Komodo: The Original Ethical Brand Since 1988
The pioneering UK brand Komodo has been championing slow fashion since 1988. While their commitment to GOTS organic cotton and Fairtrade manufacturing is verified and robust, their reporting on carbon emissions and circularity lags behind modern standards.
Evolution, Efforts and Certifications
Komodo posits itself as the "Original Ethical Brand," born from the acid house scene of London in 1988. Unlike many contemporaries who greenwashed their way into the market, Komodo has a verified history of early adoption regarding organic materials. Their strongest asset is their Fiber Basket: a collection dominated by GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, Hemp, Linen, and Tencel Lyocell. They strictly avoid virgin synthetic fibers like polyester and acrylic, opting for Recycled PET (rPET) where synthetics are necessary. The brand holds GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification, a platinum standard that covers processing and labor, and utilizes Fairtrade certified supply chains for specific cotton lines (e.g., Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills).
Supply Chain Traceability
Transparency is a strong suit for Komodo. The brand publishes a detailed Tier 1 Supplier List that includes names and addresses of key factories, such as Knitex Industries in Nepal and Shengzhou Fudi in China. This level of disclosure allows for independent scrutiny. They also disclose vertically integrated suppliers like Rajlakshmi Cotton Mills in India, which implies visibility into Tier 2 (spinning/dyeing), although a separate, comprehensive map of all Tier 2 fabric mills is not explicitly published. Their long-term relationships with these suppliers, some spanning decades, support their claim of trading fairly, moving beyond the transactional nature of fast fashion.
Sustainability Impact
While Komodo's material sourcing is top-tier, their environmental data reporting is stuck in the past. There is a distinct absence of quantified Carbon Footprint data. The brand does not publish a Scope 1, 2, or 3 emissions report, nor do they have targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). While they claim to use renewable energy in their supply chain, verifiable evidence is limited to a solar power switch at their Nepalese knitwear factory. There is no systemic data on the energy mix of their Chinese or Indian suppliers. On the positive side, their use of Tencel ensures closed-loop water systems for cellulosic products, significantly reducing chemical runoff compared to conventional viscose.
Circularity Impact
Circularity is currently Komodo's weakest pillar. The brand operates on a traditional "make-sell" linear model. There is no evidence of an in-house repair service, and the brand explicitly advises customers to donate faulty items to charity rather than offering a repair remedy, a practice that burdens waste streams. Furthermore, they lack a brand-owned resale platform or a take-back scheme for end-of-life recycling. While they use mono-materials (100% Wool, 100% Cotton) which are recyclable, they also produce blends (e.g., Wool/Recycled Poly coats) that are difficult to recycle without a dedicated infrastructure, which the brand does not provide.
People Impact
The brand's approach to labor rights is a mix of high-level commitment and missing verification. On the one hand, their Fairtrade supply chains (Rajlakshmi) guarantee a Fairtrade Premium for workers, effectively subsidizing a living wage. On the other hand, for their non-Fairtrade factories in China and Nepal, claims of "living wages" remain qualitative and unverified. There is no published wage ladder comparing worker pay to the local living wage basket. While they utilize SMETA/SEDEX audits for compliance, these do not guarantee freedom of association, particularly in China.
Animal Impact
Komodo has a robust and commendable animal welfare policy. They strictly ban fur, angora, down, and exotic skins. Their primary animal fiber, Merino Wool, is certified from non-mulesed sources, directly addressing the cruel practice of mulesing. They also use Corozo nuts for buttons instead of horn or shell. While not a fully vegan brand due to the wool, their "cruelty-free" stance is substantiated by these material choices.
What can be improved
Komodo needs to modernize its sustainability reporting to match its product integrity. The immediate priority should be measuring and publishing a Carbon Inventory (Scope 1, 2 & 3). Secondly, they must move beyond "insisting" on living wages to "proving" them by publishing open costing or wage data for their Tier 1 factories. Finally, launching a Repair or Resale program is essential to transition from a sustainable product brand to a circular business.
Conclusion
Komodo is genuinely sustainable in the traditional sense. They are not greenwashing; their materials are certified, and their supplier relationships are real and long-standing. However, they represent the "Old Guard" of ethical fashion. To remain a leader in 2025, they must embrace data transparency. For the consumer, Komodo is an excellent choice for organic basics and knitwear, offering far higher integrity than high-street brands, provided one accepts the lack of circular services.
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