Beyond Sustainable

Harvest & Mill works directly with organic cotton farmers, heritage mills and family owned factories - all in the USA. We are rebuilding American supply chains with clean and ethical practices from seed to stitch.

Scroll down to explore our impact, our process and our values.

Organic | Grown & Sewn in USA | Low-Carbon USA Supply Chains | Carbon Neutral | Non-Toxic | Vegan 

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Calculating our impact

We believe in transparent science and data as much as you do. We calculate our impact through a globally accepted analysis methodology. We measure the impact metrics of each individual product through the entire manufacturing process. That means, we trace our clothing from the organic farm all the way to the moment it ships out to you and then we calculate all those impacts. Our data driven solutions have proven results.

This data is based on our entire manufacturing process, from the farm where the organic cotton is grown to shipping out your order.

Our data driven solutions have proven results.

Less emissions

70% less GHG emissions

than other sustainable clothing brands.

Low impact

53% less energy use

than other sustainable clothing brands.

Water efficient

50% less water consumption

than other sustainable clothing brands.

Made in USA

American supply chain

From the organic farms, to the heritage mills and to our local sewing community, our supply chain is completely Made in America and fully traceable.

Sustainable

100% organic cotton

All of our cotton is 100% organic and grown in the USA.

Carbon Neutral

100% carbon neutral clothing

We offset our entire carbon footprint. This includes our manufacturing process, all supply chain transportation, our office and the carbon footprint on all orders we ship out. 

USA Supply chain

5X shorter travel distance

Our clothing travels through our supply chain an average of 34,234 miles less than other sustainable clothing, radically decreasing environmental impacts like pollution, waste and energy use. 

Non-toxic

Up to 100% less dye chemicals

Most of our clothing is made using natural color and organic heirloom cottons that are entirely dye-free and bleach-free. 

Plastic-free packaging

Plastic-free packaging and shipping materials

All our packaging and shipping materials are plastic-free, reusable, recyclable and easily compostable. 

Our process

Wondering how we achieve these results? While other sustainable brands focus solely on one area of sustainability such as organic materials or workers’ rights, we realized it’s actually the larger fashion system that needs to be reimagined.

Since 2012, we have created a completely new system, from our supply chain to our design process, with sustainability as our guiding commitment.

Let’s show you inside that process.

organic cotton field in the usa Harvest and mill

100% of our cotton is organic and grown in the USA

We work directly with American organic cotton farmers to source the
highest quality organic cotton. These farmers are on the cutting edge of
regenerative agricultural practices.

Farming That Fights Climate Change

USA organic cotton farmers use regenerative practices that focus on soil health, conservation and mitigating the climate crisis. These farmers use less water than conventional cotton, use non-GMO seeds, cover cropping and emphasize soil ecology. Organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers, toxic pesticides and herbicides, as well as other techniques that cause pollution or environmental degradation. Instead, our farmer partners use crop rotations, composting and integrated pest management to achieve ecological balance. Farmers are the stewards of millions of acres, countless rivers and the air we breathe. By supporting USA organic cotton farmers, we are supporting the people who are on the front lines of preventing climate change, showing a path for other growers to transition to organic and helping to keep our planet clean for generations to come.

Minimally Processed & Low Waste Fiber

Organic cotton is a low-impact and efficient natural fiber, especially when comparing the full lifecycle of cotton vs other fibers. Cotton is a natural plant fiber that requires simple mechanical milling and has less spinning waste than other natural fibers (like hemp). Organic cotton seed can be used for next seasons’ planting or as a byproduct it can be used for cooking oil. Organic cotton foliage is composted or incorporated back into the soil matter on the farm, minimizing agricultural waste. There are no enzyme baths required to soften cotton (like bamboo requires). Cotton clothing is biodegradable and can be composted after its useful life. Cotton is naturally soft, pliable and breathable, making it perfect for clothing that lives next to our skin with minimal processing.

