Lanius

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

• Turkey
• Peru
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Italy
• Lithuania
• Portugal
• Greece
• North Macedonia
• India
• Germany
• Morocco
• Thailand
• China 

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES

Lanius has published a full list of their supplier on their website, and states that they regularly visit them. The majority of their suppliers are certified, most commonly by either by the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) or Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Some facilities are also audited by the Fair Wear Foundation.

Additionally, Lanius has informed COSH! that they have worked with the majority of their suppliers for at least 10 years. This long-term relationship helps to ensure that high standards regarding working conditions are maintained. 

MATERIALS 

• Organic cotton
• Wool
• Hemp
• Linen
• TENCEL
• LENZING Viscose
• Silk
• ECONYL Recycled nylon 
• Leather
• SeaCell
• Recycled polyester
• Polyamide

Lanius uses viscose, TENCEL lyocell and modal, and SeaCell, all man-made plant-based materials. Lanius states that SeaCell is a natural, cellulose fibre, produced from algae, whilst lyocell, modal, and viscose are produced from wood pulp. 

The brand also uses natural materials such as organic cotton and linen. Lanius has confirmed with COSH! that their organic cotton is always Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) or Organic Content Standard (OCS) certified. These certifications guarantee that the fibres have been organically produced and treated throughout the supply chain, and are therefore free from harmful chemicals. 

In their communication with COSH!, Lanius stated that 50% of their wool is from controlled organic livestock farming. They use both sheep, alpaca, and cashmere wool. 

Lanius also takes care to ensure that their haberdashery is more sustainably sourced. The brand has informed COSH! that their care-labels are made from recycled polyester, reducing their reliance on raw materials. 

PACKAGING 

Lanius states that they ship the majority of their products in GRS- certified post-consumer recycled plastic bags, which can also be recycled. They use recycled FSC-certified paper to package less sensitive products such as jeans. Lanius also uses recycled cardboard boxes, which they also aim to reuse multiple times whenever possible. 

In our communication with the brand, Lanius notified us that their hangtags are made from FSC-mix material. This certification ensures that the paper comes from responsibly managed forestries. 

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS 

According to Lanius’ 2023 Sustainability Report, 47% of their fibres used were GOTS certified. The brand states that their GOTS-certified products are strictly tested for chemicals. They also state that they select their haberdashery with care, and only use Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified materials. 

Additionally, Lanius states that 50% of their fibre usage in 2023 was organic cotton. This is produced without harmful chemicals or pesticides, and requires less water to grow than traditional cotton. 

However, some of Lanius’ products are made from synthetic materials, including their activewear, which is made from ECONYL recycled nylon and elastane. These products will contribute to water pollution as they shed microplastics during washing. 

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

Lanius’ products are sometimes material blends, made from primarily natural materials with smaller percentages of synthetics. Whilst this is likely to increase the performance of the garments, it does decrease their ability to be recycled at the end of their lifespan. 

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS

Lanius offers an EU-wide repair service, in collaboration with the professional Cologne tailor PlisseeBecker. Lanius covers all the shipping costs involved, encouraging consumers to make the most of this service. The brand also provides instructions on how to do simple repairs yourself, such as sewing on a button or repairing a hole or seam. 

Do you have a designer piece that you no longer wear or need? Lanius has partnered with Buddy&Selly, who can buy your used clothes from you, helping to prevent them from going to waste. 

Another circular initiative is Lanius’ rental service; perfect if you’ve got an upcoming occasion for which you only need to wear your purchase once. 

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN 

Production locations: 

• Turkey
• Peru
• Bulgaria
• Romania
• Italy
• Lithuania
• Portugal
• Greece
• North Macedonia
• India
• Germany
• Morocco
• Thailand
• China 

Lanius states that they aim to avoid unnecessary transport routes by sourcing their materials from the same countries in which they are processed. For example, their cotton is both sourced from and processed in Turkey. 

Lanius’ headquarters are located in Cologne. The brand offers shipping within Europe, including Great Britain, Ireland, and Switzerland. 

TRANSPORTATION 

Lanius ships their products to consumers through DHL GoGreen, both within Germany and internationally. This means that every order is shipped carbon neutrally! Lanius has also informed COSH! that since July 2022, the emissions from international shipments have been compensated through global climate protection projects. What’s more, Lanius is currently in discussions regarding DHL GoGreen Plus. This initiative would mean that transportation emissions would be avoided altogether, reducing the brand’s reliance on compensation alone. 

Lanius’ 2023 Sustainability Report states that they ensure that their transportation routes within their supply chain are as short and resource-efficient as possible. In 2023, the majority of shipments were made by sea freight, 25% by air, and 10% by truck. 

• Leather
• Wool
• Silk 

Lanius uses sheep, alpaca, and cashmere wool. They state that their cashmere wool mainly comes from controlled organic livestock farming, and is GOTS and Control Union certified. They also state that the goat herders are trained in animal welfare, and sign a strict ​‘Sustainability and Animal Welfare Policy’. 

The brand sources their alpaca wool from Peru, and state that they are convinced of the animal welfare of the animals. 

In our communication with Lanius, they have confirmed that 50% of their wool comes from organic livestock farming, and their wool is always mulesing-free. Mulesing is a controversial practice in which a small portion of the sheep’s skin is removed to prevent parasitic larvae infestations. 

Lanius also uses leather, which they state is sourced from Germany and Italy. Lanius has confirmed with COSH! that their leather comes from organically farmed cows. 

The brand has informed COSH! that they use conventional silk, for which they ensure the chemical use and social working conditions. Unfortunately, conventional silk production means that the pupae of the silk moths are boiled alive to obtain the silk filaments. You can find out more about the production of silk and its sustainability here.  

PRODUCT DESIGN 

Lanius offers timeless women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories. Their clothing range consists of mostly monochrome, minimalistic basics such as jeans and t‑shirts, making it ideal for everyday wear. Lanius’ products are available in sizes 34 to 44. 

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

Lanius only creates and produces two collections per year, and the brand states that they place emphasis on robust materials and timeless, classic designs, so that you can enjoy your pieces for as long as possible. 

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

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT 

Lanius aims for full product transparency. Most product page detailed what materials the item is made from, including any applicable certifications. Additionally, most product pages state the production country, and Lanius sometimes provides further information on the production facility too. 

The materials and production countries are not provided from the swimwear listed on Lanius’ website. These products are from the swimwear brand VOLANS, and are made from synthetic materials. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES

Lanius has detailed a full list of their suppliers on their website. They have also published a Sustainability Report, which provides additional information about their practices, and ensures complete transparency for consumers. Furthermore, Lanius has openly answered our questions, further demonstrating their commitment to transparency.