TRANSPARENCY AS THE PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY

For the past three years, we’ve been proud to partner with BCome, a platform reshaping the fashion industry by empowering brands with the tools to measure, manage, and communicate sustainability. BCome has been instrumental in helping us take a data-driven approach to improve our impact. 

From analyzing water usage and carbon emissions to ensuring transparency in our supply chain, their expertise aligns perfectly with our mission to create fashion that is as responsible as it is timeless. We’ve had the opportunity to interview their team, and chat about our partnership and why their work is crucial for the future of sustainable fashion.

How was BCome born? What was the initial drive to create a project centered on traceability and sustainability in fashion, and why did you choose this industry?

BCome was founded in 2016, thanks to the vision of Alba Garcia and Anna Cañadell, who shared a genuine concern about the impact of the fashion industry. After working in large multinational companies, Alba had the chance to travel to countries like China and witness unsustainable practices firsthand, leaving a profound impression on her. This experience was a turning point that led both of them to quit their jobs and travel to India in search of suppliers who aligned with their philosophy of necessary change in the sector.

They identified a key issue: many companies lacked clear tools to measure and communicate the sustainability of their products. This realization prompted them to develop a platform that analyzes a brand's impact from a multidisciplinary perspective and facilitates transparency with consumers. BCome was born with the mission to democratize sustainability, offering practical solutions that any brand could adopt to improve its impact and communicate it honestly.

How would you summarize your mission and the impact you aim to generate in the fashion industry?

We aim to transform the fashion industry into a more responsible, transparent, and sustainable space. For us, sustainability isn’t just an environmental commitment but also a social and economic one. We address these aspects with an accessible and practical approach, providing brands with tools to measure, manage, and communicate their products' impact.

On one hand, we empower brands to make data-driven decisions, improve their practices, and adopt a more conscious approach. On the other hand, we strive to educate and raise awareness among consumers, helping them understand the real impact of the garments they choose and encouraging more responsible consumption.

How do you approach the traceability of products? What are the key stages or processes involved in your work?

Traceability is an essential tool to ensure transparency in the fashion industry. Our approach involves analyzing the entire value chain of each garment, from raw materials to the final product.

We start by requesting information about the collection: selected items, composition, weight, wet processes applied, suppliers, or the origin of raw materials. All the information gathered is processed through our LCA methodology to measure the garments' environmental impact, evaluating aspects such as water usage or carbon emissions. These results are displayed on BCome's platform, allowing brands to visualize their products' impact across various dimensions.

We believe that both traceability and impact measurement must be accompanied by transparency toward the end consumer. That’s why we also provide brands with tools to directly communicate these data to their consumers, enabling them to make more informed decisions.

What stood out to you about Belamer as a brand when you first met us?

Without a doubt, your authentic approach. We love that, in addition to creating quality products, you do so with a minimalist design that never goes out of style. We were also impressed that everything is produced locally in Barcelona and that you work with European suppliers who share your values of sustainability and transparency.

Additionally, your opposition to initiatives like Black Friday and other campaigns that promote irresponsible consumption is an example of how a brand can remain true to its principles. Your commitment to recycled materials and attention to detail reflect a conscious, long-term vision that aligns 100% with BCome’s philosophy.

What aspects of Belamer’s sustainability would you highlight as an example for other brands?

First, we would highlight your decision to consistently use the same base materials to design your pieces. This allows for a much more centralized value chain, improving traceability and control while ensuring more efficient and transparent processes.

Additionally, your materials contain between 80% and 90% recycled content, with marine and post-consumer waste as primary sources. This not only helps reduce waste but also involves lower water consumption during manufacturing, making your business model even more sustainable.

We would also emphasize your commitment to 100% local manufacturing in workshops in Barcelona, paired with detailed knowledge of over 80% of your supplier chain. This approach, with materials primarily made in Spain and Italy and exclusively terrestrial transportation, significantly minimizes your carbon footprint.

Finally, your near made-to-order production model avoids overproduction and excess stock, keeping your annual impacts significantly lower than other brands in the industry.

How do you see the evolution of the fashion industry in terms of sustainability in the coming years?

At BCome, we believe sustainability will be key to transforming the fashion industry. Regulations like the European Green Deal and increasingly informed consumers will demand greater transparency and accountability. In this context, the Digital Product Passport will be a milestone, requiring brands to be transparent about the origin, materials, and environmental impact of their products, promoting more sustainable practices aligned with new demands.

We also foresee greater collaboration between brands and suppliers to address global challenges. Transforming an industry is not something that can be achieved unilaterally; it requires all actors in the sector to work collectively toward a common purpose. The industry is already undergoing significant change, but there’s still a long road ahead, primarily shaped by the external pressures the market faces.

What role will tools like BCome play in transforming the fashion industry? And from your perspective, what role can independent brands like Belamer play in this transformation?

At BCome, we believe that tools like ours will play a fundamental role in transforming the fashion industry into a more sustainable and responsible model. Our platform enables brands to measure, manage, and communicate their impact clearly, which is essential for fostering a more transparent and ethical industry. By providing access to accurate data about product sustainability, we help brands make informed decisions that not only improve their impact but also allow them to stand out in an increasingly conscious market.

Independent brands like Belamer have a crucial role in this transformation. These brands are uniquely positioned to innovate and adopt sustainable practices from the start, without the barriers often faced by large companies. They also have the opportunity to inspire other businesses and demonstrate that it’s possible to make a positive impact on the industry without compromising quality or profitability. Ultimately, by integrating sustainability genuinely into their business model, they can attract a growing audience of conscious consumers, proving that responsible fashion is not just a trend but a necessity.