Sustainable – it’s a word that’s overused a lot these days, especially in the fashion industry. Making a garment involves a lot of factors, many of which are not taken into account when branding clothing “sustainable”. One thing’s for sure: the longer you wear a piece of clothing, the better it is for the environment. And that is exactly Claudia’s approach. After many years in the fashion industry, the designer decided to start her own venture, breaking from the seasonal model and focusing on timeless basics that you can add to over time. The brand is called La Bande and operates a direct-to-consumer model, meaning you buy straight from Claudia. This helps avoid overproduction and keeps prices down. Claudia gets the silk directly from Italy and manufactures the pieces in Berlin (!) and near the Polish border.
Thus far there are nine styles in eight colors to mix and match. For me, the clean-cut blouses and tunics are a personal highlight. Elegant enough for festive occasions, they also go well with business outfits and can be casually styled for everyday looks. The kaftans, robes and silk trousers, meanwhile, are perfect for making an entrance, while the slip dresses and silk shorts serve casual leisure moments and summer looks. That’s the good thing about Claudia’s material-of-choice, silk: it cools in summer and warms in winter. Whichever piece you pick you can be sure of two things: you’ll know where it comes from and that it will last you a long time. You can order the styles online or write Claudia to make a personal appointment.
Text: Nina Trippel / Photos: Johanna Kirsch & Nikk Martin
