The Fashion of Change

‘Greener fashion from a little green country’ is the global motto Skunkfunk uses to showcase its commitment to change. The Spanish brand is backed by the GOTS certificate, the main global standard in environmental criteria and use of organic fibers, while producing modern and creative designs with a sustainable heart.

“We understand sustainability as something holistic that encompasses the full spectrum of actions in our business activity with regard to carbon emissions, water and soil pollution or generating textile waste,” explains Cristina Cendoya, Brand & Communication Strategy. “Beyond the materials, which is the most obvious, the wet processes involved, like washing, dyeing and finishing are extremely important; not to mention the actual production, design, transportation and packaging… This is topped off by our communication, which generates public awareness for more responsible consumerism.”

By 2020 Skunkfunk will have assumed its commitment to use 100% certified organic cotton in all of its clothing. Currently that rate is about 60%.  “We work with a co-op in India, Chetna Coalition, which supports 35,000 farmers to change from conventional to organic agriculture.  Furthermore, we continue to research and look for new materials and techniques, in addition to promoting actions like ‘Not a shopping day, swapping day’ to foster garment exchange between customers. We also collect used clothing for recycling or upcycling across our network of stores,” Cristina adds.

Skunkunk’s holistic perspective and ongoing work involves the use of other sustainable materials like lyocell, recycled polyester, linen or hemp.  It also very recently presented a capsule collection by the name of ‘Zero Waste’.  It employs simple and minimalist patterns that are devised in such a way that all of the fabric is used, thereby avoiding waste.

Since its founding at the end of the 90s in the Basque Country, Skunkfunk has managed to consolidate a network of 600 points of sale in 38 countries.  The company owns twenty-five of those locations. With an online store for European consumers and another that specifically serves the United States and Canada, Skunkfunk is working to expand its e-commerce reach to a global level. A regular at trade shows like Premium (Berlin), Momad (Madrid), Pure London, CIFF (Copenhagen) or Modafabriek (Amsterdam), it seeks to expand in Asia and Latin American markets like Mexico, Colombia and Chile, where it opened its first store in 2015.