SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
At esther perbandt, sustainability has never been a marketing add-on, but the natural way in which the brand has operated since its foundation. As a small independent label with an atelier, store, and production network in Europe, we have always sought to combine creativity with responsibility. Our strategy has been formally approved by the founder and creative director and is carried out by a compact, hands-on team in Berlin, supported by long-term partners in Europe.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
The starting point of our approach is design itself. All collections are exclusively black, ensuring stylistic timelessness and long-term relevance. Many garments become part of what we call our “eternal collection” – pieces that can be worn, rediscovered, and collected over decades rather than seasons. Production follows the principle of small batches and no overstock. Each style is produced in runs of only ten pieces. Once a size is sold out, customers can order it again as a unique piece, produced in our Berlin atelier at a surcharge. This keeps quantities limited, eliminates the risk of excess stock, and ensures that every garment finds an owner. Unfinished or less successful samples are completed later in the atelier and sold during our annual sample sale – nothing is wasted. We carefully choose and test all fabrics over many years of use. Standardized summer and winter fabrics ensure consistency and allow us to store leftovers for future productions. One of our most frequently used fabrics is woven in Germany, and many carry Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certification. For our statement T-shirts, we use GOTS-certified shirts shipped under a non-flight policy. In addition, we buy from deadstock suppliers, giving new life to existing materials. The majority of our production takes place in Szczecin, Poland, only a short distance from Berlin. We transport all fabrics, patterns, and trims together in a single car trip and return with the finished garments and leftover materials, which are reused in Berlin. This avoids unnecessary shipping back and forth and ensures efficient, low-impact logistics. Prototypes and samples are made directly in our Berlin atelier. Our leather goods (belts and bags) are produced in Germany, as are our high-quality zippers and stone nut buttons. We never use plastic buttons – only buttons made of natural corozo (stone nut), which are durable and biodegradable. Packaging reflects our dual commitment to premium brand experience and environmental responsibility. Customer orders are beautifully wrapped without plastic, using only paper-based materials, and every parcel includes a handwritten card with a personal message. Internal shipments, by contrast, are packed with recycled materials to minimize waste. All customer deliveries are shipped via DHL GoGreen, compensating for CO₂ emissions through certified climate projects and reducing emissions through route optimization and electric vehicles.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
We believe in respectful, fair, and safe working conditions as the foundation of our organisation. Our Berlin-based team consists of the founder, one full-time assistant, one part-time Ukrainian tailor employed since the beginning of the war, and a long-term freelance pattern maker. In 2025, we made a conscious commitment to building an all-female core team, including interns, as a statement to support women in the design industry, who continue to face structural disadvantages. We have collaborated with the same suppliers and production partners for many years, fostering stability, trust, and mutual respect. We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or exclusion of any kind. Transparency, shared responsibility, and open communication define our daily work culture. Beyond internal structures, inclusivity is deeply embedded in our brand identity. Our store in Berlin has organically developed into a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ individuals and other underrepresented communities. Over the years, our team, freelance collaborators, and customer base have included non-binary and transgender individuals, as well as people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. It is important to us that everyone feels respected and seen — regardless of gender identity, expression, or background. We have now extended this commitment to our digital presence. Traditionally, fashion e-commerce structures categories strictly into “women” and “men,” which can unintentionally exclude customers who do not identify within this binary system. To address this, we have introduced a third category, “Unisex,” alongside “Women” and “Men” in our online shop. In this category, products will initially be presented without a model, focusing on the garment itself rather than a gendered body. This allows customers to approach the piece without predefined gender expectations. With this step, we aim to create a more inclusive and respectful online shopping experience — one that reflects the reality of our community and extends the safe-space philosophy of our physical store into the digital sphere. Social responsibility, for us, is a lived practice — expressed through long-term partnerships, fair collaboration, inclusive representation, and the continuous effort to create environments in which people feel safe, valued, and empowered.
SHOWCASES AND EVENTS
Our runway shows and performances are also produced with sustainability in mind. We deliberately choose venues like Säälchen, Holzmarkt Berlin, which are already fully equipped with lighting, sound, stage, and furniture. This avoids unnecessary transport and additional construction. We do not use single-use props, and bars work with real glassware only. All waste is sorted according to local regulations.
CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT
We communicate sustainability in a direct, personal way. Most of our customer interaction takes place either in-store or directly by email, which the founder still answers herself. On our website and social media, we share insights into our philosophy, including the upcoming “Longevity & Care” section that will guide customers on how to preserve their garments for decades. Our care labels also carry a clear message: “Keep your lover from doing your laundry, use them for romance instead” – a reminder that good care is the key to longevity.
CONTINUOUS MONITORING
Because of our small structure, sustainability is not a separate department but part of our daily work. Every decision, from fabric choice to transport to customer care, is made with environmental and social impact in mind. We continuously reflect on our practices and adjust whenever possible, always seeking a realistic balance between sustainability and economic viability.
CIRCULARITY IN OUR ORGANISATION
Circularity is not embedded in our design concept in its strictly technical sense; however, it is inherently integrated through our philosophy of timeless design and responsible production. We create classical, long-lasting pieces that are designed to remain relevant beyond seasons. Many of our garments are worn for years and are often passed on to others who fully appreciate their quality and character. In this way, longevity becomes our primary circular strategy. We do not generate deadstock — neither in fabrics nor in finished garments. Production runs are deliberately small, and remaining fabrics are carefully stored and reused in future collections. There is no overproduction; every piece eventually finds an owner. Unfinished or less commercially successful samples are completed in-house during quieter production periods and later offered at our annual sale or sample sale at reduced prices. This ensures that all materials and garments are fully utilized within our own system. As the founder and most visible representative of the brand, I personally wear many collection pieces in-store on a daily basis. Each year, I review items I no longer need and resell these pre-worn pieces directly to customers at special prices. These pieces are highly appreciated, as they carry both history and authenticity. We also facilitate resale opportunities for customers. If a client has outgrown a garment, we offer to resell it at our sample sale on a commission basis. If it does not sell, the piece is returned to the client. This extends product life cycles and keeps garments within our community. Additionally, we provide repair and alteration services in our Berlin studio. Garments damaged through wear — for example, coats or dresses caught in bicycle wheels — are restored to near-original condition. We also adjust pieces for customers whose body measurements have changed, allowing them to continue wearing their existing garments rather than purchasing new ones. Through small-batch production, longevity, repair services, resale models, and direct customer relationships, circularity is implemented in a practical, responsible, and community-based way within our organisation.
