The German Sustainability Award (GSA) will be awarded for the 14th time in 2021. For the second time, the awards will also be presented in the category 'Design' which includes areas such as furnishings, food, clothing, mobility, communication and leisure. Now the nominees have been announced. Here are the candidates of the fashion, textile and accessories segments (in alphabetical order).
Achiy
The Achiy fashion label sees itself as an integrated concept of sustainable fashion with solutions for all lifecycle phases, combining indigenous symbolism with modern cuts and traditional sustainable manufacturing.
Airpaq
Airpaq is a Cologne-based startup that makes sustainable backpacks from upcycled car scrap. It is manufactured in the EU under fair and sustainable working conditions.
Atelier Balagans
Atelier Balagans enters the race with its fashion camp, which aims to bring tailoring and fashion craftsmanship to life. Using interactive design methods, old, discarded fashion is to be redesigned, rescued and upgraded.
Doublethewears
Doublethewears is a sustainable fair fashion label from Berlin that focuses on the multifunctionality of its garments. The range includes reversible blousons, turtlenecks that can be changed into sweaters by removing the turtleneck on a sewn-in zipper, or the Twock, a skirt that can be transformed into a vest or a bag via zipper. 
Got Bag
Since 2018, Got Bag has been creating and selling minimalist backpacks and bags made from recycled marine plastic. To actively collect the plastic it needs from the sea, the startup runs its own clean-up program in Indonesia with a network of around 1,500 fishermen.
Hessnatur
The new Organic Softshell from Hessnatur is said to offer a new form of outdoor clothing: no PFCs and nearly 100% materials from nature are used for this, according to the eco-fashion supplier.
Jack Wolfskin
The Wolftrail 28 Recco Backpack is a PFC-free hiking backpack with integrated rescue technology. The Recco system makes it possible to find missing or distressed people in the field. The materials of the backpack are 100% recycled. The backpack carries the Green Button seal and is Bluesign certified. The integrated Aeroshape carrying system is currently under patent application: In the manufacturing process, attention was paid to reduced resource consumption as well as recycled materials were used. It offers, in addition to a design adapted to the back anatomy, a special ventilation system.
L. Priebs
The PETer safety shoe from family-owned company L. Priebs is made from recycled PET bottles, production residues from sole manufacturing and virgin sheep's wool, and is said to save 50% in CO2 emissions compared to a conventional leather safety shoe.
La Katz
La Katz is a fashion label that wants to rethink luxury fashion according to the Cradle to Cradle principle. The basis is an organic silk. Synthetic fibers and pollutants are not used. 
Mandutrap
The cut of the wrap pants Lipa by Mandutrap is designed to create as little waste as possible in production. Accessories are made from the fabric scraps that are nevertheless created. In addition, the cotton is recycled as it is a deadstock fabric.
Marita Moreno
Marita Moreno is a Portuguese slow fashion footwear and accessories label created with a ethical perspective that uses local and national endogenous resources, artisanal and industrial. With the creation of limited lines, the use of national raw materials, production in Portugal and the integration of traditional handcrafted textiles, the team cares about environmental responsibility while upcycling and zero-waste are the main goals. 
Melina Bucher
Melina Bucher's handbags are made of 100% plant-based leather, which is biodegradable and without the use of petroleum-based raw materials. In addition, the value chain is mapped in a specially designed app, which suppliers use to visibly document the origin and type of raw materials used in the production process in real time. This information can then be accessed via an RFID chip integrated into the end products.
Metz
With Violan, the company Metz Textil & Design is launching a vegetable felt. This is a polylactic acid (PLA) obtained from corn and plant fibers, and Lyocell (LCY) a wood fiber from sustainable forestry. Both fibers are characterized by their environmentally friendly production and are 100% biodegradable. Currently, Violan is used to make seat cushions, table tops, bags, and a variety of other design objects.
Natascha von Hirschhausen
Thanks to zero-waste cutting, the entire fashion collection of the Natascha von Hirschhausen label is produced with less than 1% waste. This means that about 20% of resources can be saved in cutting alone compared to all conventionally produced garments. In addition, all components of the garments are made of purely natural materials.
Neumühle
All components of Neumühle's vegan down Circle Jacket are derived from mono-materials. The jacket was designed to be disassembled back into its component parts at the end of its life. This is to guarantee pure material flows and facilitate recycling. Neumuehle's takeback program is designed to ensure that all materials are recycled. The jacket is manufactured locally in Switzerland in a regional production circle of 400 km with organic and recycled materials. 
Papero
Minimalist, vegan and sustainable is what Papero's bags and backpacks are supposed to be. They are made of 100% tear-resistant paper, are biodegradable and very lightweight. For every product purchased, a portion of the proceeds is donated to a reforestation product from the Primaklima e. V. association.
Petit Cochon
Petit Cochon offers sustainable women's and children's clothing that is produced fairly and hand-sewn in Berlin. The pieces are made exclusively from natural materials, most of which are compostable.
