Our approach to sustainability and slow fashion
Last updated: August 2025
At AYANI, sustainability is not a trend — it is the foundation of how we design, source, and produce every piece. Our goal is to create timeless dresses that respect people, the planet, and animals while supporting women to feel empowered and comfortable in their everyday lives.
Design Philosophy
We believe true sustainability starts with thoughtful design. At AYANI we:
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Create versatile garments you can wear everywhere and every day. Whether it’s a typical office day, a business meeting, a conference, or after-work drinks, our dresses are designed to make you feel confident in every occasion.
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Produce a limited number of carefully selected designs each season. We embrace the principle of “less is more,” helping women find pieces they truly love without overwhelming them with choice.
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Use only high-quality fabrics that are made to last. Before production, our garments are test-washed at least 20 times to ensure durability and value.
Materials
We select fabrics with care and transparency. In 2025, our fibre mix across all existing products consists of the following shares, where some dresses fall into more than one category due to blended fabrics:
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LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose: 55%
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Linen (blends): 37%
- Organic cotton: 11%
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TENCEL™ (blend): 3%
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Recycled polyester (blend): 7%
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Organic cotton: 11%
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Conventional fabrics used prior to 2020: 9%
All ECOVERO™ fibres are EU Ecolabel certified, ensuring lower-impact production and traceability. We update and publish our material mix annually.
Chemicals and Dyeing
All suppliers must comply with our Restricted Substances Policy (RSL) aligned with ZDHC MRSL and European REACH regulations. This means:
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No Azo dyes releasing carcinogenic amines
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No formaldehyde, PVC, phthalates, or heavy metals
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No sandblasting or potassium permanganate spraying
Where possible, we work with OEKO-TEX® or Bluesign® certified partners and request wastewater testing to ensure safe treatment of dyeing and finishing effluents.
Water and Wastewater
Fabric production is the most water-intensive stage of our supply chain. We prioritise fibres with a lower water footprint such as linen and ECOVERO™, and we avoid on-garment washing processes. Our fabric partners in Europe follow EU wastewater treatment regulations, and we are committed to expanding ZDHC Wastewater Guideline coverage across 100% of wet processing.
Climate and Logistics
We continuously work to lower our carbon footprint by:
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Producing locally since 2022 in Szczecin, Poland — only three hours from our Berlin office
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Using only ground transport for bulk shipments — no air freight
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Consolidating orders to reduce transport impact
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Choosing lower-impact fibres
We aim to start measuring supply-chain emissions in 2027. Updates will be published annually.
Packaging and Waste
Sustainability is part of every detail of our operations:
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Domestic orders are wrapped in paper and shipped in FSC-certified recycled paper boxes.
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International orders are packed in polybags made of 100% recycled plastic to ensure garment protection.
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We minimise paper use by keeping documentation digital; any printed materials (invoices, return forms, postcards) are on recycled, recyclable paper.
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Return labels are sent exclusively by e-mail to reduce waste.
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Cutting waste is minimised through efficient pattern making; we barely have any leftover fabrics, what is left is sold at sample sales.
Circularity and Longevity
Every AYANI dress is designed to last. We test our fabrics to withstand at least 20 washes without shape loss or pilling. To extend garment life we offer:
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Free repairs for manufacturing defects within 2 years
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Paid alterations in our Berlin store
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To resale and take-back starting in 2028: customers can return worn AYANI dresses for store credit, after which we clean, repair, and resell or recycle them.
We also educate and empower our customers with care instructions included in every package — encouraging sustainable washing and garment care practices so pieces are cherished for many seasons to come.
People — Our Supply Chain
Every AYANI dress is made with care in small, family-owned factories in Armenia and Poland. We have built long-term partnerships with these suppliers and visit them regularly to ensure safe working conditions, fair wages, and transparency.
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All our partners are required to comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct based on ILO standards, covering fair wages, safe working conditions, freedom of association, and no forced or child labour.
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Our Purchasing Practices Policy ensures that we provide fair lead times, on-time payments, and cover compliance costs so that our suppliers are not pressured into unsustainable practices.
For reasons of confidentiality, we do not publish factory names and addresses on our website. However, we disclose detailed supplier information to independent sustainability assessors, auditors, and relevant stakeholders to ensure accountability and verification of our commitments.
Animals
AYANI is a 100% vegan brand. According to our Animal Welfare Policy we do not use fur, leather, exotic skins, wool, mohair, alpaca, cashmere, silk, or down.
Raising Awareness
We see sustainability as education and advocacy. By raising awareness about the side effects of fast fashion and actively participating in the Fashion Revolution movement, we encourage women to make informed choices — choosing fewer, better garments and supporting ethical brands.
Citizenship and Community
We believe fashion should also support communities. AYANI contributes to women’s empowerment initiatives and donates a portion of proceeds to local projects in Armenia that fight poverty, reduce unemployment, and protect the natural landscape.
Policy Library
For full details of our commitments and standards, please see:
Sustainability highlights of 2024
/ For the 5th year in a row only fibers made of sustainably generated materials were used in our clothes.
/ By 2024, 86% of the total amount of fibers used in all our collections were made of sustainable materials.
/ 16% of our clothes from past collections were upcycled on demand into new designs giving them a new life.
Our outlook on the future
We seek to work with partners who share a common vision of sustainability, accountability and transparency. If our values match, drops us a line and let's see how we can collaborate.