One day everything new, will come from something old. This mantra is critical in our conception, and one we strive to reach everyday. If certain materials do not perform to the highest standard we will in those rare cases use virgin material, to strike the optimal balance of sustainability and performance. When and if there is a chance to replace that material with an upcycled material that performs to our stringent standards, we will be first to implement it.
It is important to us to only work with suppliers that meet our high standards for environmental and social sustainability. Throughout our design and manufacturing process, we support the local community by reducing waste from scrap yards and keeping our environmental footprint as minimal as possible by working with materials that are close to Montreal whenever possible.
The main material we use in our designs is ECONYL®, a highly sustainable and durable recycled nylon, made in Italy from Italian textile manufacturer Aquafil. ECONYL® is made from a blend of fishing nets, old carpets, and pre-consumer waste. Every 10,000 tons of ECONYL® raw material saves 70,000 barrels of crude oil, and avoids 65,100 of CO2 eq. emissions, compared to conventional nylon.
Econyl’s parent company, Aquafil, is a key partner of The Healthy Seas Foundation, aiming to eliminate abandoned fishnets causing unnecessary deaths and harm to marine life. Volunteer divers retrieve this marine waste from fish farming and fishing industries without disturbing marine ecosystems. The fishnets are subsequently cleaned, sorted, and sent for regeneration. The subsequent regeneration process is done in a closed loop system, which creates less waste and uses less water than traditional nylon production. Some estimates suggest that as much as 40% of plastic waste in the oceans today is nylon. Using ECONYL® allows us to remove existing waste from the ocean, rather than creating new nylon unnecessarily.
This impressive material is stretchy when woven, relatively tough, and easy to weave into tightly knit garments and industrial textiles. Not only does it come from sustainable sources, it is also infinitely recyclable. If someone no longer feels they need their BEDI coat or bag, our Second Life program helps to ensure our pieces are given new life, rather than ending up in landfill.
The ECONYL® material we use in our coats and bags is an incredible, sustainable material. However, being made from recycled fishing nets means that it is a synthetic material. As a result, it does have the potential to be a source of “microfibres” or “microplastics”. How do we reduce the sick of microplastic shedding from our products? BEDI uses a very specific and unique ECONYL® material. This fabric is made from continuous filaments, and is extremely tightly woven. This very compact weave is what makes our ECONYL® material so water resistant! These features also reduce the likelihood of microfibre releases. For more information on microfibres, and tips for reducing microfibre shedding, please check out our Care Guide page here.
We use ECONYL® as the exterior material on all of our outerwear, and approximately 48% of our bags are made from ECONYL®. We also use this material in some of our smaller objects, such as keychains.
Our Econyl fabric is OEKO TEX certified [Reference]
This is where BEDI began— with seatbelts salvaged from Quebec's scrapyards. When Founder, Inder Bedi, discovered that these incredibly durable and utilitarian components often end up in landfill, he was inspired to find a way to integrate them into everyday designs in a sleek and timeless way. (And he still personally goes to the scrapyards to cut them out of the cars whenever we need more!)
Salvaged seatbelts make the perfect straps for BEDI bags. Built to withstand harsh conditions, they make for reliable, durable bag straps, with a subtle, yet sleek aesthetic. By repurposing seatbelts as bag straps, we breathe new life into materials that would otherwise go to waste. This innovative upcycling approach helps us reduce our carbon footprint and minimize the demand for new resources.
We use seatbelts as the straps on all of our bags. Every coat also has a seatbelt detail near the wrist, as a nod to the beginning of BEDI. We also use seatbelts to make our keychains.
Isosoft is the multi-layer insulation fabric used in all BEDI Studios' outerwear. This insulation is guaranteed to keep you warm down to -30°C, and although it is much less bulky than traditional down, it is very lightweight and can be used in sleek and fitted designs without sacrificing utility.
Created in Belgium, it is made from polyester but designed to mimic the properties of down. Just like a down feather, it is made of very fine fibres in micro-spherical shapes designed to create those pockets of warm air. These fibres are separated by “air interlayers” which is what makes it so warm. It is hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and and it does not droop after exposure to moisture or after being washed (which means best of all, your coat won't need to be dry cleaned!)
Our 100% cotton knits are made in small batches in Canada, using sustainably grown cotton from North Carolina, USA.
By using sustainably grown cotton rather than conventional cotton, we reduce the use of harmful pesticides, help to protect soil and water sources, and support the well-being of the farmers and surrounding communities. We are proud to offer knits that are durable and comfortable without compromising on sustainability.
Desserto® is grown and made in Zacatecas, México, on the Desserto® ranch. We purchase our cactus leather directly from Desserto®.
Following the harvesting of the mature cactus leaves, they undergo a three-day sun-drying process to achieve precise humidity levels without the need for extra energy. Then they process the organic raw material to make it part of their patented formula, allowing them to create Desserto®.
