OSKA is committed to ethical production by choosing European manufacturing partners. Most of the collection is made in the Czech Republic. OSKA has its own two factories there where the clothes are made. Because OSKA produces their collection itself, the brand has more control over the working conditions and wages of the workers.
Yet OSKA also collaborates with producers outside Europe. Hemp-cotton clothing, for example, is made in China. The entire production from cultivation to finished clothes takes place there. To make sure this happens in ethical and safe conditions, OSKA regularly visits the factory. The brand therefore has a long and close cooperation with the manufacturer.
Most of the (raw) materials are sourced from European producers in Italy and Germany, with a small proportion coming from Turkey and China.
Most of OSKA’s clothing, about 80% of the collection, is made of natural materials. The brand uses materials such as cotton, linen, modal, wool, hemp and tencel, among others.
Different types of cotton are used in the OSKA collection. Some of the cotton is GOTS-certified organic (Global Organic Textile Standard). This means that no chemicals are used in the production process. In addition OSKA also uses BCI cotton (Better Cotton Initiative) and recycled cotton. Finally, OSKA also uses the unsustainable conventional cotton in their clothes.
A smaller part of the collection also uses synthetic materials such as polyester, polyamide and elastane. These materials have the risk of releasing microplastics when washing the clothes. Moreover, the production process of these materials has a high ecological impact.
As mentioned, the collection is partly produced in the Czech Republic, where OSKA has two production workshops. Here, the clothes are also dyed using a modern dyeing process. Because the brand dyes the finished clothes, rather than the materials, fewer chemicals and less water are needed.
OSKA wants to be even more circular in the future and is researching how to make clothing completely compostable. To be compostable or biodegradable, a garment must consist entirely of natural materials as well as contain no chemicals. The German brand therefore also wants to replace the sewing threads and elastics it uses with compostable materials. COSH! Encourages these ambitions and looks forward to these sustainable changes!
In addition, this German women’s brand also recycles their own production waste into new products. So you can find cute accessories or home decoration in the collection, made from fabric remnants from the production process.
Most of the collection has a short supply chain. The materials are made in Europe and production is also done in Europe. The boiled wool, for example, comes from Italian manufacturer Moessmer.
Only the hemp-cotton clothes are made in China. Still, to limit the supply chain for these products, OSKA ensures that all production from cultivation to finishing is done at the same location.
Although part of the collection is vegan, this does not apply to all the clothes. For example, wool and cashmere are used in the knitted jumpers. OSKA also has several felted cardigans and jumpers made of ‘boiled wool’. This is a natural and very high-quality material. To ensure that the wool is animal-friendly, OSKA only uses mulesing-free wool. Mulesing is an animal-unfriendly practice where part of the skin is cut away (often without anaesthetic) to prevent parasite infections.
OSKA occasionally uses leather, mainly in accessories such as bags. The leather used is a co-product of the meat industry. Unfortunately, little is known about the origin of the material. As a result, COSH! cannot form an opinion on animal welfare.
OSKA designs timeless women’s fashion with comfort. The clothes are often oversized in a modern and minimalist style. The brand sets itself against the fast-changing trends of fast fashion. When clothes do not sell, OSKA sells them at a later stage as ReFashion at friendly prices. The ultimate proof that the OSKA collection is timeless!
To ensure that their clothes have a long lifespan, OSKA works with high-quality materials. After a survey, it was found that more than 80% of customers wear their purchases for more than 5 years. Moreover, many indicated that they can wear the clothes for longer and therefore pass them on to others.
That is why you can also bring your OSKA clothes into one of the shops or exchange them at one of the Re-fashion events. As OSKA produces all collections in small editions, you can also be sure to find a limited edition garment.
The OSKA style coaches are ready to advise you on colour and model to ensure you find the perfect outfit.
When OSKA started in the 90s’, there was still remarkably little transparency in the fashion industry. Since the beginning, the German fashion brand has been committed to sustainable and timeless fashion and is still evolving in terms of transparency. You can get detailed information about all materials and production locations in every OSKA shop. So you know exactly where and what your garment is made of.
This information is not yet fully available on the website. OSKA informs us that they are working on this so that all information will soon be available online.
Zaključak
Discover timeless fashion from OSKA. This German brand designs comfortable and minimalist clothes for women, mostly made in Europe.
Find out where to shop the collections here:
