Gearing up for growth

CYCLING and outdoor brand Kostüme is riding high with small batch, sustainable clothing — after breaking away from the mainstream mass volume model that's inherent in fashion retail.

- Maisha Frost

The UK company's radical solution to the apparel sector's overstocking and waste issues is to produce exclusive products made of recycled fabric that prioritise performance, quality and comfort. Customers are then encouraged to buy in a new way.

With Kostüme, items are purchased directly from regular, limited-edition batches sold in advance via a pre-order system. Prices are true to the costs of what's involved, not ones where cover for waste is factored in.

In the vanguard of a wider industry trend, the brand's approach is cutting through with growth 200 per cent up on last year and a £1million turnover the target for 2026.