The legacy fashion industry model operates on such long lead times, with so many interrelated moving parts, that it’s difficult verging on impossible for incumbent brands to make the transition to pre-order. Add to that the fact that so many brands are struggling with overstock, discounting and razor-thin margins, and it's tough enough to survive, let alone innovate.

It's not all doom and gloom, because you can expect to see a growing wave of exciting, innovative brands making a real impact in the future. In the meantime, some of our favourite brands already very successfully breaking the mould include Gustin, Batch LDN, FRAHM and Paynter Jacket.

Click here to hear the CEO of US brand Kitsbow talking eloquently about why the existing fashion production model is broken.

Our prices reflect the current cost of doing things properly. Nothing more, nothing less.

The death throes of the legacy model have taught us all that, if we are prepared to wait a while, we can almost certainly buy any product at a substantial discount. But those discounted prices almost never reflect the true cost or value of the item. It's a mark of true desperation that brands are willing to devalue their own products in an attempt to cling to a business model that is no longer fit for purpose.

By cutting the layers of waste built into the legacy model, we can invest much more where it counts, namely product development. When you buy Kostüme, you are buying a demonstrably better product, at a significantly better price than would otherwise be possible using the legacy approach. Our press and customer reviews are testament to this, and we believe what we are doing is the future of apparel production.

We understand that price is a very real barrier to entry for many, and we are working on ways to make our products more accessible. But as a relatively new brand, we can only try to solve one problem at a time.

Really, really bad.

Not only is it the second-worst polluter (coming in just after the oil industry), there are also serious welfare concerns around many of the workers involved in apparel production.

Thankfully, change is coming. Consumers are increasingly aware of the real cost of their purchases beyond the price tag, and which brands are taking direct action instead of ‘greenwashing’. Ultimately, customer purchasing habits are the best way to force the industry to make meaningful changes.

Recycled fabrics increasingly rival the best non-recycled offerings in both quality and performance, but they are not the sustainability silver bullet vaunted by many brands. They simply represent one tiny part of a much bigger and more complex equation. Any brand claiming their products are ‘sustainable’ simply because they have some recycled fibres in the mix is being disingenuous at best.

At Kostüme, our approach is to look holistically at the entire lifecycle and value chain of each individual product, as well as our processes and practices as a brand. Our goal is making changes where they matter the most.

For more details view our Planet First page and look out for our first annual ESG report, coming in 2025.

There is an option to join a first-come-first-served waiting list for current Edits after a product sells out. Just visit the product page for the item you want, and click 'join waitlist'. You are not commiting to buy at this stage.

If it’s an archived Edit, feel free to contact us. You never know your luck. We plan to introduce a reconditioned resale offering to increase the circularity of our products, so this will eventually be another way of accessing historical products and Edits.

We don’t do sales.

We try not to be too preachy (who doesn’t love a bargain?) but sales only exist because of ‘waste’ caused by inefficient production.

Some brands will go as far as landfilling or destroying - often via burning - stock that is still unsold after their sale ends in order to keep it from clogging up expensive warehouse space or flooding the market. Globally, this amounts to billions of excess items each year. Just think about that for a moment.

The Kostüme pre-sale model ensures that all items are accounted for before manufacturing. Less waste. Lower prices. No damaging sales.

We currently work with two highly respected manufacturing partners; one based in Italy and one in Romania. Both are independent, family-run enterprises with a strong focus on ethics and sustainability and decades of experience at the forefront of technical apparel production. You can read more in our Planet First section.

Product care plays a very significant role in the overall environmental impact of each item.

The single best thing you can do is simply not buy new things. The next best is to take really good care of the things you do buy, so that they don’t need to be replaced regularly.

Each product has its own dedicated care label, but generally it’s good practice to wash dirty items as soon as possible in order to limit damage from sweat, oil and environmental grime. And if you can’t wash things straight away, separate them and let them air dry before you add them to the laundry basket.

Some general guidance for technical apparel:

• Turn garments inside out before washing.
• Use a specialist detergent. We use Nikwax BaseWash, which is water based and uses no harmful fluorocarbons.
• Wash at max 30ºc using a gentle cycle.
• Use the extra rinse cycle if possible.
• Spin on a medium setting.
• NEVER: use softener/conditioner or bleach.
• NEVER: tumble dry or iron.
• NEVER: wash in the same cycle as products featuring velcro or other abrasive surfaces or fasteners.
• NEVER: overload the machine. If possible, always wash with similar items.

Our pre-order business model coupled with limited edition artist designs means it might not be possible to get an exact or immediate replacement, unless you can find a pre-owned one. However, if you send us a photo of the damage and tell us exactly how it happened, we will see if it can at least be repaired.

If your enquiry is specifically about press or marketing opportunities, please email Ed at press@kostume.cc

Kostüme is always looking for creative, passionate, open-minded people to join its team. For more information, please visit Linkedin.

If you work in a field that offers products or services that could potentially help Kostüme do better in any part of our business, please contact us.