Pia Heise

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS

• Germany 
• Poland

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES

The designer sews herself and works with a few selected partners, including a Polish tailor and regional tailors in and around Wuppertal. Due to the direct exchange, the contact is close and transparent. She maintains a close dialogue with regional partners in particular.

Local production within Europe offers the advantage of high legal standards in terms of labour rights, wages and safety. There is also a better opportunity for direct communication and control. 

All products are handmade, either by Pia Heise herself or by external tailors. 

MATERIALS

• Deadstock from overproduction

Did you know that 30% of the textiles produced do not reach the consumer? Read more about whether deadstock is a sustainable solution for the fashion industry here.

PACKAGING

Pia Heise is committed to reuse: she collects used packaging, old cardboard boxes and DHL crates in order to ship her products in the most resource-efficient way possible. This shows a clear commitment to waste avoidance and the circular economy.

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS

The advantage of deadstock materials is that existing resources are utilised, which reduces the need for newly produced materials and the associated environmental impact. 

Utilising existing materials indirectly helps to reduce the consumption of resources and the use of new chemicals.

However, microplastics can still be released when washing synthetic soaps.

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

̌Many of the fabrics used are made from mono-materials such as pure cotton or wool, which generally improves the recyclability of the products. However, some models also contain blended fabrics, which makes them more difficult to recycle at the end of their life cycle and limits their circularity. As Pia Heise mainly works with deadstock and fabrics from overproduction, she sometimes deliberately chooses non-separable material combinations in order to make the best possible use of existing resources and avoid new production.

Pia Heise offers repairs, which extends the service life of the products. The products can be easily repaired thanks to their handcrafted manufacture and proximity to production. 

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODEL

̌Pia Heise offers her own repair service for her products. Customers can bring in defective items of clothing for repair, which extends the life of the products. 

The focus is clearly on durability and quality, complemented by repair services and the conscious use of existing materials.

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN

• Germany (own design studio in Wuppertal, tailoring near Wuppertal)
• Poland (small series production in a tailor’s shop)
• Pia Heise’s headquarters are located in Düsseldorf, Germany

The brand works with a small number of directly selected partners, which keeps the supply chain simple and straightforward.

TRANSPORTATION

• Pia Heise produces regionally in Germany and Poland, which indicates that transport routes within Europe are quite short. The products are transported by road. 
• Pia Heise uses reused packaging to ship its products, including collected cardboard boxes and DHL parcels. This indicates a more resource-efficient shipping approach. The products are shipped via DHL Go Green.

• Wool

The exact origin of the wool is not specified. As mainly deadstock materials are used, the use of animal fibres refers to existing materials, which reduces the need for new purchases and the associated animal ethics issues, but does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about original animal welfare standards.

PRODUCT DESIGN

Pia Heise designs fashion and accessories for women, including jackets, skirts, bags, rucksacks and upcycled porcelain jewellery.

The brand makes small customisations on request. 

The collections are characterised by a personal signature and an artisanal approach.

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES

Pia Heise does not have a classic seasonal rhythm, but has an ongoing collection that is deliberately supplemented with new designs. 

The brand produces in small quantities and focuses on high-quality, durable clothing.

TRANSPARENCY OF THE PRODUCT

Pia Heise’s product pages contain comprehensive and transparent information about each item of clothing. In addition to the exact material composition – including percentages and the information that the fabrics are from leftover stock from large companies – details on the processing, fit and feel of the fabric are also described. In addition, there are care instructions, detailed size charts and information on shipping, which consciously favours the reuse of packaging materials.

The traceability of production is particularly noteworthy: it is clearly stated whether a piece was made in the studio in Wuppertal, in a local tailor’s shop in North Rhine-Westphalia or in a Polish manufactory. Due to the production in very small batches and the handcrafted production, the place of origin of individual products can usually be easily traced.

TRANSPARENCY OF THE PROCESS

Pia Heise is open about the origin of her materials and the production locations, which she specifically names – such as her own studio in Wuppertal, regional tailors in North Rhine-Westphalia or a factory in Poland. This information is not only provided in general terms, but also on the individual product pages, which ensures good product traceability.