nienke I bijtje

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS

• Utrecht, Netherlands

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES

̌The studio in Utrecht, Netherlands, owns and runs its own workshop where all garments are customised.

All of nienke | bijtje’s designs are handmade in their own studio.

The studio also offers services such as garment repair and wedding dress remodelling, demonstrating a high level of craftsmanship.

MATERIALS

• Deadstock fabrics
• Peace Silk
• Organic cotton
• Couture fabrics from European suppliers
• Tencel
• Cupre
• Ecovero Viscose
• Wool

Deadstock fabrics are at the centre of the collections in order to make sensible use of leftover stock and reduce both waste and the consumption of resources. Peace Silk is only used on request when deadstock silk is not available. In addition to organic cotton and other organic materials, the atelier uses high-quality couture fabrics from European suppliers, including Italian silk, taffeta and materials with recycled lace. Tencel, EcoVero viscose and cupro are predominantly used for linings.

PACKAGING

A specially made protective bag made of pressed material with the nienke | bijtje logo is used for clothes.

Paper carrier bags are used for fabric sales in the shop.

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS

The company relies heavily on existing fabrics. 

When purchasing new fabrics, the company favours materials such as ECOVERO™ viscose and TENCEL™, as their production requires less water and chemicals than conventional viscose. In addition, the company pays attention to common quality seals such as OEKO-TEX for new materials to ensure that certain environmental and health standards are met.

The majority of the collection consists of mono-materials. This not only increases recyclability, but also reduces the risk of microplastics being released during use. Polyester fabrics are sourced exclusively from deadstock, i.e. leftover stock that would otherwise remain unused. This decision allows existing resources to be reused without putting new synthetic fibres into circulation.

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN

The company attaches great importance to the material composition of its products and pursues a clearly circular strategy. Around 80% of the designs consist of monomaterials, i.e. a single fibre with no other materials added. In the company’s own fabric collection, the proportion of monomaterials is around 70%.

The company mainly uses natural-based materials such as 100% cotton, linen, wool, silk and TENCEL™, which – unlike blended fabrics – are easier to recycle at the end of their useful life.

Synthetic materials such as polyester are only used in the form of deadstock fabrics. These were originally used by Dutch bridal fashion designers in the 1990s and 2000s and would otherwise have remained unused. The targeted use of such old stocks supports the principle of resource conservation, even if they are not mono-materials. When developing new products, however, new synthetic fibres are generally avoided, which underlines the focus on circular design.

Memorabilia from the family, such as wedding dresses or other special textiles, can be carefully refurbished and customised by the design duo. This preserves the emotional value while minimising the use of resources for new fabrics. A circular method that creates a unique, personalised dress that combines tradition and sustainability in a special way.

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODEL

nienke | bijtje offers a repair service. Customers can bring back garments, such as jackets, after years to have minor repairs carried out, such as sewing on buttons. 

The atelier promotes circularity by redesigning wedding dresses for reuse, transforming heirlooms into new dresses and using more sustainable materials such as deadstock fabrics to minimise waste and extend the life of the garments.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

• Utrecht, Netherlands
• Fabrics from Italy, France and Belgium
• The headquarters are located in Utrecht, Netherlands.

TRANSPORTATION

• Transportation in the supply chain plays a subordinate role, as the majority of the materials used come from locally sourced deadstock – particularly from former Dutch bridal fashion designers. This approach significantly reduces transport routes within the supply chain, as no large-scale international transport of materials is necessary. 
• Materials that are ordered in individual cases are only ordered at the express request of the customer and are not kept in stock. This avoids overproduction and reduces material transport.

The company does not operate its own webshop and only rarely ships products. 

• Peace Silk on request
• Wool

The company mainly uses deadstock materials, particularly in the area of silk and wool, and only orders new animal materials specifically at the customer’s request. Most of the silk fabrics used come from leftover stock, i.e. unused stock from older collections, which avoids new resource-intensive production. 

The newly sourced Peace Silk offers a more animal-friendly alternative to conventional silk production, as it is obtained without killing the silkworms.

PRODUCT DESIGN

The product design of this slow fashion brand combines minimalism and modern elegance. The designs are characterised by classic silhouettes, clean lines and contemporary looks. The brand relies on high-quality silk fabrics that emphasise the wearer’s individual style. The customer’s personality always takes centre stage, whether it’s wedding dresses, elegant outfits for special occasions or tailor-made designs for professional purposes. Each piece is designed and manufactured with great attention to detail in the company’s own studio in Utrecht, which emphasises the uniqueness and quality of each design.

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES

nienke | bijtje has a fixed collection that is gradually supplemented or modified with new designs. The designs are customised to take the customer’s personal wishes into account.

All dresses are unique and are handmade in the company’s own studio in Utrecht.

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT

The nienke | bijtje website describes the personalised customisation process in four steps. Customers can first try out designs, fabrics and colours and are supported by friendly advice. After taking measurements and determining individual adjustments, the fitting follows, during which the dress is perfectly customised. The careful and personalised process makes each dress unique and tailor-made.

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESS

The company offers a good general insight into its working methods, particularly with regard to the selection of materials, local production and the circular and customised design processes. The available information on the process and company philosophy can only be found on the general website and mainly concerns the customisation process and the choice of materials.

Traceability at product level is not provided, as all garments are customised one-off productions.