Hirschkind

Hirschkind’s commitment to ethical and sustainable production is exemplified in its product range, from T‑shirts to bedding and kitchen textiles. This dedication is rooted in a deep understanding of fair trade and organic practices, positively impacting both the people involved and the planet.

At the heart of Hirschkind’s ethical ethos is its dedication to sourcing organic cotton from cooperatives in Tanzania and India. The brand produces its ethical clothing in Kenya and India with cooperatives that ensure fair prices for the cotton growers, weavers, spinners and sewists, significantly impacting their livelihoods. Hirschkind’s Fairtrade-certified cotton from India and Tanzania guarantees minimum prices and an additional premium for community projects, ensuring a sustainable and equitable supply chain.

Ethical Production of T‑Shirts

Their T‑shirts from India are a beacon of ethical manufacturing. Made from Indian Fairtrade-certified organic cotton, they embody a rare production process in the textile industry. The factory, boasting FAIRTRADE, GOTS, and SA8000 certifications, adheres to the highest standards. Environmentally friendly dyes and GOTS-approved chemicals are used exclusively, ensuring minimal environmental and worker impact. This factory is not just a place of production but a healthy and positive working environment where employees earn living wages, securing a good standard of living for their families.

Over in Kenya, Hirschkind’s T‑shirts, long sleeves, skirts, baby bodies, and masks are produced in the small but significant Kiboko Leisure Wear factory. Founded 20 years ago by Sabine Huester, a German national, this factory operates on principles of fair wages and benefits, including health insurance and paid leave, creating a family-like atmosphere with minimal staff turnover. This approach to fair employment practices is rare in the textile industry and represents Hirschkind’s commitment to uplifting local communities.

World Fair Trade Certification

Kiboko Leisure Wear’s affiliation with the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) is a testament to its adherence to the highest fair trade standards. As a client of Kiboko, Hirschkind proudly holds a WFTO First-Buyer certificate, further solidifying its role in promoting ethical trade practices.

Hirschkind’s manufacturing process, managed by Sunflag in Tanzania, adheres to strict organic certification and ethical standards. From spinning and weaving to dyeing, every step is conducted responsibly, ensuring no harmful substances are used. This transparent supply chain reflects Hirschkind’s commitment to producing high-quality garments and maintaining an ethical and sustainable business model.

Commitment to Ethical Trade

A firm belief in deepening its fair and ethical trade relationship with Africa drives Hirschkind’s decision to shift its entire T‑shirt production to Kenya. This move exemplifies Hirschkind’s dedication to creating a more transparent and equitable fashion industry where every stakeholder, from farmer to consumer, is treated with respect and dignity.

By prioritising fair trade, community empowerment, and sustainable practices, Hirschkind is an exemplary catalyst for positive change in the global fashion industry.

The brand’s dish towels are now made from fair trade, organic cotton and handwoven by Indian weaver cooperatives. These cooperatives, part of the Co-optex network in Tamil Nadu, are vital in preserving the traditional craft of handloom weaving, thereby sustaining 200,000 jobs for artisans. The weavers can choose their co-operative, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in their work. These artisans, working in either home settings or local weaving centres, receive fair wages negotiated with the government, ensuring a dignified life. Furthermore, they benefit from welfare programs providing their children with health insurance, pensions, and educational support. The cotton for these towels is sourced from NHDS in Coimbatore, supporting various cotton-growing states in India. Although not bio-certified, the dyeing process uses AZO- and PCP-free colours, ensuring safety and sustainability.

Hirschkind’s entire bedding and pillow collection is a testament to sustainable luxury, crafted from certified organic cotton. Their collection is meticulously sewn in a small family-run workshop in Saxony, Germany. The organic cotton originates mainly from Kyrgyzstan and Uganda, where the farmers are fairly compensated and continuously educated in organic farming practices, ensuring a stable and ethical supply chain.

Further production steps in their bedding occur in the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland, where stringent labour regulations are enforced. 

Moreover, their bags and gym sacks are sourced from Earth Positive, a subsidiary of Continental Clothing, known for its commitment to fair working conditions and sustainable practices.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Hirschkind’s commitment to ethical fashion and fair trade transcends mere production, manifesting in various community and environmental initiatives. Their store regularly hosts events focused on fair fashion, featuring small ethical labels that share insights into their sustainable supply chains. They educate on textile certifications and showcase critical films like ​“The True Cost” to raise awareness about the real impacts of the textile industry. Their Fashion Revolution Day activities, especially the ​“Who Made Your Clothes” photo campaign, highlight the human element behind our clothes.

Annually, they celebrate the Fair Week with their Fair Coffee Table event, serving complimentary Fairtrade coffee and cake to promote the positive aspects of fair trade. Their store becomes a hub for learning, welcoming students and various groups to engage and understand fair fashion practices.

Digitally, their Fair Trade Blog offers a wealth of information on ethical fashion and fair trade, featuring interviews with founders of fair fashion labels and insights into their store operations. They’re actively involved in the Fair Trade Action Alliance Berlin, participating in various fair trade activities across the city, from fair-trade fashion to sustainable food and educational efforts.

Their political commitment is deep-rooted. From anti-nuclear and anti-fascist demonstrations to supporting various social causes, they’re engaged in activism and philanthropy. They’ve supported multiple initiatives addressing human rights and environmental protection issues, from the Rana Plaza victims’ compensation fund to Amnesty International, Doctors of the World, and Sea-Watch. Their store has also responded to specific crises, such as printing solidarity kitchen towels to support Kreuzberg’s financially struggling SO36 club during the pandemic.

Hirschkind’s dedication to the planet’s well-being is woven into every fabric and practice of the brand. Their entire collection, from bedding and pillows to adult and baby clothing, is crafted from certified organic cotton sourced from Tanzania, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Uganda. This organic cotton, free from harmful toxins, is better for the environment, its cultivators, and our customers, providing allergen-free textiles. This commitment extends to the vibrant colours of their hand-mixed screen prints, ensuring each item is not just a piece of clothing but a unique piece of artistry created with water-based, solvent-free inks for a pure, toxin-free experience.

Their T‑shirts, emblematic of their ethical stance, are made from fair-traded Indian organic cotton in a model factory that upholds the highest environmental care and worker welfare standards. This factory proudly holds FAIRTRADE, GOTS, and SA8000 certifications. Using eco-friendly dyes and GOTS-approved chemicals in their T‑shirt production reflects their ethos of minimising environmental impact and ensuring a healthy workspace for our tailors.

The cotton for their bedding products is mainly sourced from Uganda and Kyrgyzstan, regions where rainfall adequately nourishes the cotton plants. This choice is rooted in their philosophy against using toxic and non-degradable pesticides and fertilisers, which harm the environment and the health of cotton farmers and pickers. By choosing organic cotton, they support a safer production for both people and the planet.

Their commitment to sustainability extends beyond the materials they use. They prioritise minimal packaging, often reusing materials and shipping with DHL GoGreen to offset carbon emissions. Their ethical approach also includes their banking and energy choices. They partner with EthikBank, which operates on ethical investment principles, and power their operations with Naturstrom, an eco-friendly energy provider. Even in their physical store, you’ll find furniture made from repurposed pallets and energy-efficient LED lighting, reflecting their dedication to a smaller ecological footprint.

Hirschkind exemplifies circularity in fashion by implementing sustainable practices that extend the life cycle of their products and reduce waste. Their commitment to using biodegradable and organic materials, such as certified organic cotton, ensures that their clothing is environmentally friendly and decomposes naturally at the end of its life. This approach minimises the environmental impact and aligns with the principles of a circular economy. Hirschkind’s focus on durable, timeless designs also counters the fast fashion trend, encouraging longer use and reducing the need for frequent replacements. By prioritising quality over quantity, they further extend the lifespan of their garments. Their use of minimal and recyclable packaging and environmentally conscious shipping methods reinforces their dedication to a closed-loop system, making Hirschkind a true advocate for circular fashion.

Hirschkind showcases a transparent and compact supply chain. Their clothing line, encompassing T‑shirts, long sleeves, skirts, and baby bodysuits, is crafted in India and Kenya. The organic cotton in these garments is sourced directly from India and in Tanzania for items produced in Kenya. This approach ensures the highest quality and supports local farmers and their communities.

For their bedding collection, they cherish a close-to-home approach. The organic cotton bedding is meticulously sewn in a small family-run workshop in Saxony, Germany. This proximity guarantees fair working conditions and reduces the transportation footprint. The raw materials for these beddings are procured from a biofabric manufacturer in Southern Germany. This manufacturer partners with projects in Uganda and Kyrgyzstan, in collaboration with the Swiss organisation Helvetas, to source organic cotton primarily from Kyrgyzstan.

After spinning the organic yarn in Germany and partially in Turkey, it is woven into fabric in their Southern German supplier’s own facility in the Czech Republic. The finishing touches, including washing, bleaching with oxygen, and dyeing, are carried out in Germany and Switzerland, adhering to strict ecological standards. They use only non-toxic dyes and materials, ensuring their products are free from harmful substances like azo dyes and formaldehyde, making them safe and hypoallergenic.

Finally, the finished, dyed organic fabric is transported to Saxony, where their bedding collection comes to life. Back in Berlin, in their Kreuzberg screen printing workshop, Nici hand-prints each piece of bedding on a large hand-printing table. This process adds a unique, artisanal touch to their products, making each item a distinct piece of art.

At Hirschkind, Their commitment to animal welfare is paramount, ensuring their entire collection is vegan and cruelty-free. They consciously avoid materials like pearls or horns, traditionally used in non-vegan buttons derived from animals. Instead, they’re transitioned to using natural, aesthetically pleasing buttons made from vegetable ivory (Steinnuss), produced sustainably in Germany.

Their choice of organic cotton reflects their stance against the indirect impacts of conventional textile production, where harmful chemicals threaten wildlife and ecosystems.

In every aspect of their operation, from material sourcing to production, they strive to respect and protect animal life, aligning their practices with sustainability and ethical responsibility values.

Hirschkind stands as a paragon of slow fashion, championing the ethos of longevity in both apparel and interior pieces. Their commitment to creating timeless, high-quality products transcends ephemeral fast fashion trends. By meticulously selecting durable, organic materials and employing skilled craftsmanship, Hirschkind ensures each item is built to last, significantly extending its lifespan. This approach honours the tradition of quality over quantity and profoundly respects the resources invested in each piece. Furthermore, their designs embody a classic aesthetic, ensuring they remain relevant across seasons and years.

This enduring appeal, coupled with the robustness of their products, encourages a more sustainable consumption pattern, where items are cherished and used for extended periods, reducing the environmental impact of frequent purchases and disposal. 

Hirschkind exemplifies exceptional transparency in the fashion industry, setting a benchmark for openness and ethical practices. They openly disclose their partnering factories and farms, fostering a culture of trust and accountability. This transparency extends to revealing the origins of their materials, the conditions under which their products are manufactured, and the environmental impact of their processes. By sharing details of their supply chain, from the sustainable farms where their organic cotton is harvested to the ethical factories where their garments are crafted, the brand invites customers to understand and appreciate the journey behind each product. This level of openness reinforces their commitment to ethical practices and empowers consumers to make informed decisions, aligning their purchases with their values.