It’s that time of year again. Black Friday has officially arrived. Whilst we cast no judgement on people who want to use this opportunity to treat themselves and loved ones, we’ve decided once again, that this event isn’t right for Dora Larsen.

The last two years have seen us transform our business practices. We’ve gained a better understanding of our fabrics, our factories and everyone who plays a part in bringing together our lingerie and sleepwear collections. As a result we’ve been able to continue to make positive changes to how we operate, season on season.

This year in particular, we stepped-up our commitment to becoming a more responsible producer by joining 1% for the Planet. As members, we pledge to donate 1% of our annual turnover, whether we make a profit or loss, to organisations and charities who help the earth and create a healthier planet. This Black Friday weekend, we will be donating £10 from every order to Rewilding Britain, a charity close to our Founders’ hearts.

Who is Rewilding Britain, and what do they do?

Rewilding Britain is an organisation actively working to make the planet thrive again by restoring its wild nature. The act of rewilding is a form of environmental conservation and repair, where we as humans step back to let an area to flourish as nature intended. By allowing this organic growth, the organisation says, “We can protect, restore and regenerate species-rich mosaics of habitats; rewilding helps reverse biodiversity loss and bring back the abundance of Britain’s wildlife."

Rewilding Britain aims to see restoration across at least 30% of Britain’s land and sea by 2030, in areas considered species rich with natural habitats. By rebuilding nature in this way, a diverse mass of grasslands, marshes, living reefs and wetlands will emerge.

What can I do to help?

To support, we need to reset our relationship and how we interact with the environment. We need nature to survive, so it’s only fair that we nurture and protect it, too. We caught up with our co-Founder Jake, who has been rewilding his garden since the onset of the pandemic, on some things we can all do to help this movement.

Try “ungardening”

Give your lawnmower a rest and allow an area your garden to grow wild without the use of chemical feeds and pesticides. Many of us are used to the idea of neat gardens but too much maintenance strips your garden of its ecological value, and chemicals reduce insect populations that are vital to a healthy and thriving ecosystem. By letting nature do its thing in your outdoor space, whether you have a big back garden or a small window box, you can provide safe food and habitats for local plants and animals.

Collect litter

Removing human litter from spaces of nature so that animals and plants don’t get caught up in plastic or chemical treated items that might harm them and their growth.

Create a pond

We’re not talking about the fish kind but putting water into your garden makes it more attractive to wildlife. And size doesn’t matter. If you only have a small space, simply digging in an old sink and filling it with gravel, some native pond plants and rainwater will hugely increase the ecological value of your garden. Mimicking spaces found in the wild for birds to wash and drink from can be helpful for their survival and growth, and it also invites smaller creatures like frogs to inhabit.

Help animals flourish

Choose to grow pollinating plants that help bees and butterflies get access to nectar to help them survive or cut holes in fences in urban spaces to create wildlife corridors for creatures that don’t fly to be able to move around their habitat and thrive.

Build a compost heap

Decay is good for nature as it returns nutrients to the ground as part of its natural cycle, plus it makes a great home for hedgehogs, beetles, worms and grass snakes. Some of these eat insects and so act as natural pest controllers, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

Read more about Rewilding Britain here.

Photography by Mafalda Silva and Kate Borrill.