Environmentally and Socially Responsible Clothing Company from Germany Brings Eco-friendly apparel for Women and Children to the USA
NEW YORK, April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, hessnatur gives new meaning to smart dressing. An environmentally and socially responsible apparel company, hessnatur, founded in Germany in 1976, has a history of conscientiousness and commitment to both the earth and the people who inhabit it. For its US launch, hessnatur enlisted world-renowned fashion designer Miguel Adrover as creative director. Available via the web (http://www.hess-natur.com/) beginning this summer and in catalogue in the fall, hessnatur believes that clothes are more than what you wear, they are how you choose to live.
"We are very pleased to introduce hessnatur to the US market. Americans, we truly believe, are ready to embrace a way of dressing that is kinder to the earth and the people who live on it," said Managing Director of hessnatur, Wolf Luedge. "Miguel Adrover is a unique talent, whose dedication to environmentalism is apparent in not only his garments but in the way he lives his life. Miguel brings an exciting level of creativity and inspiration to us."
hessnatur will be debuting in July with an internet store via hess-natur.com, followed in September by a catalogue. Apparel for both women and babies will be available, including 100% organic clothing for babies and 100% natural for women, most of which is organic cotton, wool, linen and silk. hessnatur's commitment to the quality of the clothing is matched by a commitment to the quality of the lives of those who create the clothing, and to those who wear it.
Recognized as an organic pioneer, hessnatur initiated the world's first organic cotton farming project in Sekem, Egypt, in 1991. hessnatur's social and environmental work was recognized this year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the company was the recipient of the Public Eye award.
As creative director, Adrover was a natural choice for hessnatur. Known around the world for his daring, avant-garde designs and frequent use of recycled materials, Adrover has been celebrated in the pages of the leading fashion magazines. His themed collections, always inspired by the people and cultures he sees in New York and when traveling, are unique for their authentic interpretation of everyday dress. For hessnatur, Adrover has seized the opportunity to give back to the earth and to use fashion as an expression of his dedication to creating a cleaner, greener, more respectful way of living.
"For me, the work I'm doing for hessnatur is greater than fashion. It's not about trend -- far from it -- it's about showing the world how apparel can actually help workers, and not harm the environment," said Adrover. "It's an incredibly inspiring company and I'm proud to have found my home in this role."
The genesis of hessnatur is both simple and unique. When Heinz Hess, an environmentalist, had a son, he was determined to provide his newborn with the organic clothing he couldn't find anywhere. So he started his own clothing company, hessnatur. Although it was only a little over 30 years ago, synthetic clothing had almost supplanted natural, organic clothing and so finding manufacturers was very difficult. When he did find them, he discovered that many natural textiles were chemically treated, destroying the health of the fibers. But with a handful of dedicated suppliers, he began to offer beautifully crafted and completely pure clothing. After initiating the world's first organic cotton farming project, hessnatur followed it with similar projects in Peru, Senegal, Turkey and Burkina Faso. The cotton is grown and cultivated totally free of artificial fertilizers and pesticides, anything that harms the people who wear the cotton or the people who produce it. Beyond cotton, hessnatur works with partners who develop organic linen and wool, adhering to the same strict measures as the cotton. hessnatur also works with the world's only organic silk project.
In 2002, hessnatur set the standard for humane labor conditions. With the Clean Clothes Campaign and the Fair Wear Foundation, hessnatur developed an innovative system for humane production. In 2005, hessnatur was the first German company to be certified by the Fair Wear Foundation. Recently, hessnatur embarked on a partnership with Dr. Muhammad Yunus, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, and his Grameen Foundation, supporting its stellar work in fighting poverty. hessnatur is introducing organic manufacturing processes to the Grameen Knitwear Project, and is paying a bonus above fair purchase price for the goods, with the funds going directly to the Grameen Foundation.
According to Wolf Luedge, "You have a saying in America that beauty comes from within. At hessnatur we think it also comes from without: without harm to the earth and the people who live on it."
hessnatur
