Wear yOUR Values
Our Core Values
Sustainability
We are committed to the wellbeing of our planet. Our fish leather is a preferred material made from natural ingredients with clean and safe processes. We seek a regenerative production model that goes beyond sustenance to renew for future generations.
Relentless innovation
This is our motto. We push the boundaries of traditional leather production, constantly seeking new ways to enhance our leather quality, features and processes. We imagine a brighter future and work towards it in creative ways.
Ethical Sourcing
We choose to work with local wild caught fisheries processed for food to source our fish skins, as they share our values of community, social impact and animal welfare.
Responsibility & Transparency
7 Leagues is designed to show respect for the planet and take responsibility for our environmental footprint. Our impact will be measurable, achievable and reportable.
VITALITY
We believe in the power of diversity, embracing different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to foster an inclusive culture of creativity, collaboration, curiosity and mutual respect. We seek resonance and work not just for our own benefit but to radiate outwards to partners and other communities.
Community
We foster strong, resilient relationships to support shared prosperity and economic empowerment. Our company works in positive symbiosis with communities around us.
Values
aren't just something we talk about,
they are something we
choose to wear
Vision
plastic free fashion
Most of the fashion worn today is made from synthetics derived from fossil fuels. Their creation negatively impacts the planet with carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, microplastic pollution, and more. While the use of synthetic or plastic coatings is common in leather we refuse to contribute to this problem. We ensure our fish leather is 100% free of plastics or any fossil derived ingredients, for a more sustainable future. We use a machine that deeply applies wax and oil glazes to create a natural waterproof coating, and are researching waterproof coatings that are biodegradable.
Rejenerative Future
We believe in a regenerative future, where our clothes are made from - and can one day return to - the Earth. We believe in cherishing the items we own by considering the resources expended to create each one. Our world is facing a crisis, one of unfair labour standards, environmental disregard, unconscious consumption and hoarding. At 7 Leagues our efforts are clean, green and responsible. Show the world what you support in the choices you make, in fashion as in life, by wearing your values.
plant-derived Tanning
There are many ways to make leather. We use the veg tanning method, with a process that uses renewable, bio-based inputs which are 100% plastic-free, PFAS-free and chrome-free, resulting in a beautiful fish leather that is 9X stronger per thickness than traditional leather.
Every product, process, and deed has impact. Veg tannins come from natural plant sources, have a low environmental impact, and generate less waste than chrome tanning.
Modern tanning methods are a mixture of art, craft, and history, along with science, measurement, and innovation. We take inspiration from the past but we imagine a brighter future and work towards it in creative ways.
Making leather can be fairly simple; making good leather is harder. We do the hard stuff.
Full Resource Use
& 100% Fish
After the edible fillet is harvested, the remaining (up to) 70% can be transformed from waste into value. This ensures that the energy and carbon expended on fishing is fully utilized.
We support a circular economy and believe that using 100% of the fish will strengthen the economy through job creation and added revenue streams while combating climate change. This diversification builds resilience and sustainability for the entire community and addresses increasing rural alienation and job loss.
Mission
7 Leagues is on a mission
to change the…
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Food Waste
Annual fish waste is about 50 million tons (Source)
Fish byproducts discarded during processing can account for up to 70% of a fish. (Source)
Food waste contributes 8% of human-caused GHG emissions. (Source)
Unused Resource
Fish skin is up to 10% of a fish. (Source)
Climate Impact
Food waste creates methane gas as it rots in the landfill, which has 25 times the global warming potential than CO₂. (Source)
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Nearshore Manufacturing
Increasing skills training
Stronger Economy
Living wage jobs
Focus on Innovation
Build proactive and resilient business
Collaborate with others
Global Awareness
Increase global use of fish byproduct
Bring our model of community-value, high-quality eco fish leather to other countries
Shared prosperity
Equality in the workforce
Fair allocation
Win-win solutions
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The fashion industry creates up to 10% of the world’s CO2 emissions (Source)
35% of ocean microplastic pollution traces to textiles (Source)
Synthetic fibres, derived from fossil fuels, represent 69% of all materials used in textiles. (Source)
17-20% of total industrial water pollution is tied to textile dying (Source)
Exploitation, child labour and slavery (Source)
Projected shortage of sustainable materials (Source)
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Veg Tanning
7 Leagues uses plant extracts in our tanning (aka veg tanning); this method is safe, natural, and renewable and produces leather with heightened durability but it takes more skill to do it well.
Circular Regenerative Leather
We want our leather to return back to the Earth from which it was made at its end of life and to be healthy and safe for use until then. We assess each additive on or in our leather with that lens.
Plastic Free
We're researching biodegradable waterproof coatings and have already invested in a machine to deeply apply natural glazes instead of plastic ones.
Natural Dyes
Many dyes are not environmentally safe. We are starting with the most environmentally-sound synthetic dyes that exist and plan to pivot to natural dyes as their durability improves, to ensure our product can be returned safely to the soil at its end of life.
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