On January 15th, Good Brand Guru’s Milena and Martine spent a whirlwind day at Berlin’s most responsible fashion trade fair, Neonyt. Featuring pioneering fashion brands that set new standards around sustainable and ethical fashion.It was an inspiring day, packed with interesting conversations and mouth-watering ready-to-wear collections for winter 2019/2020.
We visited Neonyt to meet with brands founded on doing good. We were welcomed by passionate founders and creators willing to share their stories; stories driven by ambition, dedication and a strong purpose.
Convinced that our fashion industry needs to change to become better for people and planet, it was encouraging to see the number of entrepreneurs - or pioneers - gathered at this fair. From brands that are leading the way in ethical manufacturing to brands investing in local production, from brands creating fantastic products out of waste materials to those working exclusively with plant-sourced materials, these businesses all show innovative approaches towards a brighter future for fashion.
Among the carefully curated selection of brands present at Neonyt, there are many promising opportunities for fashion retailers and brands looking for ways to Embed more Good into their companies, whether by including them into their brand/ product portfolios or by collaborating with them for product development. These entrepreneurs are skilled, experienced and determined to grow the responsible fashion market.
We congratulate Thimo and his team for this impressive achievement and look forward to continue our conversations in the next editions of Neonyt.
SKFK
It was a pleasure to meet with Ludovic Quinault - CEO at SkunkFunk - SKFK.
Born in the heat of music festivals of the 90's; today SKFK has a presence in more than 38 countries and 600 locations. Each season, SKFK presents a feminine collection infused with urban style for diverse and conscious women.
The brand is committed to making durable fashion, both in style and quality. The brand applies a holistic approach across all their operations, from design to manufacturing, from packaging to transport. SKFK is committed to contributing towards a cleaner, fairer and better fashion industry and they are at the forefront of it.
Read more on: https://www.skunkfunk.com
Studio Elsien Gringhuis
Studio Elsien Gringhuis is a high-end, sustainable label with a focus on the essence of clothing.Timeless, clean, chic and minimalistic with innovative details. High-end products with quality in cuts, fabrics and finish.
All items are produced on order in their studio in the Netherlands, with the help of local highly-skilled tailors.
The collections are available online and in specialized boutiques in the UK, Norway, Germany, Belgium Switzerland and the Netherlands.
More info on: https://www.elsiengringhuis.com/
NAE
Sandra Perez of footwear brand NAE shared her inspring story with us. She co-founded this vegan shoe label over a decade ago in Portugal. Today, she can be considered a true pioneer for responsibly sourced and locally manufactured footwear. Going against all streams, she managed to create a brand that is today established and recognised for its high quality materials and lasting products. The brand is seeing a growing demand for their responsibly sourced vegan footwear.
More info on: https://www.nae-vegan.com/en/
PURE WASTE
The brand name says it all; the roots of this company originate from the Nordic tradition of recycling, and the clean and pure environment of their native Finland. For over a decade, the founders of Pure Waste have invested in the creation of high-quality fabrics, sourced from industry waste materials. With their manufacturing sites in India, they have succeeded in creating recycled fabrics for their collection of comfortable fashion basics.
More info on: https://www.purewaste.org/
