Lena Hoschek - Ribbon skirts for kids - Copyright Isabel London
Sustainability

“Making durable clothing is my idea of sustainable. With the right care, each piece will last for generations.” - Lena Hoschek

Slow fashion and sustainability from fabric selection to sales; clothing designed to stand the test of time and be passed down through the generations; timeless designs made from natural materials with premium finishing; social responsibility and the avoidance of waste. These are the values that Lena Hoschek stands for and which dictate our actions day in, day out.

Slow Fashion

To manufacture sustainably, one must first turn to the basics. We for the most part use natural materials such as cotton, silk, cashmere, viscose and wool. Where we see an added value, we will also use man-made textiles, such as elasticated or crease-resistant fabrics, fine tulle or ultra-fine bridal lace. Wherever possible, our materials are machine washable, to avoid the use of chemical cleaning processes.

While the majority of our clothing is machine washable, some pieces require special care. Each item has its own care label with specific washing instructions.

We prefer to use fabrics, yarns and accessories sourced from European manufacturers. We are very aware of and highly value the specialties of each individual region - prints from Italy, French lace, knitwear from Austria or Britain. We also have a small number of select partner suppliers from Japan and the USA.

We support suppliers that work sustainably and ethically. We strive for transparency and want to know who produces our fabrics and to avoid unnecessary transport routes. We favour family-run businesses and companies with a longstanding tradition.

Limited Editions from our Fabric Archive

We all need to do our bit to protect the environment. We avoid and reduce waste wherever possible and at every stage of our production process, beginning with the use of fabric remnants.

For example, any fabric remnants left over after the pattern-cutting for styles that don’t make it into the final collection are used to create special limited-edition pieces

Normally, such small quantities of fabric are not reused, which is why we are so delighted to have found a more sustainable approach, transforming these remnants into limited-edition pieces.

Instead of simply disposing of fabric remnants, we use them to create something truly exclusive and special.

Recycling

Avoid. Reuse. Recycle. There are countless ways to be more sustainable and reduce waste. We produce as little waste as possible when shipping our clothing and we reuse packaging whenever possible: we collect clothes hangers and send them back to our workshops, for instance. Our goods are shipped flat, without hangers and wrapped in tissue paper. They are packed for transit such as to make use of every available last gap. This helps us to save space, packaging and fuel. We even reuse our tissue paper as filling material. If it is not possible to avoid using plastic bags during transport, these are also reused, rather than simply disposed of

Repair-Service

Mend and make do! A lost button or a tear doesn’t have to mean the end for your favourite dress. If you outgrow a piece of clothing, why not pass it on or sell it? Thanks to our archive of fabric remnants from every collection, we can repair Lena Hoschek pieces with the original fabric, so they’ll be good as new.

Do you have a Lena Hoschek piece that needs to be mended?

Contact the Atelier

Social responsibility

Quality comes at a high price: it takes respect, understanding, trust, responsibility and sustainability. To ensure these standards are met, all items of Lena Hoschek clothing are manufactured exclusively at workshops in Europe

"Fair production is a process of give and take. There are people behind each item of clothing.” - Liane Aufgebauer, Production

For us, sustainable production means seeing the individual behind each item of clothing, showing understanding and demanding fair and safe working conditions. Our partners include small operations like family businesses with just four employees and a traditional dressmaking workshop. Most of the employees are women, many of whom have children. We personally know our manufacturers, are on hand to help and to deal with specific individual circumstances.

"Sustaining the textiles industry in Europe comes at a price and entails higher costs. By choosing to buy from labels that manufacture in Europe, however, consumers can help to support the industry and the people it employs.” – Lena Hoschek