FAQs
Where does the name 1800 Gallons come from?
1800 Gallons is the amount of water it takes to grow the cotton for one pair of jeans. It is the reason why we strive to use old and discarded textiles rather than create demand for new denim.
Where do you source your fabrics from?
We scour vintage markets, secondhand shops and everywhere in between to find the best quality denim that we can repurpose for our core collection. All our textiles are washed before production and we like to maintain a strict quality control. Any remaining discrepancies in colour or texture are a design choice made by the studio and should not be viewed as an imperfection.
Our deadstock fabrics come from a number of locations. We have been lucky enough to be gifted rolls from larger design houses as well as partnering with various makers across London to produce 1800 pieces out of their deadstock textiles.
What does conscious design and ethical manufacture mean?
We want to ensure that any pieces we create are sustainable and wearable. Fad and spectacle fashion may capture our hearts momentarily, but their lifespan can never be sustainable if they are not designed to be worn with longevity.
Each 1800 piece is developed from scratch in our London studio, from the initial sketch or 3D drape, through to pattern cutting and toiles. This is a lengthy process where we test and ensure that we are creating garments that are both aesthetically beautiful and functional. We intend to create pieces that flatter and make use of materials with purpose.
Wherever we can, we will produce out of repurposed materials to minimise our footprint and where we cannot, we use deadstock textiles to ensure the waste of others remains in circulation. Each piece is sewn together using Gütterman rPet thread which is produced out of recycled plastic bottles to further our commitment to sustainability.
A few select pieces are made in house under the 1800 roof in Brixton and the majority of our production takes place at a factory in North East London. Local production is very important to us as we can ensure that our machinists are paid fairly for their skills and labour, in a safe and positive environment. It also means we can minimise our carbon footprint by ensuring all our sampling and production takes place in one city.
Why is the pricing so high?
We feel it is very important for customers to understand that fashion construction, particularly at a small and local level is a long and laborious undertaking that requires a huge amount of skill and craftsmanship. Just as you would expect to be paid accordingly for work that you provide, designers and makers deserve the same respect. Unfortunately the majority of apparel in circulation has been produced in countries where labour laws aren't as strict and we have now grown accustomed to clothing being cheaper than a meal out. Where intricate garments can take maybe 12 hours to sew (our Kari Mee dress was produced over 4 days), if we are to pay fairly then naturally pricing goes up. London living wage is £10.55 an hour but sewing is skilled work and commands much higher and well deserved salaries. Many people are involved in the production of a garment, from cotton farmers to fabric weavers to designers, makers and all the way up to retailers. Each cog in the wheel deserves to be compensated accordingly but unfortunately many forget just how human led the apparel business is and the people at the bottom of the chain continue to receive smaller and smaller compensation for their effort, sometimes even devastatingly, their lives. It is mathematically impossible and humanly immoral that you can purchase a piece of fairly made clothing for the kinds of prices we are accustomed to on the high street.
When will my order arrive?
We operate a Made to Order production style. Please allow up to a month for garments and a week for accessories. Please see our Shipping & Returns page for a breakdown of delivery times. You can also track your order from the confirmation email you received. If you have any further questions don't hesitate to get in touch and a member of our team will assist you!
Why are certain fabrics and colours limited?
We construct the majority of items from deadstock and recycled materials which means that we can only produce a few in each material. We would prefer not to buy new fabrics due to the environmental footprint and so choose to have permanent styles which we can produce in a range of colours and weights.
I can't find my size...
As a very small business we have graded our finished patterns up to a XXL due to cost limitations. However if you don't see your size reflected please get in touch and we will certainly accommodate at no extra cost to you. Please be aware this may take slightly longer to ship out to you as we need to make in house pattern amendments but we will work as quick as we can!
Do you offer repairs?
Yes! As a commitment to prolonging textile life cycles we offer a number of repair services to our customers on 1800 products. We offer free simple repairs and provide an affordable service for more complex issues. Get in touch to discuss your requirements. If we find the item is too worn for repair, you can trade in your old piece for credit and we will recycle your item.