Cleaner Natural Resources for All

Organic farming doesn’t just affect farmland. Surrounding communities are directly impacted by the farming techniques used nearby. Agricultural and industrial pollution disproportionally affect marginalized communities that live in close proximity, deepening cycles of health disparities. These are also communities that are often most affected by climate change. Environmental justice and social justice go hand in hand. Every community and every person deserves clean air, clean water and a healthy environment. Organic cotton not only keeps toxic chemicals out of the local water and air, it also addresses underlying causes of climate change. We can effect positive change in these communities and fight the climate crisis through better farming practices.

100% of our supply chain is in the USA

We are building localized and decentralized supply chains entirely
within the USA. From the organic farms, to the American heritage mills,
to the family-owned sewing factories, every single step of our supply
chain is in the USA.

Short-Distance & Low-Carbon Supply Chain

In creating our supply chain, our goal was to minimize the distance between each step of our supply chain. The shorter the distance raw materials travel, the lower the environmental impact. Most other brands ship their raw materials around the world to be grown, milled or sewn and those vast distances have devastating environmental consequences like higher levels of GHG emissions, increased pollution and higher energy use. The distances between our farms, mills and factories are a fraction of the industry average.

Rebuilding Local Economies & Communities

At Harvest & Mill, we are investing in local communities and sustainable manufacturing by creating high quality clothing. Throughout our entire supply chain, we work only with small and independent American farms, factories and mills. These small businesses hire local workers, use local services, reinvest in their communities and care about the quality of life in their neighborhoods. A strong local economy encourages community engagement, entrepreneurship, resiliency and innovation. Right now, the USA has many skilled workers and textile manufacturing infrastructure that are largely underutilized. As sustainable designers, we know that using existing infrastructure and local resources has a lower environmental impact than building new infrastructure and importing resources. Not only does localized manufacturing help local economies, it is actually more sustainable too.

Our Sewing Community

All of our sewing takes place within 15 miles of our studio in Berkeley, California. We work with independent, family-owned factories in Oakland and San Francisco. We regularly visit these factories, we know the people who sew our clothing and we have a high level of transparency and visibility for the working conditions where our clothing is made. By working with our neighbors, we also help build a more diverse and inclusive region. We couldn’t be more grateful to partner with our local sewing community.

Workers’ Rights & Accountability

We support workers’ rights for every worker throughout our supply chain. From the farm workers to the factory workers, every single person who works on Harvest & Mill clothing receives a fair wage, safe working conditions, the legally protected right to organize and protection from discrimination. Since all of our manufacturing takes place within the USA, our contracts and workers’ guarantees are legally enforceable, making the strength of our commitments stronger than other voluntary or third-party certifications. Our raw materials never cross national boundaries or jurisdictions, which is a regulatory loophole other fashion brands use to shirk legal responsibility for the working conditions where their clothing is made. Our USA made process also means that we have the ability to pass stronger laws and demand stricter regulations through our elected representatives, our advocates and the ballot box. We are proud to be accountable for the treatment of every worker who contributes to a Harvest & Mill garment. 

100% of our clothing is non-toxic

Natural is beautiful. Our clothing is designed to look and feel like raw
organic cotton. That’s why we never use bleaches, synthetic chemical
finishes or toxic dyes to make our clothing.

Dye-Free

Most Harvest & Mill clothing is made with dye-free organic cotton. In addition to using white cotton varieties, we use heirloom cottons that naturally grow brown, green and red. Dye-free fabrics use significantly less water, energy and resources during the manufacturing process. These fabrics also ensure that no dye chemicals are leached into our local water supplies when we wash our clothes at home. The Harvest & Mill Sock Collection, our Organic Heirloom Brown Clothing Collection and all our natural-white joggers and tops are made with organic dye-free and bleach-free cottons. Did you know, our skin is the largest organ of our body and we can absorb substances through our skin? Dye-free clothing can offer relief for sensitive skin, allergies and for those trying to detoxify their bodies and their lifestyles. In a world full of synthetic colors, wearing natural color clothing can help remind us of the inherent beauty in nature.

Natural Dyes

Our Artist Series features natural dye artists who incorporate the origins of their dye materials into their process. These artists organically grow their own dye materials on their farm or sustainably forage their dye materials locally. The artists use dye techniques that have been used for thousands of years, such as traditional Sukumo indigo dye and clay dye. Each piece is dyed by hand, one-by-one. We feature the artists’ statement, their process and link to their other work. Through growing or foraging their dye materials, these artists have a profound understanding of what it takes to dye clothing in a sustainable way. Our artist collaborations offer a glimpse into a greener past while reimagining how that history can lead us to a more ecological future.

