CSR Report Q2 2020

We are not just another label.

We take a holistic approach to sustainability. This year we launched our 360° Framework to become the most sustainable company we can be. In our quarterly CSR reports we give you updates on where we stand, what we are aiming for and what our challenges are.

Some of the highlights of our last CSR Report included:

in our A/W2020 collection 41% of styles were made entirely of eco-friendly fabrics
we achieved 100% traceability to our factories and conducted 30 on-site visits 2017-2019
we published our Code of Conduct, Forest Derived Materials Policy and Fabric Standard
we procure 100% renewable energy and offset all emissions from parcel deliveries
we joined the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, CanopyStyle and Fur Free Alliance
we reduced CO2 emissions from long-distance shipping by 7.6% last year compared to a business as usual scenario

Here comes our second CSR report. We hope you enjoy reading it!

We take a holistic approach to sustainability. This year we launched our 360° Framework to become the most sustainable company we can be. In our quarterly CSR reports we give you updates on where we stand, what we are aiming for and what our challenges are.

Some of the highlights of our last CSR Report included:

in our A/W2020 collection 41% of styles were made entirely of eco-friendly fabrics
we achieved 100% traceability to our factories and conducted 30 on-site visits 2017-2019
we published our Code of Conduct, Forest Derived Materials Policy and Fabric Standard
we procure 100% renewable energy and offset all emissions from parcel deliveries
we joined the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, CanopyStyle and Fur Free Alliance
we reduced CO2 emissions from long-distance shipping by 7.6% last year compared to a business as usual scenario

Here comes our second CSR report. We hope you enjoy reading it!

01

Covid-19

‘We're in this together’ - a personal note from the IVY & OAK team

01

Covid-19

‘We're in this together’ - a personal note from the IVY & OAK team

It seems impossible to write this report without talking about Covid-19. Every person on this planet has been impacted by it, to differing degrees, and has their story to tell. We want to share with you how the pandemic has been affecting us and our partners.

The fashion industry has been one of the most impacted economic sectors during this crisis: stores had to close, lock-downs and financial insecurity slowed down consumer demand. While there is certainly an argument to be made that a lower level of clothing consumption was long overdue and is positive for our planet, the impacts of the sudden fall in demand ravelled down the textile supply chain and hit many of the most vulnerable. Covid-19 not only made the global interconnections between people, countries and industries visible, but also highlighted the necessity for corporate responsibility once again.

While this quarter has certainly been a challenging time, at IVY & OAK we are thankful that we are still standing. We were able to continue to work from home, keep our warehouse and online shop open and reopen our boutique in Berlin after the lock-down with new opening hours. We go through the crisis as a team, side by side with our partners.

It seems impossible to write this report without talking about Covid-19. Every person on this planet has been impacted by it, to differing degrees, and has their story to tell. We want to share with you how the pandemic has been affecting us and our partners.

The fashion industry has been one of the most impacted economic sectors during this crisis: stores had to close, lock-downs and financial insecurity slowed down consumer demand. While there is certainly an argument to be made that a lower level of clothing consumption was long overdue and is positive for our planet, the impacts of the sudden fall in demand ravelled down the textile supply chain and hit many of the most vulnerable. Covid-19 not only made the global interconnections between people, countries and industries visible, but also highlighted the necessity for corporate responsibility once again.

While this quarter has certainly been a challenging time, at IVY & OAK we are thankful that we are still standing. We were able to continue to work from home, keep our warehouse and online shop open and reopen our boutique in Berlin after the lock-down with new opening hours. We go through the crisis as a team, side by side with our partners.

What we did

We said safety first. All our partners took adequate measures to protect employees’ health. We regularly enquire how our partners are doing and how the situation is developing in their respective countries.

SAFETY FIRST

We said safety first. All our partners took adequate measures to protect employees’ health. We regularly enquire how our partners are doing and how the situation is developing in their respective countries.

We have kept our commitments. Based on the principles of partnership and transparency, we talked to our suppliers. We confirmed all orders that we had already placed and took responsibility for all input materials already purchased. We are happy to say that we managed to find solutions for future orders that ensure we do not overproduce in the current climate while keeping business running for our partners.

PARTNERSHIP

We have kept our commitments. Based on the principles of partnership and transparency, we talked to our suppliers. We confirmed all orders that we had already placed and took responsibility for all input materials already purchased. We are happy to say that we managed to find solutions for future orders that ensure we do not overproduce in the current climate while keeping business running for our partners.

We donated and produced masks. As soon as Covid-19 swept over to Germany, our Chinese suppliers shared their experience with us and sent us masks. We kept the single use masks for our own use and donated a box of FFP2 masks to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Berlin in charge of distributing them to the medical institutions most in need. Together with one of our suppliers in Bulgaria we started manufacturing masks from leftover fabrics. All profits go to Medecins sans Frontiers to support their invaluable work.

MASKS

We donated and produced masks. As soon as Covid-19 swept over to Germany, our Chinese suppliers shared their experience with us and sent us masks. We kept the single use masks for our own use and donated a box of FFP2 masks to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Berlin in charge of distributing them to the medical institutions most in need. Together with one of our suppliers in Bulgaria we started manufacturing masks from leftover fabrics. All profits go to Medecins sans Frontiers to support their invaluable work.

Our motto: all for one and one for all. Our team has been working from home since March. And this works really well! We made sure that everyone has a suitable screen at home, start the week together as a team every Monday morning and support each other in those areas where there is a particularly high need as a result of Covid-19. From time to time we organise digital after work drinks. We are slowly reopening our office for a limited number of colleagues, as some things like product development and fittings are just better done in person. One of our core values is transparency and we have tried to live this internally during the crisis by talking openly about the situation and how it affects our company.

TEAM

Our motto: all for one and one for all. Our team has been working from home since March. And this works really well! We made sure that everyone has a suitable screen at home, start the week together as a team every Monday morning and support each other in those areas where there is a particularly high need as a result of Covid-19. From time to time we organise digital after work drinks. We are slowly reopening our office for a limited number of colleagues, as some things like product development and fittings are just better done in person. One of our core values is transparency and we have tried to live this internally during the crisis by talking openly about the situation and how it affects our company.

We reached out to other brands. There are many brands whose work we admire and want to support. So, we started our initiative IVY & OAK x Friends because we believe that solidarity goes a longer way than competitive thinking.

SOLIDARITY

We reached out to other brands. There are many brands whose work we admire and want to support. So, we started our initiative IVY & OAK x Friends because we believe that solidarity goes a longer way than competitive thinking.

We said safety first. All our partners took adequate measures to protect employees’ health. We regularly enquire how our partners are doing and how the situation is developing in their respective countries.

SAFETY FIRST

We said safety first. All our partners took adequate measures to protect employees’ health. We regularly enquire how our partners are doing and how the situation is developing in their respective countries.

We have kept our commitments. Based on the principles of partnership and transparency, we talked to our suppliers. We confirmed all orders that we had already placed and took responsibility for all input materials already purchased. We are happy to say that we managed to find solutions for future orders that ensure we do not overproduce in the current climate while keeping business running for our partners.

PARTNERSHIP

We have kept our commitments. Based on the principles of partnership and transparency, we talked to our suppliers. We confirmed all orders that we had already placed and took responsibility for all input materials already purchased. We are happy to say that we managed to find solutions for future orders that ensure we do not overproduce in the current climate while keeping business running for our partners.

We donated and produced masks. As soon as Covid-19 swept over to Germany, our Chinese suppliers shared their experience with us and sent us masks. We kept the single use masks for our own use and donated a box of FFP2 masks to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Berlin in charge of distributing them to the medical institutions most in need. Together with one of our suppliers in Bulgaria we started manufacturing masks from leftover fabrics. All profits go to Medecins sans Frontiers to support their invaluable work.

MASKS

We donated and produced masks. As soon as Covid-19 swept over to Germany, our Chinese suppliers shared their experience with us and sent us masks. We kept the single use masks for our own use and donated a box of FFP2 masks to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Berlin in charge of distributing them to the medical institutions most in need. Together with one of our suppliers in Bulgaria we started manufacturing masks from leftover fabrics. All profits go to Medecins sans Frontiers to support their invaluable work.

Our motto: all for one and one for all. Our team has been working from home since March. And this works really well! We made sure that everyone has a suitable screen at home, start the week together as a team every Monday morning and support each other in those areas where there is a particularly high need as a result of Covid-19. From time to time we organise digital after work drinks. We are slowly reopening our office for a limited number of colleagues, as some things like product development and fittings are just better done in person. One of our core values is transparency and we have tried to live this internally during the crisis by talking openly about the situation and how it affects our company.

TEAM

Our motto: all for one and one for all. Our team has been working from home since March. And this works really well! We made sure that everyone has a suitable screen at home, start the week together as a team every Monday morning and support each other in those areas where there is a particularly high need as a result of Covid-19. From time to time we organise digital after work drinks. We are slowly reopening our office for a limited number of colleagues, as some things like product development and fittings are just better done in person. One of our core values is transparency and we have tried to live this internally during the crisis by talking openly about the situation and how it affects our company.

We reached out to other brands. There are many brands whose work we admire and want to support. So, we started our initiative IVY & OAK x Friends because we believe that solidarity goes a longer way than competitive thinking.

SOLIDARITY

We reached out to other brands. There are many brands whose work we admire and want to support. So, we started our initiative IVY & OAK x Friends because we believe that solidarity goes a longer way than competitive thinking.

While Covid-19 had impacts on some of our CSR projects, we are optimistic that we will still achieve our targets. We also see that many of our previous efforts and the way we have been doing business is helping us to weather the crisis. Our close and direct sourcing relationships with suppliers helped us to quickly react to disruptions in our supply chain, our timeless designs do not depend on short-lived trends, our already ongoing shift from plane to rail transport enabled us to respond to discontinued air traffic. We are more convinced than ever that long-term thinking and eco-friendly and socially sound decisions make for a more resilient business. After all, sustain-ability essentially means acting consciously and foresightedly to be fit for the future.

02

Circularity

‘Design our products for circularity, with a focus on longevity, quality and zero waste.’

02

Circularity

‘Design our products for circularity, with a focus on longevity, quality and zero waste.’

Targets
& Actions

OUR DESIGNS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CIRCULARITY PRINCIPLES
CIRCULARITY THINKING IS INTEGRATED INTO ALL BUSINESS AREAS

While sustainability is about improving the current system through better, eco-friendly and fair choices, circularity requires a more systemic rethinking. Put simply, the goal is to keep products in use for longer, circulate them back into manufacturing processes as input materials and reduce waste. Since the beginning clothing longevity, timeless design and quality manufacturing have been essential to our company philosophy. These are key parts of circular thinking. We seek to dive deeper into all circular economy principles and to integrate them further into our company. Over the past months we conducted several projects to prolong our garments’ lifespan and to reuse fabric leftovers.

OUR DESIGNS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CIRCULARITY PRINCIPLES
CIRCULARITY THINKING IS INTEGRATED INTO ALL BUSINESS AREAS

While sustainability is about improving the current system through better, eco-friendly and fair choices, circularity requires a more systemic rethinking. Put simply, the goal is to keep products in use for longer, circulate them back into manufacturing processes as input materials and reduce waste. Since the beginning clothing longevity, timeless design and quality manufacturing have been essential to our company philosophy. These are key parts of circular thinking. We seek to dive deeper into all circular economy principles and to integrate them further into our company. Over the past months we conducted several projects to prolong our garments’ lifespan and to reuse fabric leftovers.

We recently published our very own Care Guide with general advice as well as specific guidance on how to care for different materials in an eco-friendly way. We put a lot of effort into the design and crafting of quality garments, and with the right care, they can last for many years to come - maybe even be passed on to the next generation.

DIY and Repair are more than just trends for us. All our garments come with an extra button because we make them for the long-run and so they may need a little repair after a while. Since not everybody knows how to sew on buttons anymore, we published a repair story on Instagram. We received an encouraging response from our community. As a result, we began working on a Repair Guide. We want to contribute to the popularity and uptake of repairing by sharing our sewing knowledge.

Aside from increasing our use of recycled materials, notably polyester and wool, over the past months we launched pilot projects to reuse fabric leftovers. We made scrunchies, garment bags and face masks. In our most recent project, we used up the surplus fabric from some of our mommy styles to create matching kids’ outfits and accessories, thereby reducing the need for new fabric production.

We recently published our very own Care Guide with general advice as well as specific guidance on how to care for different materials in an eco-friendly way. We put a lot of effort into the design and crafting of quality garments, and with the right care, they can last for many years to come - maybe even be passed on to the next generation.

DIY and Repair are more than just trends for us. All our garments come with an extra button because we make them for the long-run and so they may need a little repair after a while. Since not everybody knows how to sew on buttons anymore, we published a repair story on Instagram. We received an encouraging response from our community. As a result, we began working on a Repair Guide. We want to contribute to the popularity and uptake of repairing by sharing our sewing knowledge.

Aside from increasing our use of recycled materials, notably polyester and wool, over the past months we launched pilot projects to reuse fabric leftovers. We made scrunchies, garment bags and face masks. In our most recent project, we used up the surplus fabric from some of our mommy styles to create matching kids’ outfits and accessories, thereby reducing the need for new fabric production.

Results

5

fabric leftover projects

5

fabric leftover projects

51%

of styles made of mono fabrics*

51%

of styles made of mono fabrics*

First

styles made of recycled wool created*

First

styles made of recycled wool created*

100%

of our button styles come with a small repair kit

100%

of our button styles come with a small repair kit

1 of 3

knowledge sharing guides for customers published

1 of 3

knowledge sharing guides for customers published

5

fabric leftover projects

5

fabric leftover projects

51%

of styles made of mono fabrics*

51%

of styles made of mono fabrics*

First

styles made of recycled wool created*

First

styles made of recycled wool created*

100%

of our button styles come with a small repair kit

100%

of our button styles come with a small repair kit

1 of 3

knowledge sharing guides for customers published

1 of 3

knowledge sharing guides for customers published

*Data based on A/W2020 collection

Challenges
& To-Dos

Fabric scraps and leftovers arise during sampling, cutting and production. There are interesting market developments in terms of software, technologies and business models to reduce scraps from product development and manufacturing. So far, we mainly initiated projects to reuse leftovers. In the future, we want to increasingly look for ways to reduce the generation of fabric leftovers from the outset.

LEFTOVER

Fabric scraps and leftovers arise during sampling, cutting and production. There are interesting market developments in terms of software, technologies and business models to reduce scraps from product development and manufacturing. So far, we mainly initiated projects to reuse leftovers. In the future, we want to increasingly look for ways to reduce the generation of fabric leftovers from the outset.

Moving away from a linear take-make-dispose mentality requires that products are designed differently from the beginning, new business models based on circular principles are accepted by customers, infrastructure to support circularity is in place, new technologies are available at a commercially viable scale, and, importantly, raw material prices reflect real costs. Companies, investors, governments, NGOs, consumers - we are all called upon to drive the change. It is a big task, and we are at the beginning. As a company we try to build up our know-how, use existing resources and network through industry workshops.

PARADIGM SHIFT

Moving away from a linear take-make-dispose mentality requires that products are designed differently from the beginning, new business models based on circular principles are accepted by customers, infrastructure to support circularity is in place, new technologies are available at a commercially viable scale, and, importantly, raw material prices reflect real costs. Companies, investors, governments, NGOs, consumers - we are all called upon to drive the change. It is a big task, and we are at the beginning. As a company we try to build up our know-how, use existing resources and network through industry workshops.

Fabric scraps and leftovers arise during sampling, cutting and production. There are interesting market developments in terms of software, technologies and business models to reduce scraps from product development and manufacturing. So far, we mainly initiated projects to reuse leftovers. In the future, we want to increasingly look for ways to reduce the generation of fabric leftovers from the outset.

LEFTOVER

Fabric scraps and leftovers arise during sampling, cutting and production. There are interesting market developments in terms of software, technologies and business models to reduce scraps from product development and manufacturing. So far, we mainly initiated projects to reuse leftovers. In the future, we want to increasingly look for ways to reduce the generation of fabric leftovers from the outset.

Moving away from a linear take-make-dispose mentality requires that products are designed differently from the beginning, new business models based on circular principles are accepted by customers, infrastructure to support circularity is in place, new technologies are available at a commercially viable scale, and, importantly, raw material prices reflect real costs. Companies, investors, governments, NGOs, consumers - we are all called upon to drive the change. It is a big task, and we are at the beginning. As a company we try to build up our know-how, use existing resources and network through industry workshops.

PARADIGM SHIFT

Moving away from a linear take-make-dispose mentality requires that products are designed differently from the beginning, new business models based on circular principles are accepted by customers, infrastructure to support circularity is in place, new technologies are available at a commercially viable scale, and, importantly, raw material prices reflect real costs. Companies, investors, governments, NGOs, consumers - we are all called upon to drive the change. It is a big task, and we are at the beginning. As a company we try to build up our know-how, use existing resources and network through industry workshops.

03

Packaging

‘Choose the most eco-friendly materials we can, reduce our use of packaging and invest in reuse solutions.’

03

Packaging

‘Choose the most eco-friendly materials we can, reduce our use of packaging and invest in reuse solutions.’

Targets
& Actions

100% SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE PACKAGING MATERIALS BY 2022
ACHIEVE A 20% RELATIVE REDUCTION IN PACKAGING USE BY 2022

We take a 'reduce – reuse – recycle' approach to packaging.

We have been working with the international forest protection organisation Canopy on viscose for several months to ensure we only source from eco-friendly producers and to foster the development of alternative fibres. A logical next step was to join their initiative Pack4Good on packaging. You can read about our commitment for both viscose and packaging here.

An initial analysis of our packaging footprint showed that we already perform quite well on materials, as all our boxes, hang tags and polybags are made from recycled and recyclable materials.

As a second step we reviewed the necessity for every individual packaging component. We decided to do without one of our standard paper tags and the barcode sticker on our polybags in the future. Instead, the code can be scanned from the hangtag of the garment - a good solution for our warehouse and our B2B partners.

100% SUSTAINABLE AND RECYCLABLE PACKAGING MATERIALS BY 2022
ACHIEVE A 20% RELATIVE REDUCTION IN PACKAGING USE BY 2022

We take a 'reduce – reuse – recycle' approach to packaging.

We have been working with the international forest protection organisation Canopy on viscose for several months to ensure we only source from eco-friendly producers and to foster the development of alternative fibres. A logical next step was to join their initiative Pack4Good on packaging. You can read about our commitment for both viscose and packaging here.

An initial analysis of our packaging footprint showed that we already perform quite well on materials, as all our boxes, hang tags and polybags are made from recycled and recyclable materials.

As a second step we reviewed the necessity for every individual packaging component. We decided to do without one of our standard paper tags and the barcode sticker on our polybags in the future. Instead, the code can be scanned from the hangtag of the garment - a good solution for our warehouse and our B2B partners.

We also changed our invoice paper to the Blue Angel label: 100% recycled paper and no harmful chemicals. For deliveries from suppliers to our office, we have introduced a new system to pack several garments in one polybag, thus reducing plastic use. Next on our list are the shopping bags in our boutique, our flyers and wrapping paper. We are also currently looking into optimising our package sizes so that they take up less volume and produce less CO2 during transportation.

