RESPONSIBILITY

Here at SANCIA, we design products that outlast the fast-fashion lifecycle. Working with artisans in creating handcrafted pieces, using high-quality vegetable tanned leathers and sourcing natural fibers that are Eco-friendly and biodegradable rather than synthetic fabrications.

Seeking Eco-friendly materials doesn’t stop with materials – all SANCIA items are shipped entirely plastic free. Our garment bags and wrapping used on our handbag boxes is 100% biodegradable, crafted from corn-starch, a renewable plant material. They break down over time. On top of this, we use recycled paper materials for all packaging of our bags, from the gift boxes, swing tags and tissue paper, each item is also shipped with a re-usable dust bags.

We recognise our responsibility and opportunity to minimise our impact on the environment. Our team is constantly seeking to reduce waste and our carbon footprint within every aspect of the brand.  All of our handbags and apparel is designed to last; from vegetable tanning (that uses natural non-chemical materials to tan the leather,) to sourcing recycled metal for our hardware and only working with sustainable fibers. 
SANCIA does not work with any synthetic fabrics, as well as being beautiful, the natural fibers we select are environmentally friendly and renewable.

The most important thing for SANCIA when it comes to sustainability is responsibility. Being a part of an industry that is based around consumption is challenging and I think it's about ensuring we are responsible in the decisions we make. From our packaging to the textiles, we choose to use and the production processes.

Our goal at SANCIA is to create functional, quality timeless pieces in high-end materials that are gentle with the environment. Focusing solely on natural, Eco-friendly fabrications, our attention to intricate detailing extends from our leather goods to our apparel. From hand-printing, hand-pleating, pin-tucking and internal binding so that our pieces last a lifetime.

All SANCIA goods are shipped entirely plastic free. Our garment bags and wrapping used on our handbag boxes is 100% biodegradable, crafted from corn-starch, a renewable plant material. Traditional plastics can take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose, our packaging can be disposed of in your green waste where they break down over time.  On top of this, we use recycled paper materials for all packaging of our bags, from the gift boxes, swing tags and tissue pa- per, each item is also shipped with a re-usable dust bag. SANCIA corn-starch bags are compliant with EN 13432 and ASTM6400 standards. Reducing CO2 emissions | Phthalate free | no Bisphenol a (BPA) | Non-Toxic.

We’re very proud to say that all of our leather goods are truly handcrafted.

Each bag is meticulously handmade by skilled artisans, utilising the highest quality leather, limited-edition textiles, and custom hardware pieces designed in-house.

We work with a very small team of talented craftsman and the handcrafted nature of our bags allows us the pleasure of personally working with our close-knit team, creating jobs and helping to provide a sustainable income each year, which makes a positive impact on the community.

Each bag can have up to 200 processes to complete, our team meticulously work through all the fine details which includes hand-sewing, buffing, painting leather edges and polishing, taking up to several days to finish one piece.

When we describe our bags as ‘handcrafted and handmade’ we truly mean this. SANCIA uses hand skills for 80% of production and machine for 20% of production and only when absolutely necessary.

SANCIA leather goods are crafted from the highest quality full-grain leather, predominantly using skins from Europe including Italian nubuck, Italian suede and vegetable tanned leather. Each piece is carefully hand-selected ensuring the highest quality possible.

Our vegetable tanned leather is a classic leather that shows its wear beautifully over time. It is luxurious and strong with a softly worn waxed finish that deepens into a distinctive patina. Your vegetable tanned bag will forever evolve and become more beautiful, developing character and darkening in color.

Vegetable tanning is an Eco-friendly, organic process due to the natural materials used in the tanning process, relying solely on natural vegetable tannin's from bark and other plant tissues. Vegetable tanning is one of the oldest and most intricate methods of tanning dating back to 6000 bc.

Our vegetable tanned leather does not contain any toxic substance harmful to the environment, the production cycle is strictly monitored to ensure a low impact on the environment. Being tanned with natural tannin's, a SANCIA vegetable tanned item, recognizable from it’s beautiful patina, does not contain any toxic substances such as AZO-dyes, nickel, PCP or chrome VI.

LEATHER VS VEGAN LEATHER

At this stage, SANCIA does not have any non-animal leather products available. Unfortunately, the most common leather alternative is petroleum-based plastic, called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It’s made with fossil fuels and can be harmful to human health, and is not biodegradable.  While there are some incredible revolutions in this market (faux leather / vegan leather) new leather-like materials are being made from products that would otherwise have gone to waste, such as cork, pineapple leaves and mushroom mycelium (the fungus equivalent of a root system). Most are under development and are not market-ready yet. While the current / market ready faux leathers might be vegan and animal-free, they are actually a form of plastic, made from non-renewable resources, they do not wear well and end up in a landfill where it will take hundreds if not thousands of years to break down.