Non-Toxic Dyes

Our low impact black fabric is dyed using non-toxic and eco-friendly dyes in the USA. Our dye houses follow strict EPA waste water guidelines and chemical safety laws. These regulations are not voluntary and violations have serious legal consequences. Inspections are planned and randomized, ensuring continuity of compliance.

Our fabrics are free of toxic substances like azo dyes, formaldehyde, PFC or flame retardants, phthalates, heavy metals, chlorine bleach, VOCS or other dangerous substances commonly found in clothing. Many of these substances are known to be carcinogenic, neurotoxic or can cause organ damage. Not only are these substances dangerous for humans but they can leach into our ecosystems as we wash our clothing. We are committed to the highest standards of human and environmental safety.

Design, Packaging & Carbon Neutral Projects

We analyze the full lifecycle and comprehensive impact of our clothing.
While many fashion brands view these details as external to their
clothing, we believe that as sustainable designers it is our
responsibility to consider and address all these factors.

Completely Carbon Neutral

We believe that all clothing and all fashion brands should be carbon neutral. We offset 100% of our manufacturing process, the shipping of every order and our studio’s carbon footprint. Our primary goal is always to minimize our carbon footprint. After that, the footprint we still have is offset. We offset through the Garcia River Forest reforestation project and the Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm. The Garcia River Forest is located in Northern California’s redwood coast and traps more than 4M tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, creates local jobs, protects 53 miles of streams and improves habitat for threatened flora and fauna. The Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm in Texas avoids an average of 160,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, employs local workers and is capable of generating enough electricity for more than 220,000 homes. Offsetting through a combination of reforestation and investment in renewable energy means we are drawing down carbon while also eliminating our dependence on carbon-based fuels.

Plastic-Free & Compostable Packaging

Our packaging is plastic-free, made from recycled paper and designed to be reused, recycled or easily composted at home. We believe that paper packaging is the best ecological option for shipping and packing materials. While there are compostable “plastic imitation” bags made from natural materials, these often need to be composted in specific facilities which increases the likelihood they will not be disposed of properly. Paper can be composted at home or recycled at any facility and made from previously recycled content. All of our packaging is 100% recyclable, easily biodegradable and Made in the USA. Our shipping envelope is made with heavy stock paper to keep your orders safe en route. We use tissue paper instead of poly bags to wrap items and our paper-fold wraps are printed locally here in the San Francisco Bay Area using soy and vegetables inks. 

Vegan & Cruelty-Free

All of our clothing is vegan and cruelty-free. Our designs use organic cotton, which is a sustainable and compostable plant fiber. Our entire product line is PETA-approved, we do not use any animal product trims or tags and no animals are harmed in the making of our products. Animal cruelty has no place in our world. Vegan clothing also has a lower environmental impact than clothing made from animal fibers. Plant fibers have lower GHG emissions, use natural resources more efficiently and cause less pollution.

Vegan clothing also has a lower environmental impact than clothing made from animal fibers. Plant fibers have lower GHG emissions, use natural resources more efficiently and cause less pollution.

Textile Waste Reduction

We design our patterns to minimize off-cuts and fabric waste. All extra fabric is either repurposed or recycled. None of our fabric ends up in a landfill. After your Harvest & Mill clothing is past its useful life, we recommend repurposing, recycling or composting where appropriate. We suggest washing Harvest & Mill items in cold water and hang dry or tumble low when possible to minimize the energy and water impact of laundry.

In this together

To build a more sustainable and just future, we must work together as individuals and as communities. While we each have the opportunity to create positive change through our individual actions, on a larger scale we need governments and private businesses to step up and build better systems. That is why at Harvest & Mill, our team is committed to reimagining the fashion, design and manufacturing industries as avenues to change our world for the better. None of these big dreams and visions could be possible without your support. Thank you for joining us in reinventing a better fashion industry and creating data-driven solutions to make sustainability a reality.