Uniform revolution for Wellington Zoo

Keeper Joakim Liman shows off the Zoo’s new fashion revolution.

After teaming up with local ethical uniform company Little Yellow Bird, Wellington Zoo staff will be showing off their new look from Wednesday 21 December.

The vibrant new Zoo uniforms are set to make a splash and are part of Wellington Zoo’s mission of igniting a Zoo revolution.

Little Yellow Bird and Wellington Zoo share many values, with sustainability and environmental impact being central ethos of both social enterprises. Little Yellow Bird uses organic cotton, which is grown without chemicals and has a much smaller environmental impact compared with conventionally grown cotton. They can also trace garments from cotton seed to disposal.

“We’ve loved working with Little Yellow Bird, as they share our commitment to making sustainable and ethical choices that are good for people and animals,” says Daniel Warsaw, General Manager Business and Partnerships. “At Wellington Zoo, we’re passionate about securing safe habitats for animals worldwide, and we know that our sustainable purchasing choices can help make this a reality – creating jobs that provide alternative livelihoods, reducing environmental impacts, and investing in community development.”

Little Yellow Bird has a bigger mission than just making clothing - it aims to alleviate poverty in the region where its products are made. Each shirt can be traced to the individual who made it by the label – giving the Wellington Zoo team a personal connection to the people who have created their uniform.

“We make sure that all workers along our supply chain, from the cotton farmer to the tailor, are all paid fairly for the work they do,” says Samantha Jones, CEO Little Yellow Bird. “As a social enterprise, we are passionate about creating quality products that have a positive impact in the communities where our products are made.”

"We have been funding micro-loans, educational scholarships and resources for rural schools in India in the cotton farming communities where we source our materials from,” says Samantha.

Wellington Zoo aims to make a positive difference in all aspects of its work so partnering with Little Yellow Bird was an obvious choice.

“As well as developing a great new uniform for our staff, Little Yellow Bird is also helping to sustainably manage the reuse and recycling of our existing uniform to complete the loop,” says Daniel. “We’re excited to show off our new look, which has our staff looking smart, feeling comfortable, and happy in the knowledge that their new uniforms have come from an ethical journey.”

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