Reslides
Reslides are modular men's sandals that can be recycled. They come as a kit consisting of separate components of soles, straps and buckles for self-assembly. The shoes are available on a subscription basis with a deposit system: when the used components are returned, new ones are available at a discount or a deposit refund. The supplier realizes the return into the cycle according to the cradle-to-cradle principle. The single-variety components are made of recycled or renewable raw materials and are recyclable or compostable.
Rolf Spectacles
After wooden glasses, stone glasses and buffalo horn glasses, Tyrolean eyewear label Rolf launches a new collection of glasses based on plants - the bean glasses. The line is called Substance and features timeless nerd glasses, aviator models and futuristic retro designs. 
Salzwasser
Hamburg-based sustainable fashion label Salzwasser produces sustainable GOTS-certified basics. The social business works closely with regional and European production facilities and uses natural organic materials and recycled fibers to produce its durable clothing. A significant portion of the proceeds is donated to projects for the protection of the world's oceans through the non-profit association Salzwasser e.V..
Softclox
With a main ingredient made from a renewable natural resource – wood – Softclox aims to produce women's shoes that are more sustainable and durable. The Munich-based company has therefore replaced the rigid, heavy and noisy sole familiar from wooden clogs with a pliable, lightweight and quiet wooden sole. An innovative joint at the front of the sole and unconditionally soft upper materials allow the foot to roll softly and be cushioned. The wood used in the soles comes from sustainably managed forests in Europe, making it 100% sustainable and CO2 neutral.
Souleway
With its backpacks, Souleway aims to offer quality and clean design while overseeing the entire supply chain. By manufacturing in Germany, sustainable production and fair working conditions should be guaranteed.
Woodcessories
The iPhone phone case with chain can be transformed into a classic bumper case and is made from a natural wheat mixture and pollutant-free plant starch.
All nominees will be presented to the jury of the German Sustainability Award. The jury members will decide on the finalists and winners in various size categories and transformation fields in early September. The awards will be presented on December 2, 2021, as part of the German Sustainability Day in Düsseldorf.
The multi-stakeholder project GSA was initiated in 2008 and aims to gather key players from politics, business, research and civil society. The diversity of institutional partners with different perspectives is reflected in the foundation's board of trustees, but also in the methodology team, the jury and the circle of speakers at the events. The GSA’s goal is to honor best practice examples of how ecological and social progress can be achieved more quickly and to promote networking across borders and encourage partnerships.
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Achiy
The Achiy fashion label sees itself as an integrated concept of sustainable fashion with solutions for all lifecycle phases, combining indigenous symbolism with modern cuts and traditional sustainable manufacturing.
Airpaq
Airpaq is a Cologne-based startup that makes sustainable backpacks from upcycled car scrap. It is manufactured in the EU under fair and sustainable working conditions.
Atelier Balagans
Atelier Balagans enters the race with its fashion camp, which aims to bring tailoring and fashion craftsmanship to life. Using interactive design methods, old, discarded fashion is to be redesigned, rescued and upgraded.
Doublethewears
Doublethewears is a sustainable fair fashion label from Berlin that focuses on the multifunctionality of its garments. The range includes reversible blousons, turtlenecks that can be changed into sweaters by removing the turtleneck on a sewn-in zipper, or the Twock, a skirt that can be transformed into a vest or a bag via zipper.
Photo: Doublethewears
Doublethewears
Got Bag
Since 2018, Got Bag has been creating and selling minimalist backpacks and bags made from recycled marine plastic. To actively collect the plastic it needs from the sea, the startup runs its own clean-up program in Indonesia with a network of around 1,500 fishermen.
Hessnatur
The new Organic Softshell from Hessnatur is said to offer a new form of outdoor clothing: no PFCs and nearly 100% materials from nature are used for this, according to the eco-fashion supplier.
Jack Wolfskin
The Wolftrail 28 Recco Backpack is a PFC-free hiking backpack with integrated rescue technology. The Recco system makes it possible to find missing or distressed people in the field. The materials of the backpack are 100% recycled. The backpack carries the Green Button seal and is Bluesign certified. The integrated Aeroshape carrying system is currently under patent application: In the manufacturing process, attention was paid to reduced resource consumption as well as recycled materials were used. It offers, in addition to a design adapted to the back anatomy, a special ventilation system.
L. Priebs
The PETer safety shoe from family-owned company L. Priebs is made from recycled PET bottles, production residues from sole manufacturing and virgin sheep's wool, and is said to save 50% in CO2 emissions compared to a conventional leather safety shoe.
La Katz
La Katz is a fashion label that wants to rethink luxury fashion according to the Cradle to Cradle principle. The basis is an organic silk. Synthetic fibers and pollutants are not used.
Photo: La Katz
La Katz
Mandutrap
The cut of the wrap pants Lipa by Mandutrap is designed to create as little waste as possible in production. Accessories are made from the fabric scraps that are nevertheless created. In addition, the cotton is recycled as it is a deadstock fabric.
