Tell us about your business

Department of Works is a small fashion label based in Brighton. We source high quality garments made from sustainable fibres such as organic cotton, bamboo or recycled fibres made according to Fair Wear standards which guarantees those involved in the manufacturing process a Living Wage. We create unique graphic styled prints for our clothes, drawing our inspiration from the counter culture, pop art, graphic novels, music and B movies we surrounded ourselves in throughout our youth. Our customers have included Rhys Ifans, Noel Fielding, Adam Ant and Nile Rogers.

How does Department of Works support nature and sustainable practices in the biosphere?

We use 100% ethically produced, organic clothing, and hand screen print our garments at a studio in Lewes East Sussex. Our focus is on traditional printing techniques right here in the local community.  This helps reduce packaging impacts and freight miles as well as supporting a fellow local, small business.  This also means we can work closely with the print studio which minimises wastage within the print production process.  We use only plastic free, recycled and recyclable packaging for our mail orders.

What is Department of Works doing to promote sustainable activity/development in The Living Coast?

We encourage all of our customers to think carefully about how they shop and how they use their clothing, both through our point of sale and social messaging as well in the garment labels themselves.  Examples would include the benefits of choosing natural organic fabric, to washing on a lower setting and certainly not tumble drying. Also better made, high-quality clothes last longer – what is the cost per wear? We recently had a customer come by wearing one of the shirts he’d bought from us over a decade ago – a great example of slow fashion! It was a little faded and vintage looking after so many washes but he looked really cool in it, even if we do say so ourselves.

How do you help spread awareness of The Living Coast and its values you share?

We share the objectives of The Living Coast and promote the biosphere values in our own business approach and marketing.  We also support The Living Coast by attending local events. Our favourite of late was the sound installation from Living Coast artist in residence Andres Saenz De Sicilia at the Onca barge.