Sustainability

Our focus on fit and natural fabrics means that NRBY garments are about style, not fashion. This means these timeless shapes, in silk, cotton and cashmere will be part of your wardrobe for so much longer, and are designed to be worn every day.

Our ethos

  • We all need to figure out a lifestyle that is sustainable.
  • Here at NRBY, we have a strong commitment to reducing our impact on the planet. This is founded upon our underlying ethos of using natural fabrics that are washable and wearable – lasting forever.
  • We’re underpinned by an assurance that our clothes are high-quality, versatile, sustainable through use and ethically produced. And by making clothes you want to keep, help to reduce the volume of clothes consigned to landfill.

Our Fabrics

  • The first step to sustainability in our brand of fashion is avoiding man-made fibres wherever possible – our focus on low impact, recyclable, lasting materials; silk, cotton, linen, is just part of our commitment to reducing our environmental impression.
  • Our cottons come from Europe, Tunisia, and India. Our cotton, denim, twill, and jersey are all made using BC Cotton (part of the Better Cotton Initiative, upholding standards, and practices in cotton farming).
  • Meanwhile our linens, produced from flax, don’t cause any harm to nature. This is because growing the plant doesn’t exhaust the soil, and flax works as a rotation crop. Swapping the plant every 6-7 years can boost soil quality.
  • Linen plants grow quickly, naturally so there is no need to feed them or treat them with pesticides and do not require irrigation as the crop grows with rain fall alone.
  • The reduction in water wastage and fully biodegradable nature of the fabric makes linen one of our absolute favourites for good reason!
  • 97% of our range is washable too – this helps us to avoid the need for dry cleaning and harmful chemicals…

Why it matters to you

"Natural fabrics" is a phrase used often in fashion - but rarely explained in a way that actually means something for real life. At NRBY, it's not a trend or a tick-box. It's a design choice that affects how our clothes feel, how long they last, and how they live in your wardrobe. Here's what we mean - and why we believe it truly makes a difference for you.

Natural Fabrics - These come from plants or animals and include cotton, linen, silk, cashmere and wool. They're breathable, biodegradable, and designed by nature to work with the body.

Synthetic Fabrics - These are man-made fibres, often derived from fossil fuels. Think polyester, acrylic, nylon, and even recycled polyester. They're engineered to be strong and cheap to produce - but they behave very differently on the body and in the environment.

Recycled polyester is often presented as a better option, but the reality is more complex. Studies show it can shed up to 55% more microplastic fibres, which are also around 20% smaller, allowing them to travel further into ecosystems and the human body. While many brands lean on recycled synthetics to appear more sustainable, we take a different approach - choosing natural fibres that biodegrade and perform as nature intended.

What synthetics mean for you

They don't breathe - Synthetic fibres trap heat and moisture. This can lead to discomfort, overheating, and odour - especially when worn close to the skin.

They shed microplastics - Every time synthetic garments are washed, tiny plastics fibres are released into water systems. These microplastics don't break down and can end up in rivers, oceans - and even drinking water.

They age differently - Polyester tends to pill, hold smells, and lose its softness over time. Clothes may look "worn out" faster, even if they haven't been worn for long.

They feel... different - There's a reason silk feels fluid , linen feels cool, and cashmere feels soft. Synthetic fibres can imitate the look of luxury - but rarely the feel.

At NRBY, we believe the first step to sustainability is avoiding man-made fibres where possible, rather than finding clever ways to justify them. Because sustainability shouldn't feel complicated. It should feel like something you enjoy wearing.

Choosing natural fibres isn't about being "worthy". It's about feeling comfortable. Confident. Cared for. Natural fabrics breathe with you, soften over time, and age beautifully. They create clothes you reach for instinctively - pieces that feel good to wear, season after season. That's why we choose them. And why we always will.

Our makers

  • We’ve carefully and personally chosen all our suppliers in Europe and Asia. They are often family-owned businesses, passed down from father to son and father to daughter.
  • Because of these close, transparent relationships we guarantee a high quality every season, and importantly know exactly where our clothes are coming from.
  • We always ensure that our manufacturers and suppliers are upheld to the highest industry standards and codes of conduct, through regular ethical audits by bodies such as SEDEX.

Our Packaging

  • Good things come in sustainable packaging! Our mailing bags, tissue paper, and hangers are all made from recycled materials and are recyclable themselves. Whilst our hangtags are made from bamboo instead of paper, as well as using tote bags instead of plastic!
  • We also choose to work alongside DPD and Royal Mail who are both extremely committed to reducing their environmental impact through their ever-growing fleet of electric vehicles…
  • Sustainability is as important to us as it is to you – that’s why we want to figure out a lifestyle that is sustainable. It won’t be easy, but it is doable. We can do it. We must do it.