PRODUCTION LOCATIONS
- Turkey
- Austria
- Pakistan
- Morocco
- Spain
- Italy
WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES
Kuyichi states that all their products are made by people who are treated and paid right. Their Social Report states that they are recognised as a ‘Leader’ by the Fair Wear Foundation, for their commitment to improving working conditions in their factories. The brand aims to build long term supplier relationships, and requires their suppliers to sign their Code of Conduct.
Kuyichi has published a full list of their suppliers, including when they were last audited.
MATERIALS
- Organic cotton
- Regenerative cotton
- Recycled cotton
- Tencel and Ecocel Lyocell
- Tencel Modal
- Linen
- Hemp
- Recycled polyester
- Vegetable tanned leather
- Vegan leather alternative- Jacron
Kuyichi primarily uses natural, plant-based materials. Since 2016, all the virgin cotton used by Kuyichi has been certified organic. Their recycled cotton is made from both pre- and post-consumer waste, and therefore requires fewer resources. Kuyichi also uses linen, sourced from Europe, and hemp.
Kuyichi also uses Tencel lyocell and modal; man-made plant-based fibres, produced from wood.
Kuyichi has replaced the leather patches on the back of their jeans with jacron patches. This is a vegan leather alternative produced from a blend of corn polyols, cotton, and polyurethane (PU).
PACKAGING
Kuyichi’s Sustainability Report states that they are aiming to reduce their use of polybags, and only use them for tops and light coloured jeans. The brand has also switched from potentially compostable shipping bags to paper mailers, as these are easier to properly dispose of.
WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS
Kuyichi states that all their virgin cotton is strictly organic. Organic cotton is produced without artificial fertilisers and pesticides, and requires less water to grow.
However, Kuyichi recognises that even organic cotton requires high volumes of water, which is why they also use lower impact materials, such as linen and hemp. Kuyichi is also working to use more recycled fibres, and in 2020 launched their first 100% recycled denim. Using recycled fibres will reduce the associated water and chemical use even further!
Kuychi also states that they use advanced dyeing techniques such as pre-reduced indigo and aniline-free dying to ensure cleaner wastewater. In 2022, they reached their goal to have all their denim washed with low impact washes!
CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN
Kuyichi’s products are not always monomaterials, so the likelihood that they can be recycled at the end of their lifespan is reduced.
However, Kuyichi encourages consumers to return their used products when they are no longer needed, in exchange for a discount on their next purchase. Returned items are ideally repaired or refurbished, and resold in their ‘Trends are Circular’ online shop. This helps to prevent excess waste from being generated. Kuyichi’s website states that items which are no longer wearable are recycled.
CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS
Kuyichi offers a repair service, in exchange for a discount on your next purchase.
Kuyichi has also released a reworked capsule collection, called ‘In Play’, that repurposes forgotten pieces into bold, wearable denim. Each piece is handcrafted in the Netherlands from reclaimed jeans, giving new life to clothes that were once considered unusable. What’s even better is that these pieces are either made-to-order, or are one-off pieces, so waste from overstock is eliminated!
DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN
Production locations:
- Turkey
- Austria
- Pakistan
- Morocco
- Spain
- Italy
Kuyichi headquarters are located in the Netherlands. Their website states that some countries may be excluded from shipping due to high costs, in which case the brand may be contacted.
TRANSPORTATION
Kuyichi states that they aim to reduce their transport related emissions by reducing the distance between suppliers and locally sourcing fabrics and trims. To transport their final products to their warehouse in the Netherlands, Kuyichi uses land, sea and air transport. However, in 2023, they were able to completely eliminate air transport.
- Vegetable tanned leather
- Wool
Kuyichi’s website states that their leather is a by-product of the meat industry, and is from European cows. Kuyichi states that they strive to only use animal-derived materials from animals that are decently treated.
PRODUCT DESIGN
Kuyichi offers men’s and women’s wear, and the majority of their products are sized XS to XL. The items in their ‘In Play’ collection, which are reworked from reclaimed jeans, are one size.
SLOW FASHION PROCESSES
Kuyichi is on a mission to ‘unfashion’ the fashion industry. They are proud to have a CORE Collection, consisting of timeless styles that go beyond seasonal trends. Some items in this collection have been there for over 8 years! These pieces are also designed to be durable, challenging the concept of fast passing trends and disposable fashion.
Kuyichi does not participate in seasonal sales. Instead, they conduct surveys to find out what consumers actually want, and replenish based on demand. This allows them to focus on products that are really needed, and prevent overproduction.
TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT
Kuyichi aims to provide full product transparency. On each product page, they state the material composition, and what certifications apply. Kuyichi also provides further material information elsewhere on their website.
TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES
Kuyichi publishes annual reports on the social and environmental aspects of their brand. The brand has also released a complete list of their suppliers, and is proud to publish their exact production figures on their website. In 2023, they produced 89,133 items.
Each product page states where the item was produced, including where the fabric was sourced, and what certifications apply.
Zaključak
Kuyichi produces timeless products, designed to withstand the continuous change of trends. This focus on longevity is coupled with transparency, so you’ll always know exactly where your products were made, and what from. Kuyichi also has a take-back scheme, repair service, and even a limited reworked collection; giving new life to forgotten pieces. This commitment to waste reduction is truly inspiring!
Discover where to shop Kuyichi on the map below.
