2022 Sustainability Report
This report covers our first fiscal year from June 2021 to December 2022. All future Sustainability Reports will follow a calendar year. As our resources grow, we will expand this report and it's scope on a regular basis. As this is our first report, we cannot yet compare data to previous years. However, in the future this report will include data from prior years to show direction of development.
Table of Contents
- About Latimmier
- Highlights of 2022
- Our Approach to Sustainability
- New Standards, Agreements and Memberships Introduced in 2022
- Our Team
- Diversity Statistics
- Production Transparency
- Production Statistics
- Material Statistics
- Progress of Sustainability Objectives for 2025
1. About Latimmier
Latimmier is a Helsinki-based ready-to-wear label designed for anyone who wants to express masculinity with their clothing. Our design language rooted in the dissection and subversion of Nordic and Eurocentric masculinity.
We challenge both who can perform masculinity, and what kind of clothing can be used to do that.
Our mission is to uniquely combine the queer history of ballroom and gender performance with social and ecological sustainability in collections that generate better practices of producing, consuming, and working with fashion.
Our vision is to expand the notion of masculinity through design and creativity, and redefine how we approach gender in everyday life.
2. Highlights of 2022
Debut collection launch at Pitti Uomo 101. In January 2022 we presented our debut collection in a ballroom style presentation at Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy. Pitti Uomo is the largest fashion fair in the world focusing on menswear. All models for the presentation were cast from the Finnish and Florentine ballroom scene, and our creative director Ervin Latimer introduced each look as his drag alter ego Anna Konda.
Admission to CPHFW NEWTALENT and CPHFW show schedule. In the spring of 2022 we were admitted to the first ever talent scheme by Copenhagen Fashion week titled CPHFW NEWTALENT. The scheme is supported by Circulose®, and the first brands supported in the scheme were Latimmier, A. Roege Hove and P.L.N.
CPHFW NEWTALENT is established by Copenhagen Fashion Week to nurture, develop, and promote emerging Nordic talent on a global scale. The scheme creates new opportunities for the designers via monetary support, mentorships, partnership offerings, professional advisors, onboarding to the official Copenhagen Fashion Week show schedule, event participation, showroom activations, alumni network, and extensive PR through Copenhagen Fashion Week’s international community and channels.
Collaboration with US born, Finland based multidisciplinary artist Howard Smith (1928-2021). This collaboration consisted of three artworks that were used as prints in our FW22 collection. We were honored to promote the legacy of Smith as a Black artist and an important figure in historically white Finnish art history.
Collaboration with New York based photographer Corey O'Hara. O'Hara provided a series of 650 self images exploring black queer masculinity through conventionally masculine and heterosexual body positions. Selected photographs were used as prints in our FW22 Collection.
3. Our Approach to Sustainability
‘Sustainable fashion’ cannot be the reason for a brand’s existence. It should only be a prerequisite for everything else. We think that ecologically sustainable materials and design is important but not enough: In the contemporary era of overconsumption, we need a deeper purpose for fashion to justify its existence.
We see social sustainability as equally important as ecological sustainability and actively participate in socially sustainable ways of working in fashion. We don’t support unpaid internships, we pay our freelancers fairly, and we focus on uplifting marginalized and underrepresented people when hiring, whether it’s for freelancers, models or other creative positions within our company.
4. New Standards, Agreements and Memberships Introduced in 2022
In 2022 we joined or became signatories of the following:
In addition we started planning and received mentoring and consultation on our annual Sustainability Report, our Sustainability Standards and our Objectives for 2025, all of which will be released in 2023.
5. Our team
By end of 2022 we had 1 full-time staff member and 2 part time people working on a freelance basis. During 2022 we had total a of 14 people, mostly freelance, who were paid to work with us. Their job descriptions varied from design, sewing and photography to consulting and other operative work. This number does not include runway models or other people related to show production. We also worked with leading local PR agency Juni Communications on our international PR efforts.
In addition we hosted 3 interns, all of whom received monetary support for their internship from Finland's national social security institution Kela.
Lastly we'd like to recognize that we received extremely generous free support and guidance from various industry professionals and other individuals.
From left to right our core team at the end of 2022: Vilma (social media & PR), Ervin (creative director & founder), Atte (sales manager)
6. Diversity Statistics
The goal of this section is to provide some data on our diversity efforts and most importantly monitor change in these statistics in the future. In short, in 2022 our staff and collaborators were mostly people of color and mostly members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The data was collected via an anonymous questionnaire that was voluntary. We have sent the questionnaire to all staff members, freelancers and interns who have worked with us in 2021-2022. The questionnaire received 16 answers out of the 17 people we worked with in 2021-2022. You can see the questionnaire form here.
Due to limited resources, we did not send the questionnaire to models that walked on our runway or other runway show related staff - we will conduct a separate questionnaire for models and show staff in the future.
Please note that questionnaires like these are never perfect and there are always challenges related to sensitivity and terminology when inquiring data on racial identity, gender identity and sexual orientation. There are also cultural differences related to gathering such data: for example, in our home country Finland, it is relatively uncommon to ask more detailed demography questions from staff members, whereas in countries like the US questions like these are more common. We will always respect and understand any individuals decision not to answer these types of questions.
Please note that in question 3 answerers were allowed to choose several options. Due to this the total percentage is more than 100% as some people identified with several racial identities. We welcome any feedback you might have on our questionnaire. You can reach us at contact@latimmier.com.
7. Production Transparency
We have divided our production in to five tiers from final assembly of product (Tier 1) to raw material extraction (Tier 5). By 2022 we have been able to gather knowledge of our supply chain locations in the following:
- 100% of Tier 1 production (cutting, sewing, knitting and final assembly of product)
- 100% of Tier 2 production (fabric mills, knitwear yarn spinners, tanneries)
- 74% of Tier 3 production (all hardware production)
- 33% of Tier 4 production (raw material processing)
- 21% of Tier 5 production (raw material production and/or extraction)
Our objective for end of year 2025 is to raise Tier 3 to 100% and Tiers 4 and 5 to minimum 50%. See all of our Sustainability Objectives for 2025 here.
8. Production Statistics
We have divided this section into statistics of sampled products that were showcased on runway and look books, and bulk produced products that were sold to clients. We find this distinction important for transparency. Included is the percentage of production sourced from each country. For more detailed information of suppliers, see our supplier list.
In 2022 we designed and sampled a total of 70 SKUs (stock keeping units). 14 of these SKUs (21%) were carried over to next season without changes.
In 2022 we sampled products in the following countries:- Lithuania 47%
- Romania 17%
- Finland 14%
- Portugal 10%
- Italy 8%
- Netherlands 4%
- Italy 65%
- Finland 35%
Map of all countries where Latimmier products were made in 2022
9. Material Statistics
We have divided this section into statistics of sampled products that were showcased on runway and look books, and bulk produced products that were sold to clients. We find this distinction important for transparency.
Included is the percentage of a given material from the total amount of SKUs (stock keeping units) produced. This statistic has each fiber quality grouped together, regardless if they were in a monomaterial or in a mixed material.
In 2022 our sampled products had the following materials:
- Cotton 31,5% (of which BCI certified cotton 26% and organic cotton 5,5%)
- Wool 23,9% (of which recycled wool 6,4%)
- Polyester 9,6% (of which recycled polyester 5%)
- Viscose 7,9% (of which Tencel 4,3% and EcoVero™ 3,6%)
- Leather 7,7% (of which recycled leather 2% and vegetable tanned leather 1,4%)
- Linen 6,3%
- Silk 5,7%
- Polyurethane 2,9%
- Upcycled mixed materials 2,8%
- Recycled paper 1,4%
- Elastane 0,2%
- Polyamide 0,1%
Types of material in sampled products:
- Natural materials (plant or animal based) 76%
- Regenerated materials (cellulose based) 10,6%
- Synthetic materials (oil based) 10,3%
- Upcycled mixed materials 3,1%
Certified sustainability of the materials in sampled products:
- Certified sustainable, new generation sustainable materials, upcycled, recycled or made of deadstock 54,1%
- Non certified natural fibers 33,8%
- Non certified regenerated fibers 4,3%
- Non certified synthetic fibers 7,8%
Country of origin of the materials in sampled products:
- Italy 60%
- Portugal 25%
- Finland 9%
- Austria 4%
- China (silk) 2%
In 2022 our bulk products had the following materials:
- Recycled paper 33%
- Organic cotton 28%
- Wool 27%
- Polyamide 11%
- Elastane 1%
Types of material in bulk products:
- Natural materials (plant or animal based) 55%
- Regenerated materials (cellulose based) 33%
- Synthetic materials (oil based) 12%
Certified sustainability of the materials in bulk products:
- Certified sustainable, new generation sustainable materials, upcycled, recycled or made of deadstock 52%
- Non certified natural fibers 27%
- Non certified synthetic fibers 12%
Country of origin of the materials in bulk products:
- Italy 65%
- Finland 35%
In 2022 our products had the following types of sustainable hardware:
- 100% biodegradable shirt, blazer and coat buttons made from corn starch. Made in Italy
- 100% recycled polyester neck labels. Made in Italy
- Snap buttons and metal eyelets made from a metal mix than can be melted and upcycled into new hardware (in bulk production). Made in Italy
10. Progress of Sustainability Objectives for 2025
Here we follow the progress of our sustainability objectives that should be achieved by end of year 2025. By 2022 the situation was as follows:
Objectives Achieved in 2022
- By end of year 2025 we will have information of the following:
- 100% of Tier 1 production (cutting, sewing, knitting and final assembly of product)
- 100% of Tier 2 production (fabric mills, knitwear yarn spinners, tanneries)
- Minimum 90% of all material, hardware and product production is located within the EU
- Minimum 50% of our job and internship opportunities us go to marginalized people or otherwise underrepresented people in fashion. With this said, we only work with people based on their talent, not solely because of their identity, and we don't see the two as mutually exclusive
Objectives Yet to Be Achieved
- We will add the following garment care sections on our website:
- Detailed care instructions for each type of material available in our collections
- Instructions for repairing most common issues on garments such as holes and tears
- To help educate our community on better choices and practices, we will:
- Add books (minimum 3) on ecological sustainability and social justice to our online store
- Pilot an online lecture and/or podcast discussion and/or other learning material on diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) for free on our online platforms
- We will offer a repair and adjustment service for our local clients in Finland. Ultimately the goal is to expand this service to clients located abroad
- We will pilot a 2nd hand marketplace for pre-owned Latimmier products. The pilot may be executed either online or through physical pop-up stores
- We will pilot and successfully implement natural dyeing processes in at least one bulk produced product line
- We will pilot circular cutting waste processes with at least one of our factory partners. The goal of this pilot is to gather cutting waste and regenerate and/or recycle it to new materials
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On average, minimum 20% of our bulk and sample production materials are made in Finland
- By end of year 2025 we will have information of the following:
- 100% of Tier 3 production (all hardware production)
- 50% of Tier 4 production (raw material processing)
- 50% of Tier 5 production (raw material production and/or extraction)
- Minimum 65% of our collection is either certified sustainable, new generation sustainable materials, upcycled, recycled or made of deadstock
- All our online store packaging materials, clothing bags, pop-up store and showroom hangers and other branded packaging items are made from recycled and/or biodegradable materials
- Our studio is powered only by wind, solar or hydropower
- We will hire a person (part-time or freelance) to focus on our company's sustainability efforts in order to make sure we are actively receiving the latest information and setting ambitious objectives and standards
- We will present minimum 10 quantifiable key performance indicators (KPIs) to be achieved by end of year 2030
This page was last updated October 31st 2023
