As sustainability has gained widespread importance, expanding the Laura Park brand into the world of fashion is both an opportunity and responsibility that we do not take lightly. At Brooks Avenue, our sustainable vision is guided by the yogic philosophy of ahisma, which is expressing compassion, respect, and love towards all beings, including the natural world. After all, it is the natural beauty and people all around us that inspire our creative process, and we believe designs that reflect this beauty begin in the design stage with sustainable practices that protect the people and our planet.

At Brooks Avenue, we have a holistic approach to sustainability that equally values those who craft and wear our clothes and the planet that gives us the resources, grounds, and inspiration to design and create. We have partnered with trusted and reputable manufacturers who share our principles of sustainability and ethical responsibility. Together, we are dedicated to weaving these values into every thread of our brand, including the way we operate, design, and strategize.

As a small yet passionate emerging brand, we are committed to educating ourselves and evolving our practices, and we are fortunate that our co-founder, Lawson, has the opportunity to study at FIT where zero waste and sustainability are core elements of the Master's in Fashion Design curriculum. We are committed to maintaining transparency with you all and steadfastly giving back to the environment and communities in which we operate.

At Brooks Avenue, we are working hard to think and act sustainability in all facets of our business. In fact, 80% of all sustainability efforts happen in the design phase. Enter digital textile printing.

Traditionally, textile printing is one of the most harmful processes in fashion for the environment, particularly because of the waste, chemicals, and dyes involved. The traditional dyeing process is also one of the world's biggest sources of water pollution. Digital textile printing, however, has proven to be a much safer, cleaner, and greener alternative that uses digital inkjet printing technology to print colorants onto fabrics. Rather than using inks that typically contain heavy metals and formaldehyde, DTP uses non-hazardous, non-toxic, and biodegradable inks. With digital printing, many of the printers are completely waterless, eliminating the need for pre-treatments, steaming, or washing that traditional methods require. Digital printing also allows us greater flexibility to produce in smaller batches, which eliminates energy and waste.

At Brooks Avenue, we understand that sustainability is a greatly complex issue, and there are pros and cons to almost every practice or approach you take. I am grateful for the opportunity to have these ongoing discussions with my classmates and professors at FIT who are equally passionate about the subject. The truth is, there is no one-size-fits all solution. What I've come to realize is that sustainability is not just about what happens behind the scenes but also the choices we make as consumers.

As fashion enthusiasts, we are equally important players in the game. A brand can do all it can to be create and produce ethically and responsibly, but it just as important that we cherish our clothing, wear what we have, and dispose of items conscientiously.

Your thoughts and feedback matter to me, and I am always open and happy to continue this important discussion. After all, we are more powerful together than alone.