Founded by two uni friends back in 1999, Baum Und Pferdgarten is the Scandi brand that has built a loyal following of fashion insiders who adore the brand’s fun aesthetic. Boasting over 200,000 followers on Instagram, the #BaumFamily is growing by the day. You can spot a Baum print from a mile off and recognise its unique silhouettes from the streets to the grid, and this is why the Copenhagen-based label’s fans stay so loyal, because they can rest assured that each collection is going to be as exciting as the last. But most importantly, the company sticks to the same sustainability rules it has always been structured on from the offset.

With pieces based around the brand’s style rather than trends, as such, founders Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave have managed to create an eco-conscious brand that banishes any belief that sustainable fashion is dull. Quite the opposite, wardrobe staples – from simple shirts to smock dresses – are given a sprinkle of Baum magic. Using sustainably-sourced materials, the brand is completely transparent about what it currently does, and aims to do in the future, with a ’responsibility’ page dedicated to the cause online. 

Here, the Sustainable Shopper finds out what the design duo has up their fashionable sleeve when it comes to the world of Baum Und Pferdgarten.

Helle: Already as students at the Royal Danish Academy of Design in Copenhagen, we worked on some projects around recycling and upcycling where we created small collections made from vintage pieces. It was some of the first projects we did together as a duo and it was 100% sustainable. This is 25 years ago now. 

Rikke: This is a difficult question – and we are often asked to face this dilemma when we produce new products.

There’s no doubt that the most sustainable solution would be for everyone to create their own clothes – ideally from their existing wardrobe or vintage. But in a commercial business such as ours, we mainly produce “from scratch” and have our focus on the quality and the longevity of the garments we offer end-consumers. We believe that a beautiful piece of clothing with a long lifespan is by far the most responsible way to design and consume. Then in addition, we look at the entire supply chain starting with the origin of the fibre. Whether it can be organic or recycled, how we can minimise the use of natural resources like water, minimise the usage of chemicals and other polluting substances – on to the production of the fabric and the garment as well as the shipping from manufacturer to us and from us to our customers. With great care and attention to every step of the process we can get closer and closer to creating responsible products.

Rikke: We absolutely adore @sissi_pohle and her interior and vintage store @outofuseberlin that curates exquisite vintage pieces. Sissi is just really good at showing old and new together and then she has good style. Very inspiring!

Helle: We believe people get more and more aware of these matters the more we are talking about the need for a more conscious consumer culture. By talking openly about the problems in our industry and by making clothes – that both design and quality wise – are lasting for a long time, we are sure that more people will invest in fashion and not just consume fashion.

Rikke: Firstly, we hope that more and more companies will join and support the UN World Goals. Secondly, the overproduction and deadstock situation is a huge problem and should be regulated by law. We believe that political regulations will help and the pressure from the consumers will force the companies to think and produce more sustainably.

Helle: No matter what you buy, buy high quality products.

Rikke: When standing in front of a product ask yourself if you really need this. In this manner you will possibly reduce your purchases. And don’t ever throw anything away. Give your old pieces new life, go to your local tailor if it needs repair, or give it to a friend.

Sustainable Shopper edit by Rikke:

Sustainable Shopper edit by Helle:

Images: courtesy of  Rikke Baumgarten, Helle Hestehave, Baum Und Pferdgarten and brands featured