WHO WE ARE
Mary: "I am the one who conceives, draws, and runs the store!"
THE STORE
ZE POLITA
9 rue Port de Castets 64100 Bayonne - FRANCE
Open TUESDAY to SATURDAY from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
“Our “mother” store has been located in the heart of Bayonne’s historic center since December 2021.
You can find the complete current collections for babies, children, and adults, as well as accessories and original editions.
Sylvain: "I am the one who does the screen printing and runs the workshop!I am also available to help with your custom orders."
THE WORKSHOP
PROPAGANDA
Open MONDAY to FRIDAY from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
“Our workshop is located on the outskirts of Bayonne, at our home in the village of Lahonce. We have all the equipment needed to produce our screen prints. The workshop is also able to create made-to-order products on any type of textile support.”
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ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS Each illustration is created by Mary as she tries to respond to her current desires, and always to tell a little story. Drawing and graphic design are ways of conveying ideas, feelings, and messages more easily diffusables. By trying to steer clear of clichés and folklore, the Basque Country is showcased by sharing lesser-known things that nonetheless shape the local culture. |
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UNIQUE SCREEN PRINTS Screen printing is the printing process we use. Sylvain is the one who mainly handles this part. Screen printing is an age-old craft based on the stencil technique. |
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HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS This choice is driven by personal conviction, but also by the need to best support our hand-screen-printing work; choosing high-quality materials is crucial. We work with suppliers all certified ORGANIC COTTON & FAIR WEAR (international fair trade in the textile sector), offering quality at an affordable price for as many people as possible, with fully traceable ethics. |
A LOCAL, FAMILY-OWNED & INCLUSIVE BRAND 
From the very beginning, we have created collections for babies, children, and adults, with the aim of offering a brand that can dress everyone.
The brand was born at almost the same time as our son, and he is an integral part of ZE POLITA—he came up with its name!
In Basque, ZE POLITA means “how lovely!” Before we had a physical shop, it had another name. But when we found the shop in Bayonne, we wanted to give our work fresh momentum by finding a more distinctive name.
And as our first audience member, one day he told us: “It’s lovely, Mum, what you’re doing, so you should call it ZE POLITA!”
And since then, we have been proud to share this little story, along with many others, with our customers.
When it comes to inclusivity, it starts with the creation of the illustrations. Everything is drawn without thinking in terms of gender, whether for little ones or grown-ups!
And the second point that is important to us is the fit of the garments we select: we are one of the few local brands to offer genuine women’s cuts in a wide variety of shapes and drapes, covering a broad range of body types from XS to XXL. For men’s garments and unisex cuts, most models are available from XXS to 3XL. We can sometimes even work to order for other measurements.
The stand
Other boutique(s)
Through lovely encounters at various pop-up stands, I have been able to place my creations in a few boutiques in the region. In the POINTS OF SALE section, you can find the addresses of the boutiques where my work is currently available.
ZE POLITA
ECO-FRIENDLY
Textile design is great, but it pollutes!!!
And yes, the textile industry is the second-largest source of pollution on our planet... So it was obvious to me that if I embarked on this adventure, I would do so in a thoughtful and responsible way.
For this reason, ZE POLITA prints its designs only on eco-friendly textiles sourced through fair trade. Organic is great, but if people have to work themselves to exhaustion to produce it, then no thanks!
Here are some of the labels you may find on our textiles.
FAIR WEAR FOUNDATION
https://www.fairwear.org
Fair Wear is an international label for good working conditions in the textile sector. The label has no binding criteria but works with the industry to improve working conditions. The label is managed and monitored by the Fair Wear Foundation. Fair Wear Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that works with companies to improve the working conditions of workers in the textile industry.
OEKO-TEX 100
https://www.oeko-tex.com
Oeko-Tex 100 is an international standard for textiles. It indicates that the finished product contains no harmful substances. The standard is managed and monitored by the International Oeko-Tex® Association. The International Oeko-Tex® Association is an association of 16 textile research institutes. Centexbel, the Belgian Scientific and Technical Centre for the Textile Industry, is one of these research institutes.
GOTS
http://www.global-standard.org
GOTS is an international standard for organic textiles. It indicates that production is carried out in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner. It also includes quality requirements for the products. The standard is rooted in European legislation and is managed by GOTS. GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is an international organization made up of four members, each of which previously had its own standard for organic textiles. The four members are: the Organic Trade Association, the Japan Organic Cotton Association (JOCA), the International Association of Natural Textile Industry, and the Soil Association (UK). Inspections are carried out by independent control bodies.
The OCS 100 label is for products made from 100% natural raw materials, while the OCS blended label is for products made from at least 95% natural raw materials (less than 5% synthetic components).
GRS
https://www.control-union.fr/control-union/Developpement-Durable-Global-Recycle-Standard-fr
The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certifies not only a product’s recycled content but also verifies compliance with environmental and social criteria.
CARBON TRUST CERTIFICATION
https://www.carbontrust.com
An independent certification body for product footprints, accredited by UKAS to certify PAS 2050 footprints. A product’s carbon footprint is the total sum of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) produced throughout a product’s life cycle, including production, distribution, and use.
Of course, this list is not exhaustive!
To take things further, I invite you to discover the essential and admirable work of the collective
ETHICS ON THE LABEL
https://ethique-sur-etiquette.org/
Because we can all, in our own way, change our consumption habits for a more sustainable and united future!
Supporting local artisan creators is part of that!
Buy less, but buy better!
That is also why, at ZE POLITA, the collections are produced in very limited series to avoid waste and ensure that unsold items or defects are transformed into accessories and small decorations
and other DIY projects that will make someone happy!