Drykorn

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

Drykorn doesn’t disclose their exact production locations on their website. They state that 77% of their suppliers are located in Europe, 3% in Africa, and 20% in Asia. 

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

Drykorn states that their Supplier Code of Conduct ensures that all suppliers meet the highest social and environmental standards. Audits, regular visits to production facilities and on-site inspections, are carried out to ensure that these principles are adhered to. 

Drykorn states that 97% of their suppliers have been audited, and the remaining 3% are located in Ukraine, where audits have been withheld due to the war.

MATERIALS 

• Better Cotton
• Organic cotton
• Recycled cotton
• Cotton
• Viscose
• Cupro
• Lyocell
• Hemp
• Linen
• Leather
• Wool
• Polyester
• Polyamide
• Elastane
• Acrylic 

Drykorn states that cotton is their largest fibre group, accounting for 40% of all fibres in 2024. Drykorn is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative and 89% of their cotton used in 2024 came from more sustainable sources (organic cotton, recycled cotton, Better Cotton). 

Additionally, they utilize manmade plant-based fibres, including viscose, cupro, and lyocell. These are made from renewable raw materials such as wood and bamboo, and Drykorn states that they take care to ensure that their fibres only come from preferred sources. 

Plastic fibres make up around one fifth of Drykorn’s total fibre volume. Drykorn aims to reduce their environmental footprint by using recycled plastic for parts of their collection. However, some products currently available on their website are made from virgin synthetic materials such as polyester. 

PACKAGING 

To help protect the environment, packaging for shipments from Drykorn’s online store is plastic-free. The brand has also been using reusable shipping boxes from hey circle since 2022. These boxes are also recyclable, and partly made from recycled materials. 

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS 

Drykorn states that their suppliers adhere to the strict requirements of their list of banned harmful substances. Additionally, most of their suppliers have signed up to the requirements of the ZDHC MRSL (Manufacturing Restricted Substances List), which prohibits the use of certain chemical substances. 

Drykorn sources their leather from Leather Working Group (LWG) certified tanneries. They state that amongst other things, the LWG evaluates water consumption and chemical management. One of their leather suppliers uses vegetable tanning, instead of chrome tanning which is potentially harmful to health and the environment. 

Drykorn recognises that their use of plastic fibres could be harmful, as they deteriorate during washing and end up as microplastics which ultimately pollute water bodies. They therefore recommend using a laundry bag, such as a Guppyfriend, to protect both your clothes and the environment. 

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

Drykorn states that they favour monomaterials as these are easier to recycle. If they do use fibre blends, they aim to offer blends which are still suitable for fibre to fibre recycling. They also state that they support the recycling process by avoiding unnecessary trims like buttons, labels, or ribbons. 

Unfortunately it is difficult to determine whether the items currently available on Drykorn’s website can actually be recycled. Several products are material blends of natural fibres with synthetics, and it is unlikely that these can be properly processed for recycling. 

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS 

Drykorn offers Circularity Guides on their website for valuable tips on care, repair, resale, and recycling. This contributes to the appreciation of textiles and informs customers about possible forms of the circular economy. 

If your favourite item is damaged, you can either send it back to Drykorn to be repaired, or conduct simple fixes yourself with some help from the tutorials available on Drykorn’s website. Missing a button? Feel free to contact Drykorn for a replacement! 

If your item cannot be repaired or resold, Drykorn recommends returning it to the company to be recycled. Drykorn has partnered with TURNS, who recycle their unwearable or faulty textiles and fabric samples into new yarn or industrial textiles. In 2023, they sent 537 kg of textile waste to TURNS, of which the majority came from textile swatches and samples. 

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

The company, based in Kitzingen (Germany), primarily works with long-standing producers in Europe. However, 22% of the clothing is produced in Asia and 9% in North Africa (Tunisia). This greatly lengthens the distances in the supply chain. 

TRANSPORTATION 

The German company aims to reduce their transportation emissions by shipping through DHL GoGreen and compensating for all air travel. Domestic flights are completely avoided, and returns are not allowed to be destroyed.

• Wool 
• Leather 
• Sheepskin

Drykorn states that their leather and sheepskin are by-products of the food industry. To support animal welfare, all tanneries from which they source their leather are audited and certified by the Leather Working Group and have at least a ​‘Silver’ rating. 

Drykorn also uses wool from sheep, alpaca, and cashmere goats. They state that their preferred type of sheep’s wool is mulesing-free. Mulesing is a controversial practice in which a small portion of the sheep’s skin is removed to prevent parasitic infestations. In 2022/23, 63% of the sheep’s wool used by Drykorn was sourced from preferred production. 

For the future, Drykorn plans to increase the use of non-mulesed wool and, in addition to their padding made from recycled PET bottles as an alternative to down feathers, incorporate more vegan alternatives to leather. They have started to use kraft paper compound patches, known as ​‘Jacron’ for some of their jeans.

PRODUCT DESIGN 

The timeless, classic and versatile designs help to promote longevity, as they are not orientated towards trends. Drykorn also provides detailed care instructions on their website, to help you make the most of your purchases. 

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

As Drykorn does not produce made to order products, there is a sales section on their website. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT 

The product pages on Drykorn’s website state what material the garments are made from. However, the production countries are not provided. As Drykorn does not provide specific details on their production partners, it is difficult to know where individual items were made. This lack of transparency creates a disconnect between consumers and their products. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES

Drykorn does not publish an annual report on the social or environmental aspects of their brand. Additionally, they have not disclosed their suppliers on their website. It is therefore difficult to determine the true sustainability of the brand, as factors such as the complexities of their supply chain cannot be measured.