erlich textil

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

• Germany
• Romania
• Portugal 

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

erlich textil states that they only work with producers who have completed their rigorous onboarding assessment and can meet their requirements, adhering to their Code of Conduct. On their website, they have outlined all their Tier 1 suppliers and what they manufacture:

Basic and lace underwear: Gebrüder Conzelmann (Germany and Romania) 

Curve collection: Susa (Germany) 

T‑shirts: Free Season (Portugal) 

Socks: Dioga FC Silva (Portugal) 

Bedding: Comfort&Innovations (Portugal) 

They state that they value close relationships with these manufacturers, and conduct regular assessments, discussions, and visits with their producers and production sites. They have also integrated an annual internal assessment in which they use a scoring system to evaluate various areas such as emissions, chemical management, complaint management, wages and working conditions, as well as certificates, transaction records, and supply chain management. A whistleblower system is also in place for anonymous reporting of concerns, reflecting their ongoing commitment to responsible manufacturing. 

Beyond this, erlich textil is actively engaged in community and environmental initiatives. The brand has introduced a ​‘social day’ where each company team member is given one day off to support a community project. Their team has also participated in global climate strikes and environmental clean-up activities. 

Their global social responsibility extends to annual donations to Femnet (amongst other organisations), and a partnership with the human rights organisation SAVE which addresses child labour, gender-specific violence, and working conditions in South India. 

Furthermore, erlich textil’s direct-to-consumer operational model minimises intermediaries, allowing fair pricing for producers and cost savings which make more sustainable underwear accessible to a wider audience. They acknowledge that their prices can’t compete with fast fashion, but emphasise the importance of understanding the true cost of fashion when all parties are fairly compensated. 

MATERIALS

• Lenzing modal 
• Organic cotton 
• Cotton in Conversion (CiC)
• Linen 
• EVO (nylon alternative) 
• Nylon 
• Recycled nylon
• Amni Soul Eco 
• ROICA™V550
• Elastane 

erlich textil is an innovative force in the underwear industry, harmonising more eco-conscious practices with stylish design. Their commitment to resource-saving and more sustainable materials is evident across their range. 

The brand uses some synthetic materials such as nylon and elastane. They aim to reduce their use of these less sustainable materials by using innovative fibres such as Amni Soul Eco by Fulgar and Roica V550 by Asahi Kasei. Amni Soul Eco is a polyamide yarn which is potentially degradable under anaerobic landfill conditions in about 5 years, unlike other textile fibres which take decades to decompose. Likewise, Roica V550 is potentially degradable under specific conditions. Other times they use Q‑Nova by Fulgar, a delicate lace made from recycled nylon and modal. 

EVO is a plant-based and renewable alternative to nylon, made from castor oil as opposed to conventional nylon which is derived from petroleum. Castor oil is derived from the Ricinus plant, a resource-efficient crop that does not compete with food crops. 

Cotton and linen are also used, and these are both natural, plant-based materials. Where cotton is used, it is either organic or Cotton in Conversion (CiC). Organic cotton is produced under strict ecologic agriculture standards, enhancing soil health by prohibiting artificial fertilisers and toxic chemicals. Integral to organic cotton cultivation is crop rotation, which boosts soil fertility and lessens erosion whilst allowing farmers to diversify their crops. CiC marks the switch from conventional to organic farming, a process which takes three years for soil recovery from artificial pesticides. erlich textil also utilises European linen from Belgium and France. 

erlich textil sources their modal from the Austrian company Lenzing. This is a man-made, plant-based material, derived from wood, and potentially compostable under industrial and home conditions. 

PACKAGING 

erlich textil has been diligently refining its packaging for over two years, aiming to conserve resources and eliminate unnecessary use of plastics. A significant achievement in this journey is the shift to flat, uniform-sized grass paper packages, replacing the previous cube-shaped design for improved reusability. After extensive research, they chose grass paper to reduce the need for fresh wood fibre.

Another initiative is replacing polybags with more sustainable hangtag labels. These labels are made from recycled paper from certified European sources, and use organic cotton strings. 

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS

The materials that have been carefully selected by erlich textil help to reduce their overall water and chemical usage. In particular, organic cotton is grown without harmful chemicals and with less water than conventional cotton, and by utilising recycled fabrics their consumption of raw materials is reduced. However, as the brand relies on synthetic fibres, their products will shed microplastics when washed, contributing to water pollution in their usage phase. 

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

Although the brand is at the forefront of sustainable fashion, a notable challenge is that its products are not monomaterials, making recycling difficult. However, it’s important to note underwear often relies on material blends, for example a small percentage of added elastane, for improved comfort and performance. 

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS 

To close the product lifecycle loop, erlich textil has developed a take-back system, allowing customers to return used items for recycling in collaboration with a selected textile recycler SOEX/I:Collect. This move drastically reduces the environmental burden of used textiles by keeping discarded items away from landfills and ecosystems. 

During the six-month test period of this initiative, erlich textil received a total of 23 returned garments, a number which may seem low but which they are completely satisfied with given that their products are designed to be durable and timeless. Ultimately, this saved 62 kg of used textiles from being sent to landfills or incinerated. 

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN 

Production locations: 

• Germany
• Romania
• Portugal 

According to the brand, their producer in the Swabian Alb region can handle many production steps themselves, as they are one of the last fully integrated companies in Germany. However, they have outsourced assembly to Romania to operate economically. They state that while the distances between the respective locations are long, they are manageable compared to companies that rely exclusively on production in Asia. 

erlich textil also works with manufacturers in Portugal. These goods are then transported to their warehouse in Germany. 

The brand’s raw materials are sourced globally. Their organic cotton comes from varied countries including India, Tanzania, Egypt, and South Africa, their linen is sourced from Belgium and France, while their elastane is sourced from Japan and Thailand. This adds considerable length to their overall supply chain. 

TRANSPORTATION 

erlich textil states that they ship their products through DHL GoGreen, helping to reduce their transportation emissions. In order to prevent returns, they make an effort to present all the important features and characteristics of their products clearly and unambiguously, and provide a sizing guide. 

The brand also collaborates with ConClimate to offset its CO2 emissions through financial contributions. They support cleaner energy and community development by funding projects such as converting landfill gas into electricity in Istanbul and solar energy projects in Jaloya, India. It’s important to note that such offsetting practices do not equate to climate neutrality, a claim that is no longer accepted under the EU Green Claims law. This law emphasises the importance of direct emission reductions over compensatory measures. 

The brand is 100% vegan and certified by PETA.

PRODUCT DESIGN 

erlich textil’s underwear is crafted with a timeless design ethos, ensuring it remains stylish and relevant beyond fleeting fashion trends. The combination of size-inclusive, simple design and high-quality materials extends the lifespan of their garments, offering enduring elegance and functionality. 

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

The brand offers sales and participates in Black Friday, which may promote unnecessary purchases and perpetuate less mindful consumption patterns.

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT 

Each product page carefully states every material used, helping to ensure that consumers know exactly what they are buying. erlich textil’s transparent approach also extends to detailing not just the production country, but the specific manufacturing facility and their address. This level of detail helps to bridge the gap between consumers and their purchases, helping to encourage more thoughtful shopping practices and guaranteeing that you will always know exactly where your specific purchase was made. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES 

To enhance their supply chain transparency, erlich textil collaborates with Retraced to track their supply network. Their website discloses detailed information about each of their Tier 1 suppliers, including where they are based, how long they have been working with erlich textil, and what products they manufacture. 

erlich textil also sheds light on their pricing strategy and materials, and are committed to honest communication about their sustainability journey, including acknowledging their mistakes. This approach contrasts with popular greenwashing tactics some companies use to enhance their image superficially. In addition, the brand’s impact report clearly and transparently details their challenges, goals, and achievements, with an in-depth risk assessment of their supply chain, pricing, factory partnerships and employee welfare.