Roumans

Production Locations

• The Netherlands (ROUMANS’ own atelier in Arnhem, where most of the production takes place)
• Independent freelance professionals and external specialists, brought in when extra expertise is needed 

Working Conditions & Living Wages

Most pieces are made by hand in Sophie’s own atelier in Arnhem. For specific techniques, she works with freelance professionals and external specialists. The balance between in-house and external work varies per collection and per garment.

According to the brand, Sophie talks directly with everyone involved in production about materials, construction and quality. She says she values craftsmanship, transparency and careful material handling when choosing partners.

ROUMANS openly states that it has no formal written code of conduct and no independently audited supplier-monitoring system. Given the small scale and the direct, personal contact, working conditions are very likely well managed, even though this has not been independently verified.

Materials

• Piñatex
• Cotton
• Organic cotton
• Untreated, undyed wool (from the Netherlands)
• Alpaca wool
• Silk (Second-hand designer deadstock)
• Polyester
• Deadstock / Surplus fabrics
• Recycled fabrics
• Bacterial cellulose from kombucha residual streams 

ROUMANS tells COSH! that deadstock is its main material source. This keeps existing fabric in use, but it also means quantities are limited, which makes each piece more exclusive. 

The brand says it prefers non-animal materials wherever possible.

Together with Charlotte van Alem of BIOMA Lab, Sophie experiments with bacterial cellulose made from kombucha leftovers as an alternative to conventional leather. The material is still in the research phase.

Packaging

The brand tells COSH! that it aims to keep packaging simple and avoid excess, but there is no standardised packaging policy yet. ROUMANS does not disclose what packaging materials are used.

Water Usage & Chemicals

Because ROUMANS mainly works with deadstock and leftover fabrics, no new fabric has to be produced for these pieces. That could mean less extra water and fewer chemicals than with newly made fabric. Since the origin of these fabrics is often unknown, it is unclear how they were originally dyed or treated.

Some pieces contain polyester, which can release microplastics when washed. 

Circular Product Design

ROUMANS leans on deadstock, surplus and recycled fabrics, which keeps existing material in use. The brand also gives second-hand designer silk a new purpose.

Several garments are mono-material, which supports recycling. Some pieces mix a plant fibre with a synthetic, which is harder to recycle.

Circular Business Models

ROUMANS does not run a formal take-back, rental or resale programme. However, customers can contact the brand for repairs and adjustments.

The brand works with made-to-order and made-to-measure pieces and individual commissions. This helps avoid large stocks of finished garments.

Distance & Complexity of the Supply Chain

• Production: the Netherlands 
• HQ: Arnhem, the Netherlands

The supply chain is short and simple: materials go straight to the atelier in Arnhem, where most pieces are made. Sourcing happens both online and in person. The brand admits that full traceability is not available for every material, especially deadstock and second-hand fabrics.

Transportation

• Supply chain: materials are shipped from suppliers to the atelier in Arnhem. 
• E‑commerce: online orders are sent by local postservice. ROUMANS delivers to local retail partners itself when possible, in small quantities.
• The brand says it avoids unnecessary shipments.

• Wool: Romney sheep’s wool from the Purewol flock, the Netherlands
• Alpaca: yarn from Amano Yarns, origin not yet confirmed
• Silk: second-hand designer deadstock

ROUMANS says it prefers non-animal materials and only uses animal fibres when they fit the design concept.

For the wool, the supplier claims the sheep are naturally kept and carefully shorn. There is no independent certification to back this up. 
No information is available about the alpaca fibre.
For the silk, the original farm and rearing conditions are unknown. Reusing deadstock silk avoids buying new silk, but it tells us nothing about how the silk was first produced. 

Product Design

ROUMANS makes avant-garde, tailored and artisanal pieces, including bags, knitwear, silk shirts and vests, a kimono, a hoodie and chino shorts. Several products are offered as One Size. According to the brand, some designs can also be made to individual measurements.

Slow Fashion Processes

Each collection grows out of in-depth research into society and culture, and the label positions itself ​“beyond fleeting trends”, made by hand in small numbers. ROUMANS works with small production runs, made-to-order and made-to-measure pieces, and individual commissions. Each collection explores a specific social theme, and art and installations are part of the practice too. 

Transparency on Product

ROUMANS is a small, independent label. The majority of its products are made in the label’s own atelier. On occasion, production is supported by freelancers and external workshops, all of which are based in the Netherlands. This allows ROUMANS to maintain a clear overview of who has been involved in the making of each piece. 

Transparency on Processes

ROUMANS puts the focus firmly on local production. Because the label is essentially a one-woman brand built around Sophie Roumans’ own atelier, a good deal of transparency comes built in. The pieces are not passed through a long chain of separate factories and locations, which makes it far easier to know who made them and where.

ROUMANS willingly shared information with COSH! and answered questions transparently.