Because We Care

“RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME PRIMARILY MEANS DESIGNING EACH PIECE AS A FAVORITE AND TO USE STYLING TO COMBINE THE COLLECTIONS OF THE MANY DIFFERENT SEASONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS HOW WE KEEP BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THE TIMELESSNESS OF OUR FAVORITE PIECES. NATURALLY, THE FOUNDATION FOR THAT IS LAID BY MINDFULNESS WHEN SELECTING MATERIALS AND BY PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO FORWARD-LOOKING INNOVATIONS IN ALL AREAS.”

— DOROTHEE.

OUR CREDO

RESPONSIBILITY IS A PROCESS, NOT A PRODUCT.

We believe that responsibility starts with a state of mind. That good design stands the test of time and decisions should be questioned and made new every day. We design our pieces so that they can be mixed and matched anew season after season—across individual collections.

For us, quality is a given, not a luxury: We are constantly exploring new ways to further improve our processes throughout the supply chain–from materials selection to collaboration with our suppliers and the management of resources within our own company. We explain how this works in practice in the Our Process section.

We are not perfect: There are, and will always be, new challenges along the way–which is why close collaboration among all divisions of the company is crucial. And that is precisely why we view responsibility as a process that we are continually refining, not as a finished goal.

We can't change tomorrow without starting right now.

DO MORE. be more. because we are all in this together!

PROCESSES

WHERE IT ALL BEGINS: LET’S TALK SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Before a piece is created, we ask the questions: Which categories are we launching? How long should a product stay in our selection? We set these answers in a fixed range plan so that decisions are made deliberately rather than spontaneously. Based on this, we also plan our material requirements using specific demand figures to avoid surpluses from the outset. If a surplus does arise, it doesn’t go to waste–we use it to develop special-edition items or exclusive limited lines.

We have our raw materials tested on a random basis by an external partner laboratory using its Chem-ST™ (Chemical Smart Testing) analytical method. This quantitative chemical profiling goes beyond traditional lists of hazardous substances and helps us identify potential chemical risks as early as the development stage, also with an eye toward future regulatory requirements. The tests focus on parameters relevant to each product: based on statutory limit values and, for certain parameters, on the stricter values of a recognized, voluntary industry standard. The results are validated in accordance with ISO 17025 and CPSC test methods.

During production, we also keep resource conservation in mind: When possible, we manufacture our products in the same location where we source our raw materials to shorten the distance between material procurement and production. For particularly complex products, we also prioritize geographic proximity to our partners to ensure efficient communication.

PARTNERS

It's all about the network: Trust-based collaboration is important to us, which is why we have been working with many of our suppliers for years. This continuity allows us to work together on quality rather than simply checking standards on a one-time basis. Our team maintains close, ongoing communication with our suppliers.

This partnership is based on clear rules: Every company in our supply chain—from raw material sourcing to garment manufacturing—commits to meeting minimum environmental and social standards by signing our Code of Conduct.

At the heart of this is our responsibility to ensure compliance with social and labor standards: We require all our partners to comply with social and labor standards based on the fundamental principles of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other internationally recognized human rights agreements.

These include, in particular:

Freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and the prohibition of discrimination  

PROHIBITION OF  child labor and forced labor  

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY ISSUE

Wages at least at the statutory or industry-standard level, as well as regulated WORKING HOURS

Occupational safety and health, as well as environmental and safety standards that meet or exceed the minimum legal requirements

We verify compliance with these social and labor standards, based on the ILO’s fundamental principles, through social audits at our manufacturers’ facilities, such as those conducted according to SMETA or BSCI. The results of these independent, external audits are submitted to us and provide us with reliable insight into implementation on site.

In addition, some of our partners are certified according to textile-specific standards such as GOTS or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), which set requirements for materials & their processing, and include environmental and social criteria for certified facilities.

When it comes to product quality, we don’t rely solely on our partners: A dedicated team in our Atelier oversees every garment from the initial design to the finished product. At some of our production facilities, we supplement this with a final on-site quality control inspection, which we document in our own QC reports. This allows us to maintain a consistent focus on quality throughout the process.  

PACKAGING

Let’s talk packaging.   Our polybags are made of LDPE (low-density polyethylene), a single-type plastic. We have specifically reduced the material thickness by 5 microns (from 45 to 40 microns) in order to save on our use of plastic.  

The plastic used for our hangers is made from 100% recycled material. Our hangers are manufactured at our production sites in China and the EU.

Our Corporate Culture

As a family-run business, we value long-term relationships: Some of our employees have been with the company for over 20 years, growing alongside it. This philosophy and approach are reflected in every aspect of our business. We value our employees from different countries, who enrich our company with their respective expertise and creativity.

our Headquarter & STORES

As part of our store renovations starting in 2024, we have fully transitioned to LED lighting. We also strive to conduct our work digitally whenever possible. When printing is necessary, we primarily use FSC-certified paper.

Mobility. Our company car fleet consists primarily of fully electric vehicles, supplemented by hybrid vehicles.

We're working on our green thumb. A slice of nature amid our workday: Our little Farm is thriving at the DOROTHEE SCHUMACHER headquarters—planted with lettuce, seasonal vegetables, berries, and a wide variety of herbs. It’s a project in which our team is actively involved. During breaks and company celebrations, the Farm serves as a gathering spot where we can take a moment to pause, come together, and help ourselves to the fresh harvest.