// Our (humble) take

Our take on Des Petits Hauts’s ethical and sustainable approach

By Marie 9 July 2021

// How we went about it

We look at a brand’s sustainable and ethical approach based on the information available. For this review we put ourselves in a customer’s shoes, relying on public information: what the brand publishes on its website and social media, and what third-party partners publish when the brand cites them.

We don’t claim to hold the truth.

Our method in detail

// In short

🌱 Even though Des Petits Hauts says it wants to commit to the environment, the vast majority of the raw materials it uses are not eco-friendly.

🤝 On the social side, Des Petits Hauts seems to be committed to transparency, listing the countries where its products are made. Still, the brand could go further by publishing the exact locations and audits of its factories and by working towards certification.

⚖️ In terms of business practices, Des Petits hauts does not seem particularly committed to eco-friendly, more mindful fashion.

Des Petits Hauts’s environmental approach

Eco-friendly materials	Non eco-friendly materials
Organic cotton	Nylon
Vegetable-tanned leather	Polyester
Eco-Galalithe	Polyethylene
Linen	Polyurethane
Ramie	Wool
Lyocell - Tencel	Silk
Modal	Superkid mohair
	Viscose
	Acrylic
	Kid mohair
	Baby alpaca
	Cashmere
	Cotton
	Leather
	Merino wool

Percentage of eco-friendly products

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

Among the main eco-friendly materials used by the brand are linen, Tencel® and vegetable-tanned leather.

💬 Our view:

🔴 Although the brand uses eco-friendly materials in its products, the vast majority of its clothes seem to contain materials that are not considered eco-friendly.

Approach to environmental labels

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

The brand does not seem to mention any label for its materials. It talks about "organic cotton" without giving any explanation or label.

In autumn 2019, the brand worked with Fairly Made, an eco-friendly sourcing company. On this occasion, Des Petits Hauts launched an eco-friendly capsule collection: “reduced environmental impact”, “product traceability from A to Z”, “selected and assessed partners (farmers, spinners, weavers, workshops) who help improve the living and working conditions of their employees”. The aim is clear: it is a first step for Des Petits Hauts towards a more eco-friendly approach.

In an interview with Fashion Network in September 2019, Vanessa Sanchez, the brand's co-founder, confirmed this: “The idea is for it to become more and more significant in our collections. [...] The work we did with Fairly Made made us even more demanding of our long-standing suppliers (in Eastern Europe, China and Portugal, editor's note), and led us to review with them where they stand on sustainability and ethics, and to make them aware that our requirements on these issues are growing”.

💬 Our view:

✅ Des Petits Hauts shows some willingness to move towards more responsible fashion.

🔴 However, since the collaboration with Fairly Made in 2019, the brand still seems to use mostly non eco-friendly materials and does not seem to use certified materials.

Other eco-friendly initiatives

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

The brand gives no information.

Support for environmental NGOs or charities

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

In February 2020, Des Petits Hauts teamed up with RecycLivre, a website that sells and collects second-hand books and works to build solidarity between its customers and disadvantaged communities. On this occasion, book-sharing boxes were set up in the brand's shops and a free bookmark was given away.

💬 Our view:

✅ Even though it is not linked to the brand's core business, this initiative gives books more value and cuts down on waste.

R&D efforts and laboratory testing

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

The brand gives no information.

Des Petits Hauts’s social approach

Transparency about manufacturing sites

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

The brand states where its items are made on most of its product pages. The brand's items are made in China, Peru, Bulgaria, Italy, Portugal, Romania, India, Tunisia and France.

Among the brand's long-standing suppliers, Vanessa Sanchez mentions (in the interview cited above) "Eastern Europe, China and Portugal".

💬 Our opinion:

✅ By stating where each item is made, Des Petits Hauts is committing to transparency. The brand also seems keen to have some items made in France, such as belts.

🔴 However, the brand could go even further by publishing the exact locations and names of its factories, as well as information on working conditions in its partner factories.

Approach to labels and social audits

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

The brand provides no information.

💬 Our opinion:

🔴 The brand could do more by publishing the audits of its factories.

Traceability across the whole supply chain

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

The brand mentions Italian yarn. We have no access to further information, except for the pieces from the capsule collection with Fairly Made, which is 100% traced.

💬 Our opinion:

🔴 At present, it seems impossible to trace Des Petits Hauts products from the information available. The brand could start being more transparent by communicating about its suppliers and where its materials come from.

Support for NGOs or associations working to improve workers' social conditions

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

The brand provides no information.

Governance

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

The brand provides no information.

Company ownership

Information published by Des Petits Hauts:

The brand was founded by 2 sisters: Vanessa and Katia Sanchez. Katia is no longer involved in running the brand.

Des Petits Hauts appears to be owned by a company called The Beautiful People, run by François Mathieu and owned by François Mathieu and Isabelle Vanneufville.