Currently, the biggest part of our surplus materials are sourced and made in Italy, from a supplier certified with Oekotex standard 100 and whom utilizes the Higg Index to measure and grow its sustainability practices. This company was also the first company in the sector in Europe to convert all its lace production to ROICA™ EF recycled elastomer by Asahi Kasei and the first to obtain the GRS Global Recycled Standard certification for its production chain. Hand-picking surplus materials directly from this supplier means we can give already-produced materials another use, and is a meaningful way to reduce emissions. Their production errors could mean for example that we find a hole every 10 meters or maybe the lace pattern is slightly pulled or maybe the color or elasticity turned out slightly different than how the original client wanted it. Since we hand-cut our patterns we make sure to cut around possible defects and adjust our designs according to the fabrics.

The smaller part of our surplus fabrics are sourced from different places, including local designer's surplus, deadstock warehouses in Italy and vintage market finds.

ECONYL® is made from regenerated nylon using recovered nylon waste such as fishing nets, carpet materials and fabric scraps. The fabric we use is VITA by Carvico, made with regenerated ECONYL® nylon and containing 78% recycled polyamide. VITA is versatile, highly resistant, soft and breathable, with a smooth feel and a combination of compression and comfort. Carvico holds certifications including GRS and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

The latest high-end addition to our swimwear collection. Delicately sheer, soft and breathable, with a brilliant floral pattern in the weave. And a soft as cream, wavy jacquard texture.B.recycled is made with pre-consumer recycled polyamide and is GRS Global Recycled Standard certified. They also produce according to demand rather than maintaining large production runs. We have a weakness for fabrics made in Italy, here is another reason.

Lace is a delicate fabric made of fine yarns in an open, weblike pattern. Looking for an alternative to our upcycled laces, incorporating recycled materials, we discovered an Italian supplier whose quality, transparent material composition and documented production standards caught our attention.

The new lace we use contains recycled materials such as Q-NOVA® recycled polyamide and ROICA™ EF, a recycled elastane yarn with more than 50% pre-consumer recycled content. The lace is GRS-certified and OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified.

Our studio and office is located in Berlin-Kreuzberg within Velt Studios, a naturally and LED lit, naturally air conditioned co-working space powered with renewable energy. Surrounded with a community of creatives in different fields, ranging from fashion - and graphic designers to photographers – an atmosphere of fierce, independent people are bringing an additional light on our daily business. From here our designs, projects and ideas becomes real, your orders are being processed and made-to-order products are being made. This allows us to quality-control and ship orders directly from the Anekdot studio, while keeping the distribution route straightforward.

You can book an appointment to come by shop the collection directly from us in the studio, while also getting a little insight into our work environment.

We are grateful to work with a small women-owned manufacturer in Poland who we trust, who are skilled working in our wide range of textiles and willing to adjust to small numbers and specific requests. Krystyna and her small team of 3 are worth a great applause; for being able to nail the straightest stitches on the finest silks, caring about reflecting the florals on our beautiful laces to boob perfection, cut around small fabric defects and deliver on demand – allowing us to keep our stock levels low and minimise odd sizes remaining in stock.

Our Code of Ethics and Conduct outlines Anekdot's values and sets standards which all of those working for and on behalf of Anekdot will follow, including standards for environmental responsibility.

Read our Code of Ethics and Conduct

The growth of the fashion industry has contributed to significant quantities of textile materials being left over during production. These pre-consumer textiles can include surplus stock, production overruns, off-cuts and materials with minor production variations. Reusing these already-produced materials means giving them another purpose within the fashion supply chain, rather than sourcing entirely new material for every design.

For Anekdot, upcycling is a way of working with what already exists. We select surplus and leftover fabrics and adapt our designs to the materials available, turning them into lingerie, swimwear and other pieces in limited editions. This approach also influences how we design: instead of starting with an unlimited choice of new fabrics, we often begin with the material itself — its texture, colour, pattern or quantity — and let it inspire what comes next. For us, that is the beauty of upcycling: making something considered and desirable from materials that have already been produced.

Reference: Domask, J. J.: Achieving goals in higher education: An experiential approach to sustainability studies. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 2007, 8(1), 53–68.

Besides using surplus as main material for our products, we make careful use of the materials we source. We carefully cut around eventual small defects, and design our patterns to minimise off-cuts. Materials that we end up buying and not using for one reason or another, we donate or sell to other local creatives, or fully donate to art & education refugee projects located at Tempelhof Airport and S27. Textile scraps from our production too small to use for any of our lingerie and swimwear designs and also too small to donate to any of such initiatives stated above, go to several other projects of our own; from small accessories, special patchworks and pillow filling.

Some products are also exclusively available on our own web shop, to allow usage of small amount of fabrics.

We keep stock levels low and produce on demand to limit unsold stock.

Our collections are not connected to seasons or fleeting fashion trends. We believe that loved clothes last, from season to season.

Most of our products are vegan. We do not purchase new fabrics containing animal fibres.

The silk used in our collections comes from deadstock materials that have already been produced. We give these materials another use, transforming them into something beautiful, functional and special for your everyday life.

For our packaging we use 100% cotton drawstring bags that you can reuse and mailers made from FSC®-certified kraft paper. We ship with minimal packaging using only the essential materials. No extra filling.

We do not use plastic in any of our packaging.

Our hang tags are made from recycled paper and printed locally in Berlin. Our garment labels are made from recycled polyester, by a producer in the Netherlands, certified to OEKO-TEX® STeP, a standard covering environmental management and social working conditions in textile production.

Each garment comes with a care label providing the appropriate care instructions. Treat your pieces with love and care. Lingerie is made from delicate materials, so we recommend hand washing most items in cool water with a mild detergent. Avoid vigorous scrubbing, as this can affect the fibres. Rinse thoroughly and do not wring out the water; gently squeeze instead. Avoid tumble drying and ironing. If ironing is needed for our loungewear pieces, make sure to use a press cloth between the iron and the fabric.

With the right care, you can enjoy your favourite pieces for longer. Treat your intimates as treasures and give them the attention they deserve. If minor signs of wear appear over time, let your creativity flow and try visible or invisible repairs — and practice your mending skills along the way. 

For questions or care advice, get in touch at hello@anekdotboutique.com

Photographers, stockists, printers, suppliers, fairs and events – we partner with like minded people sharing our values.

Hey, you made it to the bottom, meaning you are a curious consumer digging into the details. Way to go wo/man! This section is a space welcoming your imagination. Is there anything specific you’d wish to see on our site? Whether it is a new product, a special initiative you would like to see us support or partner with, or another utopian dream of yours – we’d love to hear it! Get in touch and let us know.