SAMSØE SAMSØE

Production locations

• China
• India
• Tunisia
• Vietnam
• Turkey
• Denmark

Samsøe Samsøe maintains a people-centered approach in its production processes, with a strong emphasis on ethical practices and long-term partnerships. The brand’s production is primarily located in China, accounting for 75% of their production volume, and in Turkey, where they celebrate their relationships with producers like those at Baykan Moda. 

Working Conditions & living wages

Samsøe Samsøe is committed to transparency and quality, requiring independent audits at their production sites and only accepting internationally recognized standards such as BSCI, SMETA, and SA 8000. Currently, over 80% of their production volume is covered by valid audits, highlighting their commitment to responsible manufacturing.

Additionally, the brand engages with local communities in Denmark, notably with Nørklerne in Rødovre, where elderly women upcycle leftover fabrics into childrenswear donated through the Danish Red Cross. This initiative supports local craftsmanship and community welfare.

While keeping track of such an extensive list of production and supplier facilities is very difficult, the brand does its best to ensure that its supply chain adheres to ethical standards by conducting in-person visits to suppliers. They foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in environmental and social practices. This hands-on approach allows Samsøe Samsøe to closely monitor and promote low-impact production techniques, including the use of solar panels and on-site wastewater treatment.

Materials

Highest grade certified materials:

• GOTS certified organic materials
  • cotton
  • hemp
  • linen (European Flax)
  • Silk (OTEX)
• Trademarked materials:
  • LENZING™ ECOVERO™ 
  • Viscose
  • TENCEL™ Lyocell
  • TENCEL™ Modal
  • PRIMALOFT ® 
  • Peace Silk ®
• GRS certified recycled materials
  • Cotton
  • Hemp
  • Linen
  • Silk
  • Down
  • Leather
  • Rubber
  • Wool, incl. cashmere, etc.
  • Synthetic polymers
• Responsible animal derived materials
  • Leather sourced from Gold Rated LWG Certified Suppliers
  • Wool – RWS certified
  • Cashmere – CGS certified
  • Alpaca – RAS certified
  • Mohair – RMS certified
• Responsible vegetable derived materials
  • natural rubber – FSC certified
  • Vegetable leather alternatives

Lower grade certified materials:

• Organic materials, lower certification:
  • Cotton
  • Hemp
  • Linen
  • Silk 
• Recycled materials lower certification:
  • Cotton
  • Hemp
  • Linen
  • Silk
  • Down
  • Leather
  • Rubber
  • Wool, incl. cashmere, etc.
  • Synthetic polymers 
• Animal-derived materials:
  • Down – RDS certified

Conventional and non-certified materials

• Cotton
• Hemp
• Linen
• Silk
• Rayon: viscose, modal, cupro, etc.
• Synthetic polymers
• Down
• Leather
• Wool
• Cashmere
• Alpaca
• Mohair
• Natural rubber
• Synthetic rubber

As of 2023, 89% of their materials are classified as ​“more responsible”(you can find their detailed definition and explanation of more responsible products on their website), encompassing 41.30% plant-based, 32.17% synthetic, 13.28% animal-derived, 13.10% semi-synthetic, and 0.15% other materials. A lot of their materials are also certified by 3^rd party certification systems like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Recycling Standard (GRS), etc, which ensure responsible sourcing of the materials.

Packaging

Samsøe Samsøe still uses plastic for their packaging, but has achieved a 40% reduction in plastic usage and offsets eCommerce packaging impacts through forest restoration projects.

Water usage & chemicals

Samsøe Samsøe is dedicated to more sustainable fashion, highlighted by their Blue Belief denim collection that reduces water, energy, and chemicals used by 75% compared to traditional methods, using only responsibly sourced materials.

The brand is vigilant about chemical usage, adhering to its Restricted Substance List (RSL) to ensure all chemicals used are non-toxic and environmentally safer than conventional alternatives. All garments are certified by OEKO-TEX, affirming their safety and environmental standards. 

Additionally, the brand supports low-impact production with initiatives like solar panels and on-site wastewater treatment, showcasing their commitment to reducing environmental impact across their operations.

Circular product design

Samsøe Samsøe has integrated 30% recycled materials into their total material use as of 2022, with a third of these materials achieving full-chain Global Recycle Standard (GRS) certification.

The brand also takes proactive measures to reuse fabric and trim samples from their design and development phases by donating these materials to Nørklerne for upcycling. This practice not only prevents material waste but also promotes the creative repurposing of resources. 

The brand tries to use mono materials as much as possible. When blending they only do so to increase the durability of the product. However, with only 43% of their materials classified as monomaterials, Samsøe Samsøe reduces the recyclability of a majority of their products by using materialblends. This is something they are working on, and we hope to see further progress in the future. 

Items that cannot be repaired are directed to their RE: initiative, where they are either upcycled or recycled, further supporting circular fashion principles.

Circular business models

The brand collaborates with local tailors and shoemakers to offer repair and adjustment services, and they are equipped to handle minor in-store repairs. This initiative supports the durability and adaptability of their products, making them suitable for long-term use. Samsøe Samsøe’s commitment to quality is further evidenced by their rigorous in-house quality control processes, which have successfully reduced product claims to just 0.3%.

Distance & complexity of the supply chain

• Production
  • China
  • India
  • Tunisia
  • Vietnam
  • Turkey
  • Denmark
  • Europe
• HQ: Denmark
• Distribution: worldwide

Samsøe Samsøe, headquartered in Denmark, operates a global supply chain with production facilities in China, India, Tunisia, Vietnam, and Turkey, alongside various locations in Europe. This extensive network supports their worldwide distribution of products through stores and wholesalers. 

Transportation

The specific methods of transportation used for shipping products are not disclosed, leaving specific details on the environmental impact of their logistics and overall supply chain operations unclear.

Samsøe Samsøe uses animal-derived materials such as cashmere and wool, certified by standards like Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS), Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS), Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), and Global Cashmere Standard (GCS). They ensure ethical sourcing for the wool in compliance with the World Organisation for Animal Health’s guidelines, and their leather is certified Gold Standard by the Leather Working Group. 

Samsøe Samsøe has implemented a ban on fur, angora rabbit hair, mulesing wool, virgin feather and down, exotic animal skins and hair, and any use of animal-derived materials fron the CITES and IUCN lists of endangered species. Online people can find more information in their Animal Welfare Policy.

It is unclear whether all of their animal products are certified, and despite rigorous certifications, the complexity of long supply chains makes it challenging to guarantee the conditions of all animals involved.

Product design 

Their designs combine timeless aesthetics with high-quality materials, ensuring each piece is both stylish and durable. The brand focuses on providing substantial support to maintain the garments through their optimal lifespan.

Samsøe Samsøe emphasizes more sustainable fashion practices by focusing on the longevity and quality of their products. They have created a detailed Wash Care Repair guide to educate customers on maintaining and extending the life of their garments. This approach is aligned with the belief that prolonging a product’s life significantly reduces its environmental impact.

Slow fashion processes

The brand releases 4 collections each year, PS, SS, PA and AW. They also have a Basic Collection and Blue Belief Collection, focusing on denim.

The brand takes part in sales periods.

Transparency on product

Each product page describes the material composition and provides care instructions. They also disclose the lowest price setting of that product over a span of 30 days.

Transparency on processes

Samsøe Samsøe sets a high standard for transparency, detailing extensive information about their production and sourcing facilities and the auditing of their producers, enhancing accountability within their supply chain. The brand has achieved nearly full traceability for the first three stages of production — factory, dye house, and fabric mill — for almost all their items and is committed to extending this traceability further to the raw material extraction and production stages. We would, however, love to see the supply chain traced all the way to the raw materials ourselves.

The brand provides details of all their certifications, which COSH! has verified to be valid as of 2024. Additionally, Samsøe Samsøe discloses its carbon footprint across scopes 1, 2, and 3, demonstrating a thorough approach to documenting their environmental impact. However, questions remain regarding transportation methods, haberdashery materials, packaging practices, and more. The brand continues to strive for improved transparency within their supply chain and towards consumers.