How we produce

How we do it

We believe quality and responsibility aren't competing goals.

A garment that's well made, with the right fibres, careful construction, and cleaner processes behind it, is also a garment that lasts longer and leaves less behind. From material selection to the finished piece, we look for the version that's better for the person wearing it and for the places it's made.

From fibre to finished garment

From sustainable sourcing to circular design, discover how we create products that respect both people and planet.

Step 1

Material selection (before design)

Fabric comes first, it defines both footprint and performance. We choose GOTS organic cotton, GRS recycled fibres, or blends with 75%+ certified content, favouring mono-material and natural fibres for recyclability.

Step 2

Fibre production

The raw fibre itself, organic cotton grown without synthetic inputs, recycled cotton recovered from pre- or post-consumer sources, or, increasingly, regenerative cotton from the Bossa partnership, where soil health improves fibre quality at the source.

Step 3

Spinning

Fibres are spun into yarn. For denim, long-staple cotton is ring-spun into tightly twisted, aligned yarn, the foundation of a stronger, smoother, more resilient fabric. In Natural Stretch fabrics, this is also where high-twist engineering builds stretch into the yarn itself, replacing elastane.

Step 4

Weaving / knitting

Yarn becomes fabric. Weave structure, yarn count, and construction are calibrated here, for stretch denim, this stage stabilises shape retention over time without synthetic fibres.

Step 5

Dyeing, washing & finishing

Colour and surface treatments are applied. This is a high-risk stage environmentally, so KOI's Code of Conduct governs it tightly: monitored water use and wastewater treatment, chemical controls via the Restricted Substances List, and prohibited processes including chlorine bleaching and potassium permanganate spraying.

Step 6

Cutting & sewing

The garment is constructed. Durability is built in at this point: tight, even stitching, reinforcement at the crotch, pockets, and waistband, secure hems, and metal buttons and rivets at high-stress points.

Step 7

Trims, labels & packing

Hardware, jacron patches, labels, and the Tex.Tracer QR label are added, then the garment is packed and shipped to the Apeldoorn warehouse for distribution.

Step 8

Traceability across the whole chain

Running through every stage: the Tex.Tracer partnership maps the product from raw material to final production. Scanning the QR code on the label lets the customer follow that journey. On request, KOI discloses production locations across production.

The people behind our clothes

Every garment passes through many hands, and the people behind it matter as much as the materials. We keep our supplier base small and our partnerships long, which gives us genuine visibility into working conditions and the standing to ask for better. We prioritise BSCI-certified partners and apply a Code of Conduct covering fair, safe conditions and responsible practices, while recognising that certification alone isn't a guarantee, only a foundation.

Our Progress

We'd rather show the whole picture than a polished one. Sustainability isn't a finished destination, it's something we test, question, and improve over time.

In 2025 we reached over 90% natural fibres across both collections, introduced Natural Stretch denim (comfort without elastane), made our first garment from post-consumer recycled cotton, and began integrating regenerative cotton through a long-term mill partnership.

We're still working on reducing blended fabrics, simplifying our collections, scaling repair and reuse, and building stronger systems to monitor social conditions across our supply chain.

Next we're focused on more post-consumer recycled materials, expanding Natural Stretch, exploring a take-back programme, and deepening traceability.

Progress in fashion is rarely fast or linear. What we can promise is honesty about where we are, and the intent to keep swimming upstream.

Transparency

Right to know where and how your clothes are made.

Sustainability

We create the highest quality denim, with the lowest impact.

3-years Warranty

Got a rip in your jeans or lost a button? No problem! We've got you covered worldwide.

Traceability

Scan the QR on any label to follow your garment from fibre to finished piece.