Results

93%

recycled material content in overall packaging*

93%

recycled material content in overall packaging*

96%

of packaging is recyclable*

96%

of packaging is recyclable*

12%

reduction in packaging per product**

12%

reduction in packaging per product**

93%

recycled material content in overall packaging*

93%

recycled material content in overall packaging*

96%

of packaging is recyclable*

96%

of packaging is recyclable*

12%

reduction in packaging per product**

12%

reduction in packaging per product**

*Estimates based on absolute annual consumption 2019 (total weight)
**Product packaging includes polybag, hangtags, staples and fixing threads

Challenges
& To-Dos

Product protection versus weight and volume during transportation? Reusability versus biodegradability? Packaging is a complex and important topic for online retailing, for which no ideal solution exists yet. We seek to take the best possible decisions by considering all aspects, including the origin and extraction of raw materials, recyclability and existing infrastructure as well as customer experience. It is not always easy, but we are doing our best.

TRADE-OFFS

Product protection versus weight and volume during transportation? Reusability versus biodegradability? Packaging is a complex and important topic for online retailing, for which no ideal solution exists yet. We seek to take the best possible decisions by considering all aspects, including the origin and extraction of raw materials, recyclability and existing infrastructure as well as customer experience. It is not always easy, but we are doing our best.

Re-usable packaging sounds great! However, it requires the packaging to be robust so that the product does not get damaged during transportation, to be returned via a logistics system and to be cost competitive compared to single use packaging over its life cycle. Together with our warehouse and suppliers, we are currently investigating various possibilities to reuse packaging. Furthermore, we hope that joining the Pack4Good initiative will provide us with additional cooperation opportunities and impulses.

REUSE

Re-usable packaging sounds great! However, it requires the packaging to be robust so that the product does not get damaged during transportation, to be returned via a logistics system and to be cost competitive compared to single use packaging over its life cycle. Together with our warehouse and suppliers, we are currently investigating various possibilities to reuse packaging. Furthermore, we hope that joining the Pack4Good initiative will provide us with additional cooperation opportunities and impulses.

We are not alone in our value chain. Our suppliers, warehouse, delivery company and B2B partners all work with several brands and each have their own standardised requirements - which we completely understand. Sometimes we encounter challenges implementing changes as we must make sure they do not pose any issues for our partners. Thus, we always consult with them first to tackle them together.

PARTNER STANDARDS

We are not alone in our value chain. Our suppliers, warehouse, delivery company and B2B partners all work with several brands and each have their own standardised requirements - which we completely understand. Sometimes we encounter challenges implementing changes as we must make sure they do not pose any issues for our partners. Thus, we always consult with them first to tackle them together.

Product protection versus weight and volume during transportation? Reusability versus biodegradability? Packaging is a complex and important topic for online retailing, for which no ideal solution exists yet. We seek to take the best possible decisions by considering all aspects, including the origin and extraction of raw materials, recyclability and existing infrastructure as well as customer experience. It is not always easy, but we are doing our best.

TRADE-OFFS

Product protection versus weight and volume during transportation? Reusability versus biodegradability? Packaging is a complex and important topic for online retailing, for which no ideal solution exists yet. We seek to take the best possible decisions by considering all aspects, including the origin and extraction of raw materials, recyclability and existing infrastructure as well as customer experience. It is not always easy, but we are doing our best.

Re-usable packaging sounds great! However, it requires the packaging to be robust so that the product does not get damaged during transportation, to be returned via a logistics system and to be cost competitive compared to single use packaging over its life cycle. Together with our warehouse and suppliers, we are currently investigating various possibilities to reuse packaging. Furthermore, we hope that joining the Pack4Good initiative will provide us with additional cooperation opportunities and impulses.

REUSE

Re-usable packaging sounds great! However, it requires the packaging to be robust so that the product does not get damaged during transportation, to be returned via a logistics system and to be cost competitive compared to single use packaging over its life cycle. Together with our warehouse and suppliers, we are currently investigating various possibilities to reuse packaging. Furthermore, we hope that joining the Pack4Good initiative will provide us with additional cooperation opportunities and impulses.

We are not alone in our value chain. Our suppliers, warehouse, delivery company and B2B partners all work with several brands and each have their own standardised requirements - which we completely understand. Sometimes we encounter challenges implementing changes as we must make sure they do not pose any issues for our partners. Thus, we always consult with them first to tackle them together.

