Illuminati II
Encyclopedia
Illuminati II is a cotton
brand, which aims to produce cotton fabrics of the highest possible quality from organic
and fair trade
d cotton grown in Uganda
.
were founded concurrently in 2005 by Danish fashion designer Peter Ingwersen
, and together with the diffusion line Bllack Noir
, introduced in 2008, the three brands are owned by the holding company Noir Illuminati II Holding. The Illuminati II fabrics are used in the Noir and Bllack Noir collections.
Illuminati II has been accepted into Material ConneXion
's library of innovative materials, the world’s largest library of advanced, innovative, sustainable materials and with a team comprising Ph.D. material scientists and material specialists.
that in all links of the supply chain
was based upon Corporate Social Responsibility
principles. However, due to extensive difficulties in finding organic yarn goods, Noir was compelled to produce its own fabrics in order to enable a collection where all links of the supply chain could live up to the code of conduct
. The Illuminati II project was thus founded with the aim of securing a stable supply of organic and fair trade
d cotton textiles as well as refining and improving the quality of the cotton currently being produced in Uganda to obtain a quality which was applicable for a luxury brand.
in Uganda. The idea behind this is to enhance the chances of farmers in an African country to develop through trade
and business. The fact that the cotton is grown organically means that there is a special focus on the environment
and the health
of the people who grow it. The fair trade certification
of the cotton ensures a fair price and focus on good working conditions for the farmers and respect for the local communities involved.
Cotton production is located in the Gulu district
in Northern Uganda – an area that has been racked by the rebel army Lord’s Resistance Army for the past 20 years. The area has been free of assaults since 2006, but is still deeply affected by many years of violence and unrest. Illumiati II partakes in the normalization process of the area by offering employment and a steady source of income for the 10,000 farmers involved in the project. The farmers are thus enabled to obtain a decent living standard for themselves and their families.
CSR is implemented by adherence to the principles of the UN Global Compact
. The local partner, Bruce Robertson, is organic and fair trade certified by Union, which ensures that all ILO conventions
are adhered to and that the farmers get a fair price for their crop. The same principles (based on ILO conventions) are carried out in the ginnery and with the strategic partner in Uganda, Phenix Industries. The partners have been chosen based on their ability to prove that they too adhere to the principles of the UN Global Compact.
All textile processing chemicals used by Illuminati II have GOTS certificates (Global Organic Textile Standard
). This standard for organic textiles covers the production, processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, exportation, importation and distribution of all natural fibres.
(plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") derives from the Latin word Lumen, meaning light, shine or torch. Furthermore, it refers to several groups, both historical and modern, real and fictitious. The word was first founded in the 17th century by a group of scientists who challenged the conventional thinking and advocated reason as the primary source of legitimacy and authority. This period is called the Age of Enlightenment
.
Inspired by a new way of thinking and challenging the existing way of consuming in the fashion industry, Illuminati II was created to offer an alternative to exploitation of the environment and poor labour conditions while still encouraging consumers to buy but with a conscience. That is why the concept is called Illuminati II: The second enlightenment period.
set-up which excellences in crop rotation
allowing for not only cotton to be grown on their plot of land but also other crops like chilli
and sesame
. Local Gulu Agricultural Development Ltd trainers, who support the growing of organic cotton, supervise the harvest. Once the harvest is over, the local farmer sells his crop to Gulu Agricultural Development Ltd. who then pays for the harvest by the fair trade principles. The crop is certified by Union.
Once the cotton is spun locally in Kampala
, the capital of Uganda, the yarns are transported to Turkey
and woven into the final Illuminati II fabrics.
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
brand, which aims to produce cotton fabrics of the highest possible quality from organic
Organic clothing
Organic clothing is clothing made from materials raised or grown in compliance with organic agricultural standards. Organic clothing uses cotton, jute, silk, ramie, or wool...
and fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
d cotton grown in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
Introduction
Illuminati II and NoirNoir (fashion)
-Introduction:Noir and the organic cotton brand Illuminati II were founded concurrently in 2005, and together with the diffusion line Bllack Noir, introduced in 2008, the three brands are owned by the holding company Noir Illuminati II Holding....
were founded concurrently in 2005 by Danish fashion designer Peter Ingwersen
Peter Ingwersen
Peter Ingwersen is a Danish fashion designer.-Life:Ingwersen grew up on his parents' farm outside of Kolding, then went to study at the Danish School of Design. Today he lives in the centre of Copenhagen...
, and together with the diffusion line Bllack Noir
Bllack Noir
Bllack Noir is a diffusion line from Danish luxury fashion brand Noir.-The Brand:Noir was established in 2005 based on a vision of making meaningful and desirable consumption possible for the modern conscious fashion consumer...
, introduced in 2008, the three brands are owned by the holding company Noir Illuminati II Holding. The Illuminati II fabrics are used in the Noir and Bllack Noir collections.
Illuminati II has been accepted into Material ConneXion
Material ConneXion
Material ConneXion is a global materials consultancy that aims to help companies source advanced materials to enhance the performance, aesthetics and sustainability of their projects. The company is headquartered in New York City and was founded founded in 1997 by George M. Beylerian...
's library of innovative materials, the world’s largest library of advanced, innovative, sustainable materials and with a team comprising Ph.D. material scientists and material specialists.
