life, travel, and connecting with other people. So the seed for producing our own travel bags was already there. At the same time, overseeing increased turnaround times on fashion trends at Kangol left me feeling internally conflicted, given my heart for sustainability. I loved the creativity of the fashion world but wanted to see that creativity channeled in a more sustainable direction.

Out of these circumstances, our company Millican was born. Drawing on classic styles like the Gladstone bag, we wanted to produce bags combining vintage style and contemporary flair for the modern market. Through our company, we hope to generate a story-telling forum that contributes to the increasing conversation about business, brands, corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Being open on our website about our organic and recycled materials and ethical production processes hopefully raises the level of conversation with our customers and leads them to be more conscious about their own choices.

DAVE THE RUCKSACK

Let’s be clear, though. We’re no eco-warriors. It’s just that we believe in consumer power and take our generation’s responsibility to make more informed decisions about people and our planet seriously. First and foremost, we want consumers to be attracted to our products because they love the way our bags look. Once they’ve explored the bags’ features, we want them to admire them for their practicality and functionality. The fact that the products are made from sustainable materials in an ethical way supports their purchase but is not aimed to be the primary motivator.

Having said that, the key factors of sustainable products, for us, are: • A timeless style • Functionality, a real reason for being • Materials that last and wear in, not wear out, with use • Multi-purpose use – why one bag for each type of occasion? Why not one bag with many different uses (e.g. our rucksack can be taken out on the hills at weekends, and used as a computer work bag during the week)?

The challenges are legion. In our case, we pump a lot of effort into sourcing organic fabric for our rucksacks, vegetable tanned leather for our wallets, and recycled polyester for our travel bags. Unfortunately, I have to mention that 100% sustainability doesn’t exist. However natural the materials that a company uses, those materials still need to be produced, processed and shipped. That involves energy, fuel emissions, and a carbon footprint. We’ve therefore discovered that it’s all about degrees of sustainability.

It also involves our subtle ethical choices on a daily level. Is it better to draw on partners in Hong Kong and China with excellent access to organic materials and commendable ethical working practices? Or to use a local supplier with less of an organic track record? Should we work with larger companies that are tried and tested or privilege smaller organizations and individuals who come with less of a track record but who are high on values of personal integrity? It’s always a matter of balancing the ideal and the realistic.

So running a sustainable company has its daily challenges. But it does make sense in terms of not only our values but also our whole approach to life. We always wanted to be a company in touch with the things that matter. That’s why all our products are named after local friends in the Lake District, reflecting the fact that a well-crafted bag becomes a friend on anyone’s journey and adventures. If we can combine eco-integrity, fashion cool, and the human touch, we will continue to be fulfilled in what we’re doing.

This article was submitted by Jorrit Jorritsma and published to share the story of his company with the wider eco fashion community. If you're interested in seeing your story online, please contact our This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to learn what the possibilities are.

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