Our Slow Fashion Commitment

Zawadi Hat Fashion is a Kenyan travel and resort wear brand. We make clothing in small numbers, by hand, from natural fibres, and we design each piece to be worn for years rather than a single season. This page sets out how we work today and the commitments we are working towards.

Frameworks That Guide Us

Our commitments are aligned with two UN Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 12, Responsible Consumption and Production: natural fibres, limited drops with no overproduction, reuse of fabric offcuts, repair of flawed pieces, and our packaging targets.
• SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth: written agreements and pay at or above the market rate for everyone who works with us, and steady work for local makers in Kenya.

How We Work Today

Materials

• Our garments are made from three natural fabrics: 100% cotton African wax print (kitenge), 100% cotton kikoi and 100% linen. From 2026, every new ZHF garment is cut from these plant-based fibres.
• A small number of earlier pieces made from other fabrics remain available until they sell out. They will not be restocked, and their fibre content is listed on each product page.
• Our safari hats and beach bags are lined with linen.
• We buy our fabric from suppliers in Kenya. Much of it is manufactured outside East Africa, and we are working towards full traceability of its origin.
• Gift Shop pieces are from partner makers and are not covered by this commitment.

Production and People

• Every ZHF garment is hand-cut and finished at our workshop in Mombasa, Kenya.
• Everyone who works with ZHF is paid at the current market rate and never below it. Tailoring is paid per piece, our tailors work under a written tailoring services agreement, and payments are recorded weekly by our Operations Manager.
• Our team works in a conducive environment with comfortable, adjustable working hours.
• When we need additional capacity, we outsource tailoring and give priority to organisations that give back to the community.
• Every finished piece passes a quality check before it is accepted.

Waste and Overproduction

• We produce in limited drops and do not restock collections once they sell out, so we do not build up deadstock.
• Fabric offcuts from cutting are used to make our hats and bags.
• We keep a repair tracker for flawed pieces so they are repaired rather than discarded.

Longevity

• Our care guidance recommends washing at 30°C on a gentle cycle to extend the life of each piece.

Packaging and Shipping

• Orders are packed in carton boxes and wrapping paper, and shipped in DHL packaging through DHL Express.
• Each outfit is sealed in a zip bag to protect it from water damage in transit. The zip bags are reusable.

Commitments We Are Working Towards

• Fabric traceability: Record the manufacturer and country of origin for every fabric purchase, and give preference to East African-made cotton where it meets our design needs.
• Offcuts: Track the share of fabric offcuts reused in hats, bags and trims, and extend reuse to further products.
• Packaging: Review the materials of all our packaging, including the protective zip bags, and move to recyclable or reusable options that still keep each outfit safe from water damage.
• People: Keep written contracts, and pay at or above the market rate, for everyone who works with us as our team grows.
• Transparency: Review this commitment every year and update this page.

Questions about how we work? Write to us at care@zawadihat.fashion.