More sustainable driving forces
Our more sustainable highlight products
Materials and product concepts
We are taking a two-pronged approach to further develop materials and manufacturing processes in our collections. On the one hand, we rely on the use of selected materials, such as organic cotton or recycled polyester. We are integrating these into our products on a gradual basis.
In addition, we are continuing to develop selected concepts and programmes which highlight various aspects of our product development and supply chain. This includes our 360° Circular Vision concept, for example. The styles are developed in accordance with defined circularity criteria and take aspects of circularity into account right from start of the product design stage.
Another focus is our Empowering Farmers Programme. With this, we support Indian farmers in switching to organic cotton farming.
More information on the materials, product features and the respective concepts can be found in our Material Overview, in the product details sections in the online shop and on the product labels.
360° Circular vision
A project close to our heart: 360° circular vision. Capsule collections are developed in accordance with the criteria of our Circularity Concept, which take aspects of circularity into account right from the product design stage.
During development, we have kept the number of different materials and components used in a product as low as possible. The aim is to take the material recycling requirements more fully into account right from the product design stage.
For our outdoor styles, we adopt a single-material approach; for example, the outer fabric, padding and lining are all made from the same material. In addition, we avoid the use of unnecessary trims and components or keep them to a minimum wherever possible.
Even on our denim, hoodies and T-shirts, the focus is on the choice of fabric and the design. In doing this, we avoid using unnecessary additions and components, unless they are made from the same material as the main material. Our denim, T-shirts and hoodies are made from at least 95% cotton by fabric weight, at least 30% of which is recycled. We don’t use studs on our jeans. Appliqués and badges are being replaced by alternatives such as prints or embroidery or are being omitted entirely.
By meeting these requirements, we are taking into account aspects relating to future reuse and recycling right from the product development stage
Empowering Farmers
FIELD TO FASHION. With Empowering Farmers, we support Indian farmers in switching to organic cotton farming. By connecting directly with the farm cooperatives, we are laying the foundation for a traceable and certified supply chain.
The switch to organic farming takes three years and can be challenging for farmers: the harvest is usually smaller, and the cotton does not yet command a higher price for being organic. We bridge this period with an extra payment to the farmers. In this way, we want to encourage them to make the switch and strengthen their livelihoods and those of their families. We also reward them for their contribution to the environment – because organic farming does away with harmful chemical fertilisers and pesticides, among other things. Through our local partner, the farmers also have access to training, cheaper seeds and support with certification.
Retraced: our partner for more transparency
Retraced stands for greater transparency and supports us in becoming more transparent within the supply chain. Working closely together, we are pursuing the goal of being able to trace our products and digitally map our value chain. We have now reached this milestone for the first products. The badges tell you where, by whom and under which material and social standards the styles were produced.
New Generation Fabric Dyeing
In order to use our natural resources even more sustainably and efficiently, we use innovative technologies for the dyeing process of our textiles.
Thanks to these new generation fabric dyeing processes, we can eliminate water and environmentally harmful chemicals in the dyeing process.
Discover more sustainable styles
Materials and product development
The selection of materials and the product development are important components of our Future Programme. We are working continuously to further increase the proportion of selected materials, such as organic cotton and recycled materials, in our collections. You can find information on the materials used and on our programmes in the following sections.
Questions or suggestions?
Do other topics and actions seem more important to you and do you have questions or suggestions about our sustainability concepts? Let's talk about it! We know we still have a long way to go - there is still a lot to do. We are interested in your honest opinion. Write to us at [email protected].