Each SANCIA bag uses custom brushed gold metal hardware, all pieces are specifically made for SANCIA and designed in-house.

The metal used in our hardware comes from recycled sources and the final pieces of hardware are coated with an extra layer of protective lacquer so that there will be no discoloration or oxidisation to our custom brushed gold hardware.

We take great pride in these beautiful designs, every piece starts with a hand-drawing, custom designed by us for you.

We are very proud to say that SANCIA does not work with any synthetic fabrics. As well as being beautiful, the natural fabrics SANCIA selects are environmentally sustainable and renewable. They come from trees and plants, which can continue to be replaced, raised or regrown. Unlike many synthetic materials, natural options are biodegradable and decompose harmlessly. They are easily recycled and can be reused without harming the environment.
As we grow, our goal is to push harder to create more sustainable fabric options.

The origin of our textiles is of utmost importance to us, as well as their impact on the environment, which is why we select natural materials that are easily broken down. Our  collections comprise of Tencel™ / Rayon, Hemp, Organic Cotton, Cupro, Linen and Bamboo which are all biodegradable fabrics. We’re very proud to be working GOTS-certified organic cotton, which ensures high standards in production. GOTS covers the processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading and distribution of textiles, ensuring that both environmental and social standards, such as safe and hygienic working conditions, no workplace discrimination and fair pay rates, are respected.

At SANCIA, our makers are a part of our extended family. Each factory we work with is a family-run or female owned business. We know where every part of our product comes from and who is making it.

Over the years, we have formed close relationships through regular visits and sourcing trips, prior to COVID-19 the SANCIA team would visit 4 x per year. This has allowed us to build strong and meaningful relationships that ensure our products are made to a high ethical and sustainable standard.

Our manufacturers include:

ACCESSORIES
Guangzhou Baiyun, China
Established in 2005
Certified by:
AI, SMETA / SEDEX
Disney International Labour Standards Group
Hasbro Ethical Sourcing
Verified by SGS.
100 employees

CUT & SEW
Dongguan, China
Established in 2001
Certificated by:
BSCI, ISO 9001.
Alibaba SKA supplier.
Verified by SGS.
150 employees

KNITWEAR
Guangzhou, China
Founded in 1985
Gold Certificate of compliance (WRAP)
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
Verified by SGS.
60 employees

Code of conduct and ethics of; SANCIA Pty Ltd.
At SANCIA, our partners must be transparent in their policies, processes, and standards which govern their operations and which are related to their compliance with the code.  SANCIA engages with external third-party quality control and ethical standard auditing to ensure our factory partners ethical standpoint is in line with our code of conduct.

VOLUNTARY LABOR
All work should be voluntary and not performed under threat of penalty or coercion.

WORKING AGE
Employees should not be younger than the minimum employment age of the relevant country, or the maximum age of compulsory education, whichever is higher. Not under any circumstance should workers be younger than 15 years of age.

FAIR AND EQUAL TREATMENT
All employees must be treated with respect and dignity. In other words, the workplace should be free of emotional, verbal and physical abuse.
Moreover, employees must not be subjected to discrimination in hiring, compensation or discipline, on the basis of gender, age, religion, marital status, race, sexual orientation, disability, disease, nationality, pregnancy, or trade union and/or political affiliation.

WAGES, BENEFITS AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Employee compensation – including wages, overtime pay, benefits and paid leave – must meet or exceed legal minimum and/or industry standards and/or collective bargaining agreements, whichever is higher. Wages for Traineeships and apprenticeships should also meet at least the legal minimum. Disciplinary deductions from compensation are not allowed.

WORKING HOURS
Working hours should not exceed 60 hours per week. All overtime must be voluntary, mutually agreed, and compensated at a premium rate. Employees should be given at least 1 rest day in any 7-day period.

EXOTIC ANIMALS
We do not support the use of any endangered species, the use of fur, wool down and exotic animal skin, animal hair or angora. Sancia  only uses cow or goat leather, any patterns on our leather is embossed using a stamp.

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND RECOGNITION OF THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Suppliers must respect the right of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining as permitted by law.

ETHICAL CONDUCT
Suppliers must operate with high ethical standards and should not be involved in any corruption, extortion, bribery, fraud, false declarations, counterfeiting or insider trading.

SAFE PLACE TO WORK
Suppliers should promote and maintain a safe, hygienic and healthy working environment and residential facilities, where provided. Adequate measures, systems, protections and training must be implemented to prevent harm to employees’ health, safety and well being.