Objective
Peter Ingwersen’s founding vision behind Noir was to set up a luxury fashion apparel brandBrand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
that in all links of the supply chain
Supply chain
A supply chain is a system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Supply chain activities transform natural resources, raw materials and components into a finished product that is delivered to...
was based upon Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility
Corporate social responsibility is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model...
principles. However, due to extensive difficulties in finding organic yarn goods, Noir was compelled to produce its own fabrics in order to enable a collection where all links of the supply chain could live up to the code of conduct
Code of Conduct
A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the responsibilities of or proper practices for an individual, party or organization. Related concepts include ethical codes and honor codes....
. The Illuminati II project was thus founded with the aim of securing a stable supply of organic and fair trade
Fair trade
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
d cotton textiles as well as refining and improving the quality of the cotton currently being produced in Uganda to obtain a quality which was applicable for a luxury brand.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The CSR element of Illuminati II is manifold; supporting smallholder farmers in Uganda who produce organic cotton on fair trade principles, and in the long run, keep the whole production lineProduction line
A production line is a set of sequential operations established in a factory whereby materials are put through a refining process to produce an end-product that is suitable for onward consumption; or components are assembled to make a finished article....
in Uganda. The idea behind this is to enhance the chances of farmers in an African country to develop through trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
and business. The fact that the cotton is grown organically means that there is a special focus on the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
and the health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
of the people who grow it. The fair trade certification
Fair trade certification
A fair trade certification is a product certification within the market-based movement fair trade. The most widely used fair trade certification is FLO International's, the International Fairtrade Certification Mark, used in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Fair Trade Certified Mark...
of the cotton ensures a fair price and focus on good working conditions for the farmers and respect for the local communities involved.
Cotton production is located in the Gulu district
Gulu District
Gulu District is a district in Northern Uganda. The district is named after its chief municipal, administrative and commercial center, the town of Gulu.-Location:...
in Northern Uganda – an area that has been racked by the rebel army Lord’s Resistance Army for the past 20 years. The area has been free of assaults since 2006, but is still deeply affected by many years of violence and unrest. Illumiati II partakes in the normalization process of the area by offering employment and a steady source of income for the 10,000 farmers involved in the project. The farmers are thus enabled to obtain a decent living standard for themselves and their families.
CSR is implemented by adherence to the principles of the UN Global Compact
UN Global Compact
The United Nations Global Compact, also known as Compact or UNGC, is a United Nations initiative to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation...
. The local partner, Bruce Robertson, is organic and fair trade certified by Union, which ensures that all ILO conventions
Ilo
Ilo is a port city in southern Peru, with some 58,000 inhabitants. It is the largest city in the Moquegua Region and capital of the province of Ilo.-History:...
are adhered to and that the farmers get a fair price for their crop. The same principles (based on ILO conventions) are carried out in the ginnery and with the strategic partner in Uganda, Phenix Industries. The partners have been chosen based on their ability to prove that they too adhere to the principles of the UN Global Compact.
All textile processing chemicals used by Illuminati II have GOTS certificates (Global Organic Textile Standard
Global Organic Textile Standard
Global Organic Textile Standard is a standard for organic textiles used for clothing. The four member organisations responsible for the definition and enforcement of GOTS are US-based Organic Trade Association, International Association Natural Textile Industry , british Soil Association and Japan...
). This standard for organic textiles covers the production, processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, exportation, importation and distribution of all natural fibres.
The name
IlluminatiIlluminati
The Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776...
(plural of Latin illuminatus, "enlightened") derives from the Latin word Lumen, meaning light, shine or torch. Furthermore, it refers to several groups, both historical and modern, real and fictitious. The word was first founded in the 17th century by a group of scientists who challenged the conventional thinking and advocated reason as the primary source of legitimacy and authority. This period is called the Age of Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
.
Inspired by a new way of thinking and challenging the existing way of consuming in the fashion industry, Illuminati II was created to offer an alternative to exploitation of the environment and poor labour conditions while still encouraging consumers to buy but with a conscience. That is why the concept is called Illuminati II: The second enlightenment period.
Partnership
The Illuminati II business proposition is dependent on partners locally and internationally. The Danish International Development Agency, DANIDA, helps to finance the Illuminati II initiative, and the local partner, Bruce Robertson from Gulu Agricultural Development Ltd, is responsible for the local day-to-day work with the farmers and the crop.Supply chain
Illuminati II and the local partner Bruce Robertson grow the cotton organically in the Gulu district in northern Uganda. Bruce Robertson currently works with 10,000 farmers in Uganda in a cooperativeCooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
set-up which excellences in crop rotation
Crop rotation
Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of dissimilar types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons.Crop rotation confers various benefits to the soil. A traditional element of crop rotation is the replenishment of nitrogen through the use of green manure in sequence with cereals...
allowing for not only cotton to be grown on their plot of land but also other crops like chilli
Chili pepper
Chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The term in British English and in Australia, New Zealand, India, Malaysia and other Asian countries is just chilli without pepper.Chili peppers originated in the Americas...
and sesame
Sesame
Sesame is a flowering plant in the genus Sesamum. Numerous wild relatives occur in Africa and a smaller number in India. It is widely naturalized in tropical regions around the world and is cultivated for its edible seeds, which grow in pods....
. Local Gulu Agricultural Development Ltd trainers, who support the growing of organic cotton, supervise the harvest. Once the harvest is over, the local farmer sells his crop to Gulu Agricultural Development Ltd. who then pays for the harvest by the fair trade principles. The crop is certified by Union.
Once the cotton is spun locally in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, the capital of Uganda, the yarns are transported to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and woven into the final Illuminati II fabrics.