The ranch operates entirely organically, refraining from the use of herbicides or pesticides. Any surplus organic cactus material not utilized in their production process is exported and sold domestically within the food industry.
Climate change poses significant challenges, with prolonged droughts and desertification threatening vulnerable regions. Nopal possesses unique characteristics that enable it to thrive in limiting conditions, making it a resilient solution.
With its ability to grow where other crops fail, nopal can help restore degraded land and conserve water in arid regions, and most interestingly, it has impressive CO2 sequestering capacity. Desserto® estimates that with their 14 acres of cacti, they are able to absorb 8,100 tons of CO2/year, while only generating 15.30 tons of CO2 annually at their farm.
28% of our bags are made with Desserto® vegan leather.
Desserto® is Certified USDA Organic, and a Certified USDA Biobased Product. Desserto® is also OEKO TEX certified [Reference]
Our merino wool is ethically sourced from Australia and is certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) is a comprehensive set of guidelines that guarantee the welfare of sheep, protection of the environment, and fair treatment of farmers.
Using only certified RWS wool means that our wool is sourced from farms that must adhere to a certain level of animal welfare. Sheep are provided with sufficient food, water, and shelter. Mulesing, a painful practice often used in the wool industry, is strictly prohibited under the RWS.
The RWS also focuses on environmental stewardship, ensuring that farms minimize their impact on ecosystems and biodiversity. Farmers are encouraged to adopt sustainable practices, including responsible land management and the protection of sensitive areas.
The RWS emphasizes the importance of fair and transparent trade. It guarantees that farmers receive a fair price for their wool and are treated ethically. By supporting RWS Certified wool, we contribute to the livelihoods of farmers and foster a sustainable future for the entire wool industry.
There is a reason that Italian leather is widely considered to be the highest quality. Salvaged from the furniture and aviation industries in Italy, our premium upcycled leather is a testament to Italian craftsmanship.
As a company that makes vegan coats, and started with a collection of vegan bags, a great deal of research and thought went into our decision to use upcycled genuine leather for some of our bags.
The most sustainable material is almost always the one that already exists. While we are proud to offer some bags made with beautiful vegan cactus leather, there is also so much good quality leather that already exists in the world. Despite the beautiful quality, it’s a material that would unfortunately typically be discarded, along with the piece it was a part of.
We have salvaged leather from couches, car seats, chairs and airplane seats. By carefully cutting around any imperfections, and using the large sections that are still in excellent condition, we’re able to repurpose this leather into beautiful, durable bags. It’s hard to describe the feeling of receiving large swaths of nearly-perfect leather, knowing that it was en route to the landfill, and is now in our hands, ready to be given a new life.
We use no “new” leather, and we never will. Our upcycled leather collection truly embodies our values of quality and durability and our slogan: “One day, everything new will come from something old”.
Approximately 26% of our bags are made with upcycled leather. All of our wallets are made with upcycled leather.
One of our newest materials, we’re excited to be using "deadstock" weather-resistant twill. This sturdy fabric was originally designed for outdoor furniture, making it the perfect material for our durable bags.
"Deadstock" is the term used to describe leftover fabric that can no longer be used for its original purpose, and will otherwise go to waste. By utilizing high-quality deadstock fabric, we are able to create high-quality, durable pieces, while keeping this fabric out of landfill. This "deadstock" material came from another company in Montreal, keeping true to our values of sourcing materials that are both upcycled, and whenever possible, local!
Our candles are made with 100% all-natural soy wax that is clean-burning, vegan, cruelty-free, and paraffin-free. Unlike the paraffin wax used in most traditional candles, soy wax is 100% biodegradable, and is a renewable source.
Soy wax, derived from soybean oil, is a type of vegetable wax. Following the soybean harvesting, the beans undergo a series of steps including cleaning, cracking, de-hulling, and flake rolling. The oil is subsequently extracted from the flakes and undergoes a process called hydrogenation, which converts some of the unsaturated fatty acids in the oil to saturated fatty acids. This raises the melting point of the oil and allows it to remain solid at room temperature.
We get our candles from wonderful local brand Verre Lune, a small, female-founded and sustainability-guided brand based in Toronto, Ontario.
The hardware on all our bags, as well as the metal logo on our coats and vests, is now made from recycled metal! Earlier versions of our hardware were made with laser cut Quebec aluminum, and we are happy to have found an even more sustainable option! We also use recycled metal for our brass hangers.
Many people love the subtle and sleek look of our metal logo on our coats. This is one of many details that is only possible due to our hyperlocal production. The shell of the coats is cut and sewn by our team, and then our unique metal logo must be affixed before the insulation and lining can be added.
Fun fact: We used Quebec aluminum (which we originally used for our hardware) to create the custom hooks and unique hanging racks in our flagship store in Montreal’s Mile-End! Read more about our store and see photos here.
OUR CERTIFICATIONS
We are proud to have the following certifications, with more in progress
