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Why Trendster?
By our definition a Trendster is someone at the forefront of fashion trends interpreting fashion in a unique way.
How are we different from other clothing companies?
To the best of our knowledge, we try to surround ourselves with suppliers who have a similar ethical policy to us.
We aim to supply quality clothing, provide a good service and create good relationships along the way.
We support freedom of choice for the workers who supply us with clothing to have better lives and be treated fairly; clean organic clothing which does not harm the environment and nature during production and good working relationships with customers and suppliers.
Everyone who works at Trendster loves fashion, clothing and all things trendy, but we’re also aware that we can make a difference through our business, which is what we intend to do. We’re an approachable company – always willing to help.
Where does our clothing come from?
Trendster does not manufacture the clothing seen on this website, however we do work with certified and standardised producers around the world. Our organic clothing range is manufactured in China and Mexico, and is BCS-Oko Garantie and SKAL certified.
Our commercial clothing including our outerwear is manufactured in Turkey, and has passed Fair Wear Foundation standards. The supplier we work with is also 100% against cotton produced in Uzbekistan and by the end of October will be 100% organic.
Is your organic clothing certified?
Yes! Clothing that we have manufactured in China and Mexico is BCS-Oko Garantie and SKAL Certified. Clothing that is manufactured in Turkey is Fair Wear Foundation, Oeko-Tex 100 and Soil Association certified.
What is Fair Wear Foundation?
The Fair Wear Foundation verifies good labour conditions in the garment industry. The supplier we use has passed Fair Wear standards. The foundation verifies that member companies work to enhance labour conditions in the factories all around the world where they source their garments.
What is in a t-shirt?
The star attraction of many clothing company's products is the T-Shirt.
The most comprehensive guide we've come across about the life and ethics of a t-shirt can be found on the PAN-UK(Pesticide Action Network)
We've collated bits of information from their writings which we find useful to know:
In order to understand what the various standards are designed for, and what an organic or fair trade T-shirt means, it is important to know how
cotton textile is made.
All the cotton in your clothes probably comes from a mix of places and it also probably contains, whether you like it or not,
genetically modified fibres.
One thing is certain, it was grown using a large amount of pesticides, toxic chemicals designed, as the name suggests, to kill
pests: insects, weeds, fungus, or any other kind of living things.
Most of this cotton was also grown on poorly managed soils, which would be almost sterile
without large amounts of synthetic chemical fertilizers.
All the stages require a large number of chemicals of various toxicity and hazards.
Some of these chemicals threaten the health of workers, while others cause environmental pollution from the mills’ waste water.
Finally, many of these chemicals are found as residues in the finished product, and some of them may affect the health of consumers, and are suspected to cause allergies, eczema, and even cancers 5,6.
Many improvements have been made in the past 20 years: chemicals are increasingly recycled or replaced by safer alternatives, and waste waters are treated in order to reduce pollution. As often, the precautionary principle is rarely exercised: and a chemical is considered safe and remain in use after concerns are identified, until undisputable proof of its harm can be provided.
Many chemicals used in cotton processing which were considered acceptably “safe” 20 years ago, are now unacceptable.
Organic Cotton Fibre
Organic agriculture uses no synthetic chemical pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, and no Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).
Organic fertilizers (such as manure) and plant-based pest management products (such as neem or garlic extract) are used.
However, organic agriculture is not only a mere substitution of synthetic inputs with natural inputs. The major principle is to restore a natural balance within the farm, with healthy and well-structured soils, rich in organic matter.
In such an environment, the pests (any living things which damage the crop) are not systematically destroyed by poisons, but are kept under control by their predators, just as they are in nature. Biodiversity (the diverse range of living species: plants, animals, microorganisms) and agro-diversity (the diverse
range of crops planted by the farmer, as well as livestock) are integral parts of an organic farm.
The organic cotton fibre that is harvested is similar to most conventional cotton fibres, except that it is guaranteed non-GM, and is not contaminated with pesticides.
The main difference is that the ecosystem where it has been produced has not been damaged, and the farmer and his or her family have not been poisoned by chemicals. The cotton fibre is certified as an organic agricultural product, along with other crops on the farm, by a private certification body, which guarantees that the rigorous organic standards have been strictly followed.