PARTNER STANDARDS

We are not alone in our value chain. Our suppliers, warehouse, delivery company and B2B partners all work with several brands and each have their own standardised requirements - which we completely understand. Sometimes we encounter challenges implementing changes as we must make sure they do not pose any issues for our partners. Thus, we always consult with them first to tackle them together.

04

Transparency

‘Be a front runner in terms of transparency to lead the change.’

04

Transparency

‘Be a front runner in terms of transparency to lead the change.’

Targets
& Actions

TRANSPARENCY 3.0: LET EVERY PRODUCT TELL ITS STORY
100% TRANSPARENCY ABOUT OUR PRACTICES, PRODUCTS AND PRICES

There are two things we were particularly proud of over the past few months. First, we launched our vision "Let every product tell its story" with our Organic Cotton T-Shirts. It seemed fitting to start with this timeless basic we restock every season and let it tell its story from the cotton farm in Turkey to the sewing factory in Portugal. We believe it is imperative that we all reconnect with our clothes, and to treat them with love and care so that we use them longer. Knowing your garment’s story is an important step in this direction.

The second exciting project was the expansion of our price transparency from three to all product categories. We are convinced that transparency is the key to more responsibility in the fashion industry – even when it comes to the sensitive issue of prices. Because you should know exactly what you get from us. We are pleased to see that gradually more brands are following our example and disclosing their price structures.

TRANSPARENCY 3.0: LET EVERY PRODUCT TELL ITS STORY
100% TRANSPARENCY ABOUT OUR PRACTICES, PRODUCTS AND PRICES

There are two things we were particularly proud of over the past few months. First, we launched our vision "Let every product tell its story" with our Organic Cotton T-Shirts. It seemed fitting to start with this timeless basic we restock every season and let it tell its story from the cotton farm in Turkey to the sewing factory in Portugal. We believe it is imperative that we all reconnect with our clothes, and to treat them with love and care so that we use them longer. Knowing your garment’s story is an important step in this direction.

The second exciting project was the expansion of our price transparency from three to all product categories. We are convinced that transparency is the key to more responsibility in the fashion industry – even when it comes to the sensitive issue of prices. Because you should know exactly what you get from us. We are pleased to see that gradually more brands are following our example and disclosing their price structures.

Results

100%

product categories covered by price transparency

100%

product categories covered by price transparency

First

product tells its full story from farm to factory

First

product tells its full story from farm to factory

2

new fabric supplier spotlights published

2

new fabric supplier spotlights published

100%

product categories covered by price transparency

100%

product categories covered by price transparency

First

product tells its full story from farm to factory

First

product tells its full story from farm to factory

2

new fabric supplier spotlights published

2

new fabric supplier spotlights published

Challenges
& To-Dos

When debating the pros and cons of transparency, the argument that openness makes companies more vulnerable often comes up. The logic: those who give out more information are an easier target. Occasionally we have this discussion internally: are we ready to publish this information and what are the consequences? We firmly believe that transparency is an important tool for change and a starting point for dialogue. We were one of the first brands to disclose our prices - a bold move we are proud of. We want to continue to be transparent and push boundaries.

EXPOSURE

When debating the pros and cons of transparency, the argument that openness makes companies more vulnerable often comes up. The logic: those who give out more information are an easier target. Occasionally we have this discussion internally: are we ready to publish this information and what are the consequences? We firmly believe that transparency is an important tool for change and a starting point for dialogue. We were one of the first brands to disclose our prices - a bold move we are proud of. We want to continue to be transparent and push boundaries.

When debating the pros and cons of transparency, the argument that openness makes companies more vulnerable often comes up. The logic: those who give out more information are an easier target. Occasionally we have this discussion internally: are we ready to publish this information and what are the consequences? We firmly believe that transparency is an important tool for change and a starting point for dialogue. We were one of the first brands to disclose our prices - a bold move we are proud of. We want to continue to be transparent and push boundaries.

EXPOSURE

When debating the pros and cons of transparency, the argument that openness makes companies more vulnerable often comes up. The logic: those who give out more information are an easier target. Occasionally we have this discussion internally: are we ready to publish this information and what are the consequences? We firmly believe that transparency is an important tool for change and a starting point for dialogue. We were one of the first brands to disclose our prices - a bold move we are proud of. We want to continue to be transparent and push boundaries.

05

Our Brand Partners

‘Fostering real change is only possible when we work alongside others.’

05

Our Brand Partners

‘Fostering real change is only possible when we work alongside others.’

It has been part of our philosophy since the beginning to partner with other brands that we admire and that share our values. In these uncertain times we see the necessity of collaboration and solidarity more than ever. Therefore, we want to take the opportunity to introduce some of our brand partners to you. We work with wonderful companies, each with the mission to drive change by providing a smart, sustainable solution to a specific problem.

Our partner gitti has changed the beauty market with their innovative, vegan, water-based nail colours. It is produced in France, eco-friendly and healthy for your nails. We have a shared passion for sustainability, beauty and empowerment. Therefore, we recently created three safe, eco-friendly nail colours together: Super Pink stands for energy and optimism, Mandarin Red for confidence and power und Toffee for focus and simplicity. These timeless, beautiful colours perfectly match selected styles from our S/S2020 collection, yet can be worn anytime anywhere. gitti stands for conscious beauty – something we are definitely on board with.

Our friends from Swedish Stockings produce high-quality tights, stockings and socks from recycled nylon, polyamide and elastane. Their long-term goal is to be able to recycle old hosiery into new one, thus closing the loop. Since right now this is not yet possible, they cooperate with companies from different sectors to turn old tights into filler material and even new products, like tables. Their production is powered by renewable energy, they re-use and purify dye water and run zero waste factories. Innovation is in Swedish Stockings’ DNA - they are truly inspiring to us!

The GuppyFriend washbag is a product dear to our hearts because it fights a problem that we as a fashion brand contribute to: microplastics. Each time we wash synthetic textiles, tiny microfibres are shed which pollute our rivers and oceans. The GuppyFriend’s specifically designed fabric prevents them from entering the environment while also protecting garments and enhancing their lifetime. Behind the GuppyFriend stands the non-profit organisation STOP! Micro Waste. It conducts awareness-raising on the topic of (micro-)plastic contamination - a cause we want to support!

06

What's next?

‘The world faces big challenges and we want to contribute our part to tackle them.’

06

What's next?

‘The world faces big challenges and we want to contribute our part to tackle them.’

Although Covid-19 will make some of our projects more challenging, we will continue with the same determination to pursue our goals.

Apart from Covid-19 we have of course also been following the events, protests and discussions around the Black Lives Matter movement closely. Inclusivity, diversity and equality are key values in our company. As a fashion company we have a responsibility not only internally, but also externally in our supply chain and via our marketing and communication. Something that has become very clear in the recent discussions, is that there is a real need to ask ourselves the hard questions about discrimination in our personal and professional lives to be able to confront the issues and take action. As a company, we want to take our role and responsibility seriously. Over the next months, we will seek to learn, listen and reflect what we can improve to become active allies.

We have many exciting projects going on and you can discover our 360° Framework to find out more about our vision, targets and action plan. We look forward to giving you the next update very soon. Until then, stay safe and healthy!

Although Covid-19 will make some of our projects more challenging, we will continue with the same determination to pursue our goals.

Apart from Covid-19 we have of course also been following the events, protests and discussions around the Black Lives Matter movement closely. Inclusivity, diversity and equality are key values in our company. As a fashion company we have a responsibility not only internally, but also externally in our supply chain and via our marketing and communication. Something that has become very clear in the recent discussions, is that there is a real need to ask ourselves the hard questions about discrimination in our personal and professional lives to be able to confront the issues and take action. As a company, we want to take our role and responsibility seriously. Over the next months, we will seek to learn, listen and reflect what we can improve to become active allies.

We have many exciting projects going on and you can discover our 360° Framework to find out more about our vision, targets and action plan. We look forward to giving you the next update very soon. Until then, stay safe and healthy!

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