At Solid, we strive to create fair trade products that respect both people and the planet, but making truly ethical choices is rarely straightforward. Every decision—from sourcing materials to selecting suppliers—comes with complex sustainability trade-offs, where the best option isn’t always the most obvious one.
In this blog, we want to share some of these real-world dilemmas—not because we have all the answers, but because we believe in transparency and dialogue. Fair trade is a journey, and we invite you to think along with us.
🌿 The Polyester vs. Natural Fiber Dilemma
At Solid, we champion natural materials—but the reality of sustainable fashion isn’t black and white. Polyester is a pollutant, shedding microplastics into our water. Yet, it scores higher on some sustainability indexes because it uses less land and water than growing natural fibers.
The dilemma
- 100% Natural Fibers (Cotton, Wool, Alpaca)
Natural fibers are biodegradable and free from microplastics. They’re breathable and comfortable, adapting to different climates, and when properly cared for, they’re durable and repairable, extending a garment’s lifespan. Choosing natural fibers also supports traditional craftsmanship and local economies. But they come with higher production costs and require more land and water.
- Blended Fibers (Polyester, Nylon, Acrylic)
Blended fibers are often chosen because they’re cheaper and improve fit—which can be a sustainability factor too. A garment that fits well is worn longer, reducing overconsumption. Synthetics also use less land and water, but they come with a major downside: plastic pollution and no biodegradability.
📌 Our approach? While we encourage blends using Peruvian natural fibers whenever possible, we also prioritize recycled synthetic fibers over virgin ones. The ultimate goal is to phase out high-percentage synthetic blends and move towards more responsible alternatives.
💭 What do you think? Should we focus on land use efficiency or fully natural materials despite their impact?
"Up for another one?"
📜 The Certification Dilemma: Small vs. Certified Suppliers
At Solid, we want to source materials from certified sustainable suppliers—but for the smallest producers, certification often isn’t an option. The costs, skills, and administrative work involved make it accessible mainly to larger-scale suppliers.
The dilemma
- Larger certified suppliers guarantee sustainable quality but often don’t directly support the smallest producers.
- Small-scale suppliers align with our mission to alleviate poverty, but they don’t always have certification to prove their sustainability.
📌 Our approach? In Peru, we work with large, certified suppliers as they meet our need in consistent stock availability and the certification required for our B2B services.They also have the necessary facilities for dyeing, spinning, and processing wool, something small-scale farmers don’t. However, this year, we have started working with small-scale alpaca farmers to improve their living conditions through our social program, Familias Saludables.
India presents a different challenge. Our own workshop, Paces Crafts, is too small to source from large certified suppliers. Here, we have no choice but to buy from small-scale suppliers. Since certification isn’t an option for them yet, we visit each one and find that many, despite the lack of formal recognition, are working responsibly to the best of their abilities. By being a reliable, long-term customer, we hope to help them move toward certification in the future.
At the end of the day, certification 📜 is not the goal itself—poverty alleviation and a responsible use of resources are.
💭 What do you think? Should we always prioritize certification, or trust small suppliers doing their best without it?
#LetsTalkSustainability #FairTradeForChange #SolidCrafts #SustainableFashion