PRODUCTION LOCATIONS
- Berlin-Friedrichshagen, Germany
WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES
BEAUTY OAK produces exclusively in Germany, in its own studio in Berlin-Friedrichshagen. Thanks to local production, the label benefits from short transport routes, high transparency and legally guaranteed working conditions.
All products are handmade and are created directly on site by the founder Jana Pfarr herself. BEAUTY OAK owns and operates its own production facility, which ensures complete control over quality and fair conditions. There are no traditional supplier relationships, as only existing materials are used.
BEAUTY OAK is also involved in educational work: the studio regularly organises upcycling workshops for children, young people and adults. These are organised according to demand and address topics such as climate change and sustainability.
In terms of inclusivity, the label focuses on different clothing sizes and deliberately withholds material to enable customised adjustments. An inclusive approach is also reflected in the brand communication: Jana critically addresses the social ideals of beauty that women in particular are exposed to and designs its clothing to be casual, body-hugging and focused on well-being.
MATERIALS
- Donated and discarded home textiles and clothing (e.g. duvet covers, curtains, blankets, clothing from customers or from the clothing container)
- Yarn (mainly from donations, certified organic when purchased new)
- Zips
PACKAGING
BEAUTY OAK deliberately avoids plastic in the e‑commerce sector and packs in recycled cardboard boxes and with paper tape. This approach fits in perfectly with the brand’s zero-waste concept, which aims to conserve resources and avoid waste. There is hardly any transport within the supply chain.
WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS
BEAUTY OAK relies on the reuse of existing textiles such as duvet covers, curtains and blankets, which significantly reduces water consumption compared to new production. As no new fabrics are produced, there is also no water consumption, which is usually incurred in the extraction of raw materials, dyeing and finishing.
Existing materials are predominantly used, which means that the use of new chemicals is largely avoided. When ingredients such as yarn are bought in, the designer makes sure that they are certified organic.
As mainly cotton and wool are used, the risk of microplastic release should be low. However, synthetic fibres may occasionally be found in donated materials.
CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN
BEAUTY OAK works with rescued materials and discarded clothing that is handed in directly to the studio or obtained from its own clothing container. These are therefore upcycled textiles that come from second-hand sources. This approach actively contributes to waste avoidance, although the material composition of the source textiles is not standardised. The products may therefore contain mixtures of materials, such as plant and synthetic fibres, which can limit their subsequent recyclability. So far, there is no specific focus on mono-materials, even though the designer states that she prefers to use 100% cotton or wool.
In terms of reparability, BEAUTY OAK places great importance on durability and actively offers repair services. Jana Pfarr uses repair methods such as visible mending. She also produces in small batches or as one-offs and deliberately retains residual quantities of certain fabrics to enable subsequent customisation or repairs. The products are repair-friendly.
Customers can donate materials for production.
CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODEL
BEAUTY OAK offers a repair service that is an integral part of its circular business model.
There is no take-back service in the traditional sense. Although materials from private donations are accepted, these are general textile donations, not a take-back of the company’s own products for recycling.
BEAUTY OAK focuses primarily on repair, upcycling and customised production, in which existing textiles are used as fully as possible and waste is avoided.
DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN
- Berlin-Friedrichshagen
- BEAUTY OAK has its headquarters in Schöneiche near Berlin, Germany.
TRANSPORTATION
- BEAUTY OAK works exclusively with locally donated materials, which are either delivered directly to the studio or taken from a clothes container on the founder’s private property in Schöneiche near Berlin. The supply chain is therefore extremely short and local, and no long-distance transport is required in the procurement of materials.
- Orders via Etsy are dispatched from the shop studio in Berlin-Friedrichshagen with DHL GoGreen.
- Wool (only in the form of donated or used textiles such as old blankets or jumpers)
- The wool comes from private donations or is purchased second-hand (e.g. from the clothes container or from customers). These are not newly produced materials.
PRODUCT DESIGN
BEAUTY OAK offers handmade unique items and small series, primarily in the field of women’s clothing and accessories. Home textiles such as hot water bottle covers and cushions are also produced. The label is primarily aimed at adult women, although workshops are also offered for children, young people and adults, where they can realise their own upcycling projects.
BEAUTY OAK clothing is produced in various sizes – in both smaller and larger sizes. Jana Pfarr deliberately keeps material reserves in order to be able to make individual adjustments if customers want a personalised custom-made product. The style of the collections is deliberately casual, relaxed and body-hugging, with the focus on feeling good. The designs are intended to emphasise the individual beauty of the person wearing them, without being subordinate to a particular ideal of beauty.
SLOW FASHION PROCESSES
BEAUTY OAK does not have a classic collection rhythm, but works with an ongoing, small collection that is continuously supplemented with new designs. The pieces are created either as one-offs or in small series, depending on the material available. The designs are strongly orientated towards the properties and quantities of the donated fabrics, which means that the creation process is strongly influenced by the existing stock.
Customers can have individual customisations made directly on site in the shop studio or on request, or commission a desired product from existing materials.
TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT
The BEAUTY OAK product pages contain detailed information on materials, manufacture and care. The information on the origin makes it easy for customers to understand how the garment was made. Plastic-free packaging and climate-neutral shipping with DHL GoGreen are also highlighted.
TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESS
BEAUTY OAK offers detailed insights into its working methods on its website and product pages. The brand provides transparent information about its own production process, which takes place entirely in the studio in Berlin-Friedrichshagen. It explains how textile donations from its own clothes container or directly from customers are sorted, cleaned and processed. The creative process – from the available material to the design idea – is also described in a comprehensible way. The processing steps and the zero-waste concept with reuse of residual materials for accessories or workshops are openly communicated.
Zaključak
BEAUTY OAK stands for local, handmade upcycled fashion from Berlin. Each piece is made from rescued textiles and produced directly in the studio. Discover BEAUTY OAK below on the COSH! map.
