The NONPLUS brand has been committed to sustainability from the moment it was launched - and at the time of its inception in 2009, it was nowhere near as widespread a message as it is today.
Sustainability is an umbrella concept that encompasses many different aspects: using environmentally friendly raw materials, treating workers ethically, transporting as short and ideally by road as possible, trying to minimize waste and recycling are all part of it. It is widely believed that the most sustainable clothing is that which is not made, but for those that do go into the garment industry, sustainable brands are trying to make as many of these as possible part of their business practice.
Sarolta Kiss' brand NONPLUS has been on this path from the very beginning. She designs clothes that can be worn for many years to come, defying today's crazy pace of changing trends. Her goal was to create a basic wardrobe of pieces that could be easily combined with each other and with pieces from other brands. The minimalist, clean design allows the wearer's personality to shine through, while the seasonal collections' more colourful, cool pieces act as an additional means of self-expression.
Environmentally and skin-friendly materials
From the very beginning, NONPLUS's brand awareness and success was due to the materials it used, as no other brand at the time was working with such high quality, comfortable cotton. Premium cotton fabrics have been a NONPLUS trademark ever since, and Saci has made sure that all other raw materials are sustainable and organic where possible. And the fact that these materials are perfectly safe for our skin is guaranteed by the OEKO-TEX® certification, which meets the strictest international standards.
The less the better - waste reduction
An important part of the fashion industry's impact on the environment is the generation of waste, some of which is generated from unsold products left over at the end of the seasons. This can be avoided by the practice followed by NONPLUS: no stockpiling and limited production of seasonal collections. The design and pattern-making process is also important to minimize production waste, and what is left over is used to make hats, gloves and the brand's well-known super-cute Maki figures.
Who made my clothes?
For the past 10 years, the Fashion Revolution movement has been asking sustainable fashion advocates to ask clothing brands the same question. In the case of NONPLUS, the answer is simple: all products are handmade in Emese Gaál's sewing studio in Óbuda, with dedicated attention and handwork from the highly respected and indispensable staff who have contributed to the brand's success for years. The sustainability aspect is also applied to the packaging of the clothes thanks to the biodegradable, compostable bags and the paper boxes used for transport.
The rule of 30
There is an approach that says you should buy a dress if you will wear it at least thirty times. To do this, of course, you have to find products that are both durable enough to last that many uses and that you feel like wearing again and again, regardless of changing fashions. Thanks to the fact that NONPLUS pieces are truly timeless and made of outstanding materials, many customers can and do wear them even more often. Saci often receives feedback on clothes she has bought 10-12 years ago, proving that her values of sustainability, her intention to plan for the long term and her commitment to being environmentally conscious really pay off.
