Näz

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

• Portugal

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

EU labour law in Portugal guarantees minimum wages and safe working conditions.
60% of suppliers hold at least one certification, while 25% have five or more.
Relevant certifications include:

• ISO 9001 (quality management)
• GRS (Global Recycled Standard) for recycled fibres
• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) for organic cotton
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 & STeP (chemical safety and more sustainable production)
• PETA ​“Vegan Approved” for non-animal materials

Näz collaborates with its suppliers on a long-term basis, mainly small, family-run businesses. Rather than selecting only certified factories, the company prioritises transparency and visits its suppliers 2 to 8 times per year to ensure fairer conditions.

Some products are handmade, especially wool and linen fabrics, which are produced in small weaving mills.

The company donates to ​“Just a Change”, an NGO fighting housing poverty, supports charities in Lisbon with clothing donations, and works with small businesses in economically weaker regions to strengthen local communities.

The Näz team consists entirely of women. The largest production partners are small businesses with gender-balanced workforces.

The company acknowledges wage inequality in the industry and actively promotes women in leadership positions. Näz values diversity.

MATERIALS

• Linen
• Organic cotton
• Tencel® (Lyocell)
• Recycled wool
• Recycled cotton
• Recycled polyester
• Recycled acrylic
• Deadstock fabrics
• Buttons made from biodegradable materials (wood, paper waste, coffee grounds, cork)
• Recycled yarns

The company uses natural fibres, recycled materials, and deadstock fabrics from textile industry surplus. It also focuses on more sustainable components made from biodegradable materials or recycled fibres.
Are you interested in recycled polyester?
And do you already know the benefits of organic cotton?

PACKAGING

Näz uses environmentally friendlier kraft paper envelopes for e‑commerce shipping. Paper tape is used to facilitate disposal and recycling.

Näz prefers recyclable materials with a lower CO₂ footprint and therefore opts for paper instead of plastic packaging.

For shipping to retailers, Näz uses recycled and recyclable plastic mailing bags to better protect products during storage. All plastic bags are produced in Portugal to reduce transport emissions.

The company is developing a return system to enable the reuse of mailing bags. By 2025, Näz plans to implement a plastic-free solution.

Näz considers both environmental factors and the durability and protective function of packaging throughout the entire supply chain.

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS 

Näz takes various measures to minimise water consumption in production. Linen requires 60% less water than conventional cotton and mainly grows with rainwater, eliminating the need for artificial irrigation. Organic cotton is also largely rain-fed, saving up to 79% of water. Tencel® (Lyocell) is produced in a closed-loop system, using only 2 litres of water per kilogram of fibre as the water is reused multiple times. The use of deadstock fabrics and recycled materials further contributes to water savings, as no new fibres need to be grown or processed.

Näz also follows high environmental standards in chemical management. Tencel® is produced in a closed-loop process where nearly all chemicals used are recycled. Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, reducing the risk of water pollution and soil acidification by up to 79%. Recycled fibres, including wool, cotton, and polyester, are processed mechanically, eliminating the need for water or chemicals in fibre production. Additionally, Näz’s dyeing and washing partner operates a wastewater pre-treatment station, ensuring that water is purified and neutralised before disposal.

The company collaborates with certified suppliers to uphold environmental and social standards. Näz uses GOTS-certified organic cotton, while recycled materials are covered by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). Chemical safety is ensured through OEKO-TEX Standard 100 & STeP, while the ISO 9001 certification guarantees quality management in production facilities. Some products are also PETA ​“Vegan Approved”, and B‑Corp certification is currently in progress.

To reduce microplastic release, Näz primarily relies on natural fibres or recycled materials. Recycled polyester (RPET), used in some products as a bonding fibre, is a critical concern. Näz explicitly advises customers to use washing bags with microplastic filters to minimise the release of synthetic fibres into wastewater. The company also avoids fleece fabrics, as they shed particularly high amounts of microplastics during washing.

Näz uses OEKO-TEX-certified dyes to minimise harmful chemicals. Recycled wool and cotton are often left in their original colour, eliminating the need for additional dyeing processes. The fabric supplier further enhances environmental responsibility by recycling 52% of the water used. Näz also prioritises more sustainability in YKK zippers, which are dyed using ECO-DYE technology, significantly reducing water consumption.

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

Näz primarily relies on mono-materials to improve the circularity of its products, making them easier to recycle at the end of their life cycle. However, some products contain fibre blends, which limit their recyclability.

Näz has a clear strategy for reducing textile waste by using recycled, upcycled, and deadstock materials. The brand utilises surplus fabrics from the textile industry (deadstock) as well as mechanically recycled fibres, particularly wool, cotton, and polyester. While these materials help prevent waste, they are often more difficult to recycle again due to prior processing and blending.

Regarding repairability, many Näz products are designed for durability, but there are no specific modular or easily disassemblable designs. The use of high-quality natural materials such as wool and linen extends the lifespan of garments, and simple repairs, such as replacing buttons or stitching, can help maintain them.

Näz raises awareness among its customers about long-term product use and provides care instructions to maximise the lifespan of its garments.

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS

Näz does not offer its own repair service and has no partnership with a repair workshop to facilitate repairs for customers. While the brand relies on high-quality, durable materials, there are no specific programmes for garment maintenance or repair.

The company focuses on reducing textile waste by using recycled, upcycled, and deadstock materials. However, as some products contain recycled or blended materials, their recyclability at the end of their life cycle may be challenging.

The emphasis is on producing long-lasting fashion that can be worn for as long as possible with proper care. Customers receive detailed care instructions to help extend the lifespan of their garments.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF SUPPLY CHAIN

• Portugal
  • Braga (linen weaving, cotton production, laundry & dyeing)
  • Barcelos (knitwear production)
  • Leiria (weaving production)
  • Loriga (knitwear production)
  • Belmonte (coat production)
  • Guimarães (fabric weaving)
  • Covilhã (recycled yarn production)
  • Manteigas (hand weaving)
  • Lisbon (zip production)
• Italy
  • Montale (recycled yarn production)
• Näz is headquartered in Covilhã, Portugal, but carries out much of its work from Lisbon.
• Näz sells its products in more than 25 shops in Europe.

TRANSPORT 

• Näz has a relatively short and simple supply chain, as almost all production steps take place in Portugal. This avoids long transport routes, reducing CO₂ emissions. The only international transport within the supply chain involves yarn deliveries from Italy. There are no specific details on transport methods within the supply chain.
• For shipping to end customers, Näz partners with UPS Carbon Neutral to partially offset emissions generated during transport.
  Another measure to reduce emissions is minimising returns by actively informing customers about sizing. Näz highlights that, through direct customer communication and more conscious purchasing decisions, they have managed to reduce the return rate by 50%.

• Recycled wool
• The wool comes from pre-consumer waste from Portuguese factories and is mechanically recycled, which means that no new sheep are needed for wool production.

Näz only uses recycled wool, which is mechanically processed in Portugal. This does not cause any new animal suffering as it is pre-consumer waste.

There is limited information on certifications and animal welfare standards. Näz has not provided any information on specific animal welfare certificates. A code of conduct for animal materials is not documented. 

PRODUCT DESIGN

Näz offers more sustainable fashion for women with a timeless, minimalist design. The collections include trousers, dresses, overalls, knitwear, coats, and blouses. Some garments are designed to be gender-neutral and can be styled in various ways. The range is complemented by accessories such as hats and scarves.

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES

Näz does not follow fixed seasonal collections but works with a continuous collection that is gradually expanded with new designs. Instead of fast-changing trends, the brand focuses on timeless fashion that remains wearable for several years.

Näz does not offer custom-made clothing and does not follow a made-to-order model. However, small-scale production in Portugal helps to avoid overproduction, ensuring that the brand does not manufacture large stock volumes.

TRANSPARENCY OF THE PRODUCT

The product pages of Näz provide basic information about each garment, particularly regarding materials, fit, and sustainability aspects. Each product description specifies the fibres used and highlights any relevant certifications.

Regarding supply chain transparency, Näz states on the product pages that the clothing is made in Portugal but does not disclose the exact production site or the specific suppliers involved in each product. 
While the company generally communicates openly about its production partners, full traceability to the individual factory is not available on the product pages.

TRANSPARENCY OF THE PROCESS

Näz provides information about its production processes and suppliers. The brand highlights that all products are made in Portugal and lists several production partners by name on its website, including weaving mills, sewing workshops, and yarn manufacturers. Each partner is briefly described, often mentioning the number of employees, production location, and social aspects such as fairer wages or gender distribution.

Näz publishes a transparent cost breakdown, showing how the price of a garment is structured. This includes material costs, wages, taxes, marketing, and customer service. The brand emphasises that no company in the supply chain makes excessively high margins, as pricing is based on ensuring fairer wages and more sustainable production.

Although Näz provides general supplier information on its website, there is no full traceability for each individual product. Product pages only state that the clothing is made in Portugal without specifying the exact production site. It remains unclear who made a particular garment.

Näz publishes an impact report documenting the company’s social and environmental effects. The 2020 impact report includes details on material selection, CO₂ reduction, water consumption, certifications, and social standards in the supply chain. The company also uses the report for self-reflection, outlining challenges and planned improvements.