
Sustainability
The value chain
The value chain or textile chain describes the totality of all production and trading stages that a textile product undergoes.
Here are the 6 steps that are particularly significant for the path of our fabrics, collected for you
Raw material
The textile value chain begins with the production of the seeds, the cultivation of the organic cotton, the harvest and the industrial ginning (separation of tufts and seeds). learn more
Spinning
In the spinning unit, the cotton balls are broken up, combed, cleaned and finally spun into threads, which are then spun up on spools. learn more
Knitting/Weaving
In the knitting unit, we produce knits such as e.g. Jersey, interlock or sweat fabrics. In the weaving unit we produce, for example, satin, poplin or crettone fabrics. learn more
Textile finishing
A raw knitted or woven organic cotton fabric has to be finished. That means it has to be preshrunk, dyed, softened or possibly printed and much mire. All finishing processes are certified to the highest environmental standards and according to the GOTS. learn more
Quality control
All Lebenskleidung fabrics are subject to a double physical quality check. Once at each production location & amp; in addition a final physical inspection takes place at our warehouse location and in the laboratory in Germany. learn more
Logistics
At the end of the textile chain, we will send your desired fabrics to your doorstep And that is carbon neutral with our service providers from UPS. Now for our fabrics a new life cycle begins in your studio or in your garmenting unit.
Our
Materials
At the heart of Lebenskleidung are materials that are produced fairly and sustainably and have a long life. Our focus is on fabrics made from organic cotton, but time and again we supplement our portfolio with new qualities such as wool or Tencel™.
Textile cerfification
Textile seals give you security. With them, you have the guarantee that your fabrics have gone through various independently approved certification steps.
The Fair for Life Standard
The Fair for Life standard identifies a product in which the raw materials AND the production are cultivated or carried out according to socially fair aspects. The Fair for Life Program was developed by the Bio-Foundation in collaboration with the Institute of Marketecology (IMO) as an alternative fair trade certification program to define fair trade criteria for all producers and for all products. The aim of the Fair for Life program is to create conditions to improve the lives and living conditions of particularly disadvantaged peasants and workers on all continents, in all cultures and in all areas of production. Therefore, the Bio-Foundation does not charge royalties for using the Fair For Life logo.
Engagement
We take our credo "More Than Fabrics" very seriously. That's why our work does not end with the finished fabric, but goes far beyond. It involves close contacts with producers and customers as well as a network that is constantly growing and thriving. We are members of various alliances, regularly go to trade fairs & are very busy at all.
You can read anything about the details here!
Cooperations
Together with over 70 other member companies of the International Association of Natural Textile Industry (IVN) Clothing for sustainability, respect and responsibility to our environment. The IVN is a member of the IWG, the International Working Group on the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). This international association of ecologically committed associations awards the globally recognized GOTS standard for the production of natural textiles.
Since 1992 UnternehmensGrün is an industry-wide association of sustainable and socially responsible entrepreneurs. The association was always party politically independent. UnternehmensGrün has often been one step ahead of other business associations in positioning sustainable development. Since 2017, Lebenskleidung has been active on the board of UnternehmensGrün.
Common Objective (CO)is an intelligent business network for the fashion industry. COs ambition is to take sustainable fashion from niche to norm. CO builds on ten years of work by the Ethical Fashion Forum, which now reaches a global network spanning 141 countries. Lebenskleidung is the proud winner of the CO Leader Award 2019 in the category Sourcing.
With our friends from the association Future Fashion Forward (FFF) we want to promote consumer protection and consumer advice in the fashion industry. We are convinced that it is only through the transfer of knowledge that consumers' trust can be strengthened, their consumption patterns changed and the economy sustainably changed. For this purpose, a platform is to be established which informs the population about abuses in clothing - both in the producing countries and here.
As part of the alliance Slow Fashion Next from Madrid in Spain, we are working with other international experts to increase the value and impact of the textile industry through innovation and green aspects. Like the founders, we believe companies should make the world we live in better. The common goal of Slow Fashion Next is therefore to transform the textile industry into an actor that brings about positive change.
On April 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza complex in Bangladesh collapsed with several garment factories. The disaster claimed over 1,100 casualties and several thousand injured. Since then, people around the world have been reminding them of the disaster with the Fashion Revolution Day . The Fashion Revolution Day reminds and urges change so that such a catastrophe never repeats itself.
The Sustainable Angle from London / UK is a non-profit organization and founder of #FutureFabricsExpo. Sustainable Angle's Future Fabrics Expo is the largest sustainable materials fair for the fashion and textile industry in Europe. The Sustainable Angle initiate and support projects with a focus on sustainability in the fashion and textile industries.
Sourcebook is a business-to-business network for fashion designers, textile craftsmen, suppliers and service providers in the fashion industry. Sourcebook serves as a networking platform to realize textile projects together.
Partner
The GLS Bank has been our partner in money and financing right from the start. The acronym GLS stands for "Community Bank for Borrowing and Giftgiving") and is a cooperative bank that claims to be the first sustainable bank in the world. The bank finances more than 11,000 businesses and projects mainly in the education, renewable energy, disability or sustainable construction sectors. Genetic engineering, armaments or animal experiments are not funded.
Because of our activity we travel a lot. This inevitably produces CO₂ emissions. Of course, avoiding CO₂ is best. Where unavoidable, you should at least compensate for CO₂. In order to keep our CO₂ footprint neutral, we compensate for our trips with atmosfair. atmosfair invests in high-quality CDM Gold Standard climate protection projects.
We source our electricity as 100% sustainable and renewable energy from the Munich-based company Polarstern . Polarstern works as a welfare-oriented company and generates electricity, for example by hydropower, at the Feldkirchen Inn/Germany power plant.
Fairs and Showrooms
Twice a year, we showcase the current portfolio and standard qualities of Lebenskleidung at the Munich Fabric Start. With a consistently high demand for information, inspiration and innovation, Munich Fabric Start has established itself as the leading trade fair for textiles and accessories. Organic quality fabrics are presented in the special section organic selection. Since its inauguaration Lebenskleidung has been an active part of this special area.
Closed Loop is a Copenhagen / Denmark based consulting agency specializing in the promotion and implementation of sustainable development. At its heart is the sustainable textile library The Fabric Source - showcasing the latest and most exciting new technologies most innovative materials that can be used in the fashion and textile industries. Today, The Fabric Source presents more than 2000 different sustainable fabrics and represents more than 200 suppliers from all over the world.
The Première Visionin Paris as one of the biggest fashion fairs in the world is awakening a little late but is also increasingly dedicated to sustainable fabrics and ingredients. As part of our cooperation booths, we can also be found at Première Vision.
Interloom sees itself as a digital showroom for sustainable manufacturers of fabrics and ingredients. Interloom facilitates proper sorucing for designers and fashion labels.
The International Natural Textile Fair, short the, Innatex under the auspices of the IVN (International Association of Natural Textile Industry) has been focusing on natural textiles for more than 25 years, but also on accessories, home textiles, fabrics or toys. Sustainable and socially responsible production are important participation criteria.
The Neonyt in Berlin sees itself as the global hub for Fashion, sustainability and innovation. Emerging from the Ethical Fashion Show and the Green Showroom Berlin, we have been closely associated with the trade fair for many years and numerous exhibitors are working with fabrics from Lebenskleidung.
The Fashion Sustain Berlin conference organized by Messe Frankfurt during the Berlin Fashion Week, brings together decision makers from the fashion and textile industries to discuss topics related to sustainable textile production and to look at different perspectives.