The Causes of Climate Change
Human activity has changed the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere:
a) by releasing carbon trapped in fossil fuels, such as coal, gas and oil, when they are burned for energy, heat or transport
b) by chopping down trees to clear land for agriculture
In the UK:
40 per cent of our carbon emissions come from business activity:
a) 29 per cent are from transport
b) 25 per cent are from homes
The biggest sources of carbon emissions for most people are likely to be:
a) the energy you use in your home (heating is the biggest use)
b) driving
c) air travel
Other things in our homes contribute to climate change indirectly. Everything from food to clothes, and computers to carpets uses energy when it is produced and transported, causing carbon emissions to be released.
A quick guide to what you can do
1. Save energy and water at home
2. Greener Travel
3. Eating and Drinking
Buy fresh and in season
Buying food and drink when locally in season, and unprocessed or lightly processed food, is likely to mean that less energy has been used in its production. Buying food that has travelled less can also be a positive choice as it reduces transport emissions, particularly in comparison to produce transported by air.
Reduce your food waste
The average UK household spends £424 a year on food that goes in the bin - if this ends up in landfill it produces methane, a greenhouse gas judged to be more than 20 times as powerful as carbon dioxide. Throwing less food away produces less methane and reduces other harmful environmental impacts from producing, packaging and transporting food.
4. Recycling and cutting waste.
5. Greener shopping
How does Organic Clothing contribute?
According to The Independent 25th Feb 2003:
‘Conventional cotton uses 24% of all insecticides and 11% of all pesticides used in the world each year.’
Most cotton is grown in third world countries where chemicals which are banned in Europe, can be used legally. The end result is a product that is not good for the farmers’ health, the environment or the customer.
On average we spend a third of our lives in bed - wouldn’t you prefer to be sleeping on something a little more wholesome.
The average 100% cotton T-shirt is made up of ONLY 73% cotton. The other 27% is made up of chemicals (and their residue such as pesticides and formaldehyde) that were used to grow and make it. It takes approximately 17 teaspoons of pesticides alone to grow enough cotton to make one T-shirt.
How does this affect me ?
It`s all about choice... most of the chemicals used to grow and manufacture a normal cotton T-shirt are on the World Health Organisation`s (WHO) ‘moderately hazardous’ list and two are known to be on their `highly hazardous` list. But they are still used. The chemicals used in normal cotton farming are on these lists because they are known to be carcinogenic which affect both the nervous and reproductive systems.
The problems with clothing production don’t stop in the field. During the conversion of conventional cotton into clothing, numerous toxic chemicals are added at each stage— silicone waxes, harsh petroleum scours, softeners, heavy metals, flame and soil retardants, ammonia, and formaldehyde— to name just a few.
What’s so good about organic cotton?
By using organic cotton, you are not exposed to toxic chemicals residues that may appear in conventional cotton products. At the same time we are making small contribution to the protection of the environment that we all live in.
As the organic cotton yarns are less processed, they keep the highest level of durability and natural softness that give you great comfort.
Do we have a shop?
No, we do not have a shop, we are a UK based Internet Retailer.
Payment Methods
We currently use PayPal as our main payment method online, whilst we are building our shopping cart.
The PayPal payment system will take you to a PayPal payment screen, once you have decided to Checkout. This system is very secure, and you do not have to have a PayPal account or sign up for one, to pay for your order.
To check the security of our website, simply look in the lower bar of your browser when you fill in your payment details. You will see an unbroken key or closed lock, showing that encryption is active and your information is secure. For security reasons, we strongly recommend that you do not send credit card numbers by standard email but use the secure facility provided on PayPal.
We comply with the standards, procedures and requirements laid down in the UK Data Protection Acts 1984 and 1998 to ensure that your personal information is kept secure and processed fairly and lawfully.
How do you deliver my order?
We use Royal Mail, Parcelforce, and Couriers for deliveries within the UK.
We currently do not deliver to countries outside the European Union.
What are your Delivery Charges?
Our minimum charge on Standard Delivery is £4.00, which is dependant on the size and quantity of items ordered. For larger orders, it may be suitable to have the items couriered to you.
Please note that for all deliveries outside of the UK, a Standard charge of £10.00ex VAT applies.
Will you leave the delivery at my door if I am not at home?
If you place your order using our Next Day Courier Delivery service the courier will attempt to leave your parcel with a neighbour if you are out, or failing this, in a safe place as instructed by you.
If you place your order using our Standard Delivery service we are unable to leave your order in a safe place. Royal Mail will leave a collection card through your door, to let you know that there is a parcel waiting for you to pick up at your nearest collection point.
- We aim to deliver Standard Delivery orders within 3-4 working days. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee a specific delivery date for Standard Delivery orders.
- At busier times of the year, such as Christmas, postal services can slow down, so we ask you to wait 5 working days after your order is placed before contacting us.
- We now deliver to Europe as well as the UK!
Will you be getting any more stock in?
Unfortunately, some items will be out of stock or be removed from the site altogether. This is the case with some of our organic clothing that are manufactured in China, and ordered on a pre-season basis.
We will try our best to inform you if an item will be back in stock, however we cannot always give you the exact date or timescale of its return.
I need more information about a product?
We include as much information as possible about a product on the product page itself. If you need more detailed information, please contact customer care quoting the product code, which can be found on the product page.
Can I change my order?
This will depend on the status of your order.
Please note that we can only:
- cancel items from your order or cancel your entire order before it has been shipped out.
Unfortunately it is not possible for us to always:
- change size or colour options
- upgrade your order from Standard Delivery to Next Working Day Delivery
- change the delivery details
- add items to your order.
Can I cancel my order and get a refund?
Under the United Kingdom's Distance Selling Regulations you have the right to cancel your order for any item purchased from Trendster Clothing Ltd, for a full refund. Order cancellations must be made in writing, quoting your name and order number, within 7 days to Customer Care.
This does not apply to:
- Items that cannot be returned for hygiene reasons (all of Trendster underwear range).
- Items that have been washed and used, and are in an un-saleable condition.
I need to return an item
If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply return the item or items to us in their original condition within 7 working days from the day after that on which the goods are received. We will issue a full refund on receipt, or exchange the item for a different size / colour if preferred.
- Items that cannot be returned for hygiene reasons (all of Trendster underwear range).
- Items that have been washed and used, and are in an un-saleable condition.
This provision does not affect your statutory rights relating to faulty or misdescribed goods or your right to cancel orders under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations.
Please note:
- If you require a different product (rather than a different size or colour of the same product) you will need to place a new order online and return the original item for a refund.
- If a discount was applied to your original order, the amount refunded will be adjusted to allow for the revised order value and appropriate discount level.
Faulty item
Can you confirm you’ve received my return?
Please note that we usually process a refund or exchange within 3 working days of receipt of your return. At this point we will email you confirmation of a refund, or send you your replacement. Please therefore do not contact us until 3 working days have passed since we received your return.
How long will it take to refund me?
Before contacting us please take note of the timescales required to process a refund:
- Please allow 3 working days from receipt of a return for us to process a refund.
- Once a refund is processed you will receive an email confirming this.
- After receiving the return confirmation email, please allow a further 5-10 working days for the refund to be credited to your account. This timeframe is dictated by your bank or card issuer and is outside of our control. (N.B Your refund will be credited to the same card with which you made your original purchase. If for any reason this is not possible, (i.e. the card had been declined or has expired) we will send a cheque to your billing address within 2 working days).
When will I receive my replacement?
Before contacting us please take note of the timescales required to process an exchange:
- Please allow 3 working days from receipt of a return for us process an exchange.
- Once the exchange has been processed please allow the following additional days for delivery of your replacement item:
- UK – up to 3 Working Days
Do I have to pay for return postage?
If you are returning an item, or items, to us for a refund or an exchange then the cost of returning the item to us is your responsibility.
Please note, the item is your responsibility until it reaches us. For your own protection, we recommend that you send the parcel using a delivery service that insures you for the value of the goods.
If the item you received is faulty, please contact customer care quoting your order number, your name and address, details of the product and the reason for return, and whether you require a refund or a replacement. We will then advise on how to proceed with the return. You have 30 days from receipt of the faulty item to return it to us.
If the item you received is not what you originally ordered, please contact customer care quoting your order number, your name and address, details of the product and the reason for return, and whether you require a refund or a replacement. We will then advise on how to proceed with the return.
Why have you not refunded the delivery charge?
Delivery charges (the cost you originally paid to have the order delivered to you) are non-refundable unless:
- You have received an incorrect or faulty item from us and have requested a refund
- You send back the entire order
Do we sell our products wholesale?
Not at the moment. Though watch this space!