Marita Moreno
Marita Moreno is a Portuguese slow fashion footwear and accessories label created with a ethical perspective that uses local and national endogenous resources, artisanal and industrial. With the creation of limited lines, the use of national raw materials, production in Portugal and the integration of traditional handcrafted textiles, the team cares about environmental responsibility while upcycling and zero-waste are the main goals.
Photo: Marita Moreno
Marita Moreno
Melina Bucher
Melina Bucher's handbags are made of 100% plant-based leather, which is biodegradable and without the use of petroleum-based raw materials. In addition, the value chain is mapped in a specially designed app, which suppliers use to visibly document the origin and type of raw materials used in the production process in real time. This information can then be accessed via an RFID chip integrated into the end products.
Metz
With Violan, the company Metz Textil & Design is launching a vegetable felt. This is a polylactic acid (PLA) obtained from corn and plant fibers, and Lyocell (LCY) a wood fiber from sustainable forestry. Both fibers are characterized by their environmentally friendly production and are 100% biodegradable. Currently, Violan is used to make seat cushions, table tops, bags, and a variety of other design objects.
Natascha von Hirschhausen
Thanks to zero-waste cutting, the entire fashion collection of the Natascha von Hirschhausen label is produced with less than 1% waste. This means that about 20% of resources can be saved in cutting alone compared to all conventionally produced garments. In addition, all components of the garments are made of purely natural materials.
Neumühle
All components of Neumühle's vegan down Circle Jacket are derived from mono-materials. The jacket was designed to be disassembled back into its component parts at the end of its life. This is to guarantee pure material flows and facilitate recycling. Neumuehle's takeback program is designed to ensure that all materials are recycled. The jacket is manufactured locally in Switzerland in a regional production circle of 400 km with organic and recycled materials.
Photo: Neumühle
Circle Jacket by Neumühle
Papero
Minimalist, vegan and sustainable is what Papero's bags and backpacks are supposed to be. They are made of 100% tear-resistant paper, are biodegradable and very lightweight. For every product purchased, a portion of the proceeds is donated to a reforestation product from the Primaklima e. V. association.
Petit Cochon
Petit Cochon offers sustainable women's and children's clothing that is produced fairly and hand-sewn in Berlin. The pieces are made exclusively from natural materials, most of which are compostable.
Reslides
Reslides are modular men's sandals that can be recycled. They come as a kit consisting of separate components of soles, straps and buckles for self-assembly. The shoes are available on a subscription basis with a deposit system: when the used components are returned, new ones are available at a discount or a deposit refund. The supplier realizes the return into the cycle according to the cradle-to-cradle principle. The single-variety components are made of recycled or renewable raw materials and are recyclable or compostable.
Rolf Spectacles
After wooden glasses, stone glasses and buffalo horn glasses, Tyrolean eyewear label Rolf launches a new collection of glasses based on plants - the bean glasses. The line is called Substance and features timeless nerd glasses, aviator models and futuristic retro designs.
Photo: Rolf Spectacles
Rolf Spectacles
Salzwasser
Hamburg-based sustainable fashion label Salzwasser produces sustainable GOTS-certified basics. The social business works closely with regional and European production facilities and uses natural organic materials and recycled fibers to produce its durable clothing. A significant portion of the proceeds is donated to projects for the protection of the world's oceans through the non-profit association Salzwasser e.V..
Softclox
With a main ingredient made from a renewable natural resource – wood – Softclox aims to produce women's shoes that are more sustainable and durable. The Munich-based company has therefore replaced the rigid, heavy and noisy sole familiar from wooden clogs with a pliable, lightweight and quiet wooden sole. An innovative joint at the front of the sole and unconditionally soft upper materials allow the foot to roll softly and be cushioned. The wood used in the soles comes from sustainably managed forests in Europe, making it 100% sustainable and CO2 neutral.
Souleway
With its backpacks, Souleway aims to offer quality and clean design while overseeing the entire supply chain. By manufacturing in Germany, sustainable production and fair working conditions should be guaranteed.
Woodcessories
The iPhone phone case with chain can be transformed into a classic bumper case and is made from a natural wheat mixture and pollutant-free plant starch.
All nominees will be presented to the jury of the German Sustainability Award. The jury members will decide on the finalists and winners in various size categories and transformation fields in early September. The awards will be presented on December 2, 2021, as part of the German Sustainability Day in Düsseldorf.
The multi-stakeholder project GSA was initiated in 2008 and aims to gather key players from politics, business, research and civil society. The diversity of institutional partners with different perspectives is reflected in the foundation's board of trustees, but also in the methodology team, the jury and the circle of speakers at the events. The GSA’s goal is to honor best practice examples of how ecological and social progress can be achieved more quickly and to promote networking across borders and encourage partnerships.
READ ALSO:
