Every company begins with a question and for Canadian GOTS-certified brand Q for Quinn, it wasn’t “How can we build a sustainable fashion brand?” It was something much simpler: “Why are the clothes we wear closest to our skin often the ones we know the least about?”
That question became the foundation of a company creating organic cotton socks, underwear, bras and activewear – all designed with comfort, quality and transparency in mind. While these everyday essentials rarely take center stage in conversations about textiles, they’re among the garments we wear most, and most importantly, the ones that stay closest to our skin throughout the day.
For founder and CEO Melita Cyril, choosing certified organic materials was only the beginning. The team wanted confidence that every step after the cotton field – from processing and dyeing to manufacturing – meets environmental and social criteria. That’s why becoming GOTS certified in 2022 felt like a natural next step.
“One of the reasons we value GOTS certification is how comprehensive the Standard is,” says Melita. “Beyond verifying certified organic fibre content, GOTS includes strict environmental criteria for processing and chemical use, along with detailed social criteria. This gives us confidence that our supply chain is processed in accordance with GOTS criteria and aligned with ethical and social accountability requirements at every certified step.”
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For Q for Quinn, certification is not simply about carrying a label. It has strengthened transparency across the company’s supply chain, reinforced long-term partnerships with manufacturers and provided a programme for continuously improving how their products are made.
Just as importantly, it helps the people who buy their items make informed choices. In a marketplace filled with sustainability claims, independent certification offers reassurance and a clearer way to understand what’s behind the products we wear. As Q for Quinn continues to expand its range of thoughtfully designed essentials, the company’s original question remains just as relevant today.
Meaningful change doesn’t always begin with having all the answers. Sometimes, it starts by asking better questions at the right time and, along the way, creating products with a story people can trust.
