Our Story
It all began with linen sacks, an idea, and a stance.
THE BEGINNING
A stance that began early.
At just fourteen, Clemens Dörr — founder of ELEMENTE CLEMENTE — was first introduced to sustainability through his uncle, one of Bavaria's earliest organic farmers and an adviser to the newly founded Green Party. Factory farming, pesticides, overconsumption — these topics have stayed with him ever since.
1988 — THE FIRST LINEN SACKS
2,000 linen sacks from the First World War.
His stepfather ran a fashion second-hand store and had long believed that new things could be made from old fabrics. When Clemens Dörr started his own business in 1988 with Kandis & Kandismann, he remembered the French linen sacks from the flea market. He bought 2,000 pieces from a French government depot — and turned them into his first menswear collection. It was carried by Ludwig Beck and Uli Knecht and never went out of style.
2002 — ELEMENTE CLEMENTE
Recycling and upcycling as a principle.
With the founding of ELEMENTE CLEMENTE, sustainability became the central stance. Before deploying new resources, the question is always: what can be repaired, revived, or rethought? A product should be able to return to the cycle at the end of its life.
CRADLE TO CRADLE
Recycle, upcycle, rethink.
Sustainