We are proud to have partnered with Italian-based company Aquafil, enabling us to craft UTILITY by Yu Mei pieces exclusively in ECONYL® regenerated nylon.

The material is created by recovering nylon waste, such as fishing nets, carpets and industrial waste destined for landfill. The waste is recycled to its original purity through radical regeneration and purification and processed into quality nylon yarn, ready for us to create with.

For every 10,000 tonnes of ECONYL® raw material produced, 70,000 barrels of crude oil are saved, and 65,100 tonnes of CO2 emissions are avoided—reducing the global warming impact of nylon by up to 90% compared with new material made from oil.

The staple material that Yu Mei bags are constructed from is our signature Deer Nappa. A by-product of the New Zealand venison industry that would otherwise be waste, our Deer Nappa is 100% sourced from local farms within the South Island of New Zealand, enabling traceability back to a farm level.

We have conducted extensive research to conclude that Deer Nappa is one of the most regenerative materials available to us for the manufacturing of our pieces.

A key factor within this determination is the amount of deer hides produced in New Zealand as a result of the venison industry far surpassing the demand from the leather industry. Yu Mei recognises hides as a by-product of this industry which would otherwise be landfilled.

With reference to the intrinsic value of an animal hide, the hide is sometimes referred to as a co-product. However, as supply is driven by the venison industry demands, Yu Mei uses the term by-product for its deer hides.

Deer Nappa is reclaimed responsibly in New Zealand under the Five Freedoms, which has strictly monitored compliance by the Deer Association of New Zealand. The Five Freedoms ensure deer are free from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury and disease, free to express normal behaviour and free from fear and distress. Farmed deer also have a low ecological footprint, as they are free to roam larger geographical areas. This means that the impact they have on the land is significantly less than cattle or sheep.

As leather is a natural product, the tanning process can create variation through hides. Traditionally, brands may only accept leather containing little to no imperfections in its finish, however, we work with our manufacturers to find solutions, such as innovative cutting practices, that ensure the premium quality of Yu Mei products is upheld while limiting potential waste.

Finally, Deer Nappa is an incredibly durable material, with a softness and suppleness that ages well over time. We firmly believe that for consumers to want to purchase our products and use them for years to come, our product has to be both desirable and long-lasting.

A selection of Yu Mei pieces is made from premium French Lambskin, sourced via a small family Tannery in Levroux, which is located in the Indre department and Centre-Loire Valley region. Expert artisans since 1860, this tannery has been awarded the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant which acknowledges the rich cultural heritage of the skills passed between generations. With environmental and social concerns top of mind, this tannery has many innovations around reducing waste and water use and energy and has made a huge investment in research and development, hiring a team to work on this to ensure they are at the forefront of innovation within this space.

Our Suede is sourced from world-renowned tanneries in Milan and China. We have chosen to work with these suppliers to be able to design with their leading material, and because their environmental performance has been certified through the Leather Working Group Gold Standard.

In 2021, Yu Mei launched a minimal range of Cashmere knits in collaboration with local artisans, Standard Issue. This range was created with Cashmere from the Cariaggi family, who run a Cashmere Mill based in Smirra, Italy. Cariaggi uses Cashmere from the Capra Hircus Laniger goat from inner Mongolia, which is a Non-CITES species. Cariaggi holds the Responsible Wool Standard, ZQ wool standard, Organic Content Standard, as well as a Health and Textile standard, which is overseen by the Italian Government. These standards ensure the correct use of chemicals and guarantee the eco-toxicological quality of the product throughout the supply chain. Cariaggi factories use 100% renewable energy, with ISO 14001-ISO 45001 standards to address the eco-management of the company and health and safety within the workplace. An integral consideration of our partnership with Standard Issue was their zero waste production philosophy, in line with our commitment to reducing waste.

Yu Mei is committed to never using down, feathers, angora, exotic skins or furs in our ranges. Within New Zealand, the species of Red Deer we use holds a Non-CITES Declaration from New Zealand's Department of Conservation, Te Papa Atawhai.

We are proud to use YKK Zips in all Yu Mei pieces. These are a small but important part of our designs, and it is important to Yu Mei that all suppliers honour and share our values. As one of the largest manufacturers in the industry, YKK has extensive goals to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by converting to 100% renewable energy, and sustainable materials, and reducing water and chemical use. As part of this commitment, YKK has formulated their Cycle of Goodness philosophy with ISO26000 guidelines. We are working to ensure traceability of every notion used in our products and look forward to updating our community as this information becomes available.

Yu Mei is proud to partner with a packaging manufacturer in Dongguan, China, that is a regularly audited SEDEX member.

Our packaging has been FSC accredited under FSC-STD-40-004 ver 3.0.

Recognising the importance of minimal packaging, we have built this into our design process to reduce the amount of packaging we use.

To minimise freight impacts, we forecast and order only according to inventory, while working with our packaging manufacturer to ensure shipments are sent flat-packed, alongside our finished pieces.

Yu Mei is committed to responsible consumption and cultivating sustainable buying habits within our community. With timeless designs that transcend trends and seasons, we hope that each customer’s purchase decision mirrors that of our considered and intentional design.