Tomorrow’s fashion – made by today’s innovation.
Tomorrow’s fashion cannot be produced using yesterday’s ideas. That is why we rely on more sustainable and innovative materials; safe, environmentally friendly production processes; and recyclable products. For us, the highest quality and ecological and social standards go hand-in-hand.
To meet the demands posed by the times we live in, fashion must not only be characterized by high-quality, but also by responsibility. This is why we also select the materials for our products in accordance with environmental compatibility and animal welfare. Additionally, we develop new materials through strategic partnerships with innovative companies and start-ups for tomorrow’s fashion trends, such as the circular cellulose yarn currently under development with Swiss innovation company HeiQ.
We also work closely with recognized international initiatives in order to reach our sustainability goals. These include Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), the Leather Working Group (LWG) or NGOs such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
As we use materials of animal origin, such as wool and leather, in many of our products, animal welfare is very important for us. For years now, we have only used specific types of leather that are by-products of the food industry. We ensure that the down we use is not obtained through live plucking and force-feeding.
Whether it’s wool or cotton,the source of fashion is intrinsically connected with nature. Our choice of materials determines the impact we have on the planet and our goal is to reduce this impact as much as possible. Regenerative farming is a particularly promising method to achieve this goal. We have scrutinised our supply chain in this regard and are investing in partners such as SEKEM, ZQRX or Raddis®Cotton, who are working in this area.
We're making a difference one piece at a time, using future-friendly processes that reduce the environmental impact of our products and ensure we're doing our part to protect our planet for the future generations.
Our RESPONSIBLE Styles are a key element on our path to more sustainability:
They comprise at least 60% more sustainable certified raw materials and, additionally, meet strict environmental as well as social standards in processing. We are also steadily increasing the proportion of products with RESPONSIBLE dyes and more sustainable treatments. The RESPONSIBLE styles are easily recognizable via dedicated hangtags.
The sustainability of a product starts with design, but does not end with sale. How long does the clothing remain wearable? Is the quality so good that the product could continue to make wearers happy a second, third, or fourth time? How can the materials be reused and processed afterwards to create new fashion?
For us, service life and recycling are important factors in completing material cycles and conserving resources. Our goal: By 2030, eight out of ten of our products will meet circularity criteria.
Our designers are considering the circular economy even while planning a new collection, and our employees also receive regular training on this subject. Furthermore, we are developing a large digital media library with information concerning materials and processes that are particularly suited to recycling, so that our team can make informed decisions during the development process.
The majority of our finished products – over 80% – are manufactured by suppliers from all over the world. We know them very well, and have been working with our strategic partners in the spirit of mutual trust for over a decade. Together, we ensure the high quality for our products and have implemented long-term measures to improve working conditions and production processes on-site. The remaining goods (20%) come from our own HUGO BOSS factories in Germany, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland and Poland.
Whoever wishes to partner with HUGO BOSS has to go undergo a strict selection process with detailed questions regarding human rights and social standards. We have stipulated all our standards in the Supplier Code of Conduct, which is a binding document for our suppliers. To ensure compliance with this document, we conduct regular audits and support our suppliers with further development activities.
We also expect certain minimum ecological standards from our suppliers with regards to issues such as energy consumption, emissions and waste water, and chemical management. The basis for the use of chemicals in production are the limits defined by the internationally recognised ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL). With regular training sessions, we help our partners act responsibly towards our planet and its valuable resources. In this way they not only reduce their environmental impact, but also create safer working conditions.