both mindful of environmental issues and truly people-oriented.
A garment is never just a garment.
Before arriving in your closet, it has traveled through fields, weaving workshops, factories, and many
hands. It has been the subject of dozens of decisions, some invisible, others pivotal. For 20 years,
we have tried to make these decisions consciously. We are not perfect, but we are honest, aware that
we can always do better.
"When we design our collections, we quickly visualize the overall look and feel of the garments.
However, when it comes to selecting fabrics, beyond aesthetic considerations, our choices are very limited given our requirements: organic or recycled fabrics, European weaving companies, refusal of the petrochemical industry, affordable prices, durability, etc."
Valentin Porcher
Co-founder
01.
In March and October, we make the trip to Braga, in northern Portugal. The atmosphere is rural, with its vineyards, hills, eucalyptus trees, and old men at the corner cafe. The distance between each factory is minimal, but we often find ourselves stuck on a paved road behind a tractor. As we appreciate taking our time, we've never found it bothersome.
The five factories we work with are family-owned. There's Miguel, Marco, Vitor, Eugénia, Pedro. Trusted partners who guide us, offer their expertise, and with whom
we sometimes share good times in the evening. Without them, Olow certainly wouldn't be where it is today.
Local short-circuit manufacturing in Portugal
Within a 50 km radius, we carry out:
Tinctures
Oeko-Tex certified dyes, a label that certifies the health and environmental qualities of textiles, guaranteeing the absence of toxic products for the body and the environment.
European weaving
02.
We choose our fabrics for what they are, not just for what they do. GOTS-certified organic cotton, linen, hemp, Tencel, wool, recycled polyester, Seaqual: a synthetic fiber made from plastics collected from the sea. And corozo buttons, vegetable ivory from the Amazonian palm tree, because the details matter as much as the rest.
We have been working with the same weaving partners for many years. We know the value and quality of their materials; that's also our way of working in a trusted network.
"When selecting fabrics, beyond the aesthetic aspect, our choices are very limited due to our requirements: organic or recycled fabrics, European weaving companies, refusal of the petrochemical industry, affordable prices, durability. It's a constant balancing act." Valentin Porcher, co-founder
The Spanish term for vegetable ivory, corozo (or tagua) is the inner flesh of the fruit of the ivory palm (called albumen), native to the Amazon rainforest. It can be carved, turned, and polished as easily as ivory. All the buttons in our collections are made of Corozo.
Nearly 100% of our t-shirts are made from GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic cotton. This label guarantees the organic nature of the raw material, the absence of pesticides, and significantly lower water consumption compared to uncertified cotton. From a social and ethical perspective, the label also requires decent working conditions and wages, as well as the prohibition of child labor.
Cotton is one of the most widely used materials, and its cultivation is one of the most polluting in the world. By using recycled cotton, we avoid wasting natural resources, while significantly reducing its ecological footprint.
Wool is used in some of our winter collections. It's also the material for which we are the least advanced in terms of traceability. Not enough data, no certifications that we can guarantee to you today. We continue to work on the subject, without promising you what we do not yet have the means to deliver.
Linen is, from a historical perspective, the oldest fiber in the world, discovered in Dzudzuana Cave, Georgia (36,000 years ago). It only grows in temperate regions close to the sea, such as Flanders and northern France. It is a plant that does not require much water, and its production process consumes very little energy.
Polyester is a synthetic chemical fiber derived from petroleum. Highly polluting, it is difficult to degrade and depletes natural resources. By recycling polyester products, we avoid the pollution associated with its production and limit the waste linked to it. We mainly use it for the linings of some of our jackets.
For several of our garments, we use Seaqual fiber. A recycled yarn made from plastics collected at sea, produced by ANTEX, a supplier we work with. A material that transforms waste into a resource.
Tencel is a fiber made from wood pulp, obtained from deciduous trees with a high regeneration capacity. Its manufacturing requires very little water. Highly breathable, often used as an alternative to silk for its soft feel and elasticity, it is a resistant material that absorbs moisture, dries quickly, and helps regulate perspiration. An ideal choice for garments worn directly against the skin.
03.
Making responsible, well-made clothing at a decent price is a choice. It's a choice that comes at a cost: in time, in demands, in margins. When you buy an Olow piece, a part goes to the artist who designed the pattern. A part goes to the factory that made it, and a part goes to the materials. Little is left for us, and we fully accept that. No growth at all costs, just a system where no one profits at another's expense.
Our commitments don't stop at how we manufacture. Since 2023, we have been donating 1% of our revenue through the 1% for the Planet program. For many brands, 1% may seem small. For us, with tight margins, it's far from insignificant. This money goes directly to Wings of the Ocean, a French association fighting against ocean and coastal pollution, with whom we have made a long-term commitment.
Every year, we participate in a waste collection in Nantes. We organize awareness campaigns with their volunteers, and we provide the t-shirts that dress their teams in the field. Our commitment is not just financial, it is also through action.
We are also a partner of Secours Populaire Pays de la Loire, via the Parages x P(art)ages event. A cultural and solidarity project for which we create a limited edition t-shirt with an artist. All profits are donated to fight against precariousness.
01.
Let's be open about this: money is the sinews of war. Without it, it's impossible to make progress, to feed the volunteer staff, and to continue our actions calmly.
This idea eventually merged with another: joining 1% for the Planet. The figure may seem insignificant, but for us, with thin margins, giving 1% of our revenue is far from negligible.
Every year, we commit to participating in a waste collection in the city of Nantes. We organize awareness events with the Wings Of The Ocean teams, and we provide them with T-shirts for their volunteers on the ground.
A non-profit organization that connects businesses and patrons with approved environmental protection associations, in order to facilitate and increase donations for the benefit of the planet.
Wings of the Ocean is a French association that works to protect the oceans by combating illegal waste pollution. On the coastlines and around rivers in France, their volunteers collect illegal waste, counting and studying it to identify the types of pollutants most present in the area. After each action, they transmit their data to local authorities so that concrete measures can be taken. They also carry out numerous awareness-raising activities for the general public.
02.
We are a partner in the Parages x P(art)ages event organized by Secours Populaire.
The Olow team is providing its support by creating a limited-edition T-shirt signed by one or more collaborating artists. All profits from the sale are donated to Secours Populaire to combat poverty.
Parages x P(art)ages is a cultural, festive, and solidarity project led by Secours Populaire Pays de la Loire.
It has already had three editions: 2021, 2023, and 2025.
"Staying 100% independent is one of the aspects of the brand we believe in and value the most. It was this very need for freedom that prompted us to launch in the first place, not to be bound hand and foot to any investor, to be completely free in our choices, without sales pressure or growth targets.
Olow is a small, artisanal company in many respects. We choose to work only with friends or people we like, and we set no limits in terms of creativity. After all, growth is a subjective term. Adding zeros, opening stores all over the world—that's not our idea of success.
The strategy is simple: how to sell responsible clothing, made in Europe, at a morally decent price? There's only one answer: practice low margins. Just enough to keep existing and plan projects. We will never be financially rich.
So what?"
Valentin Porcher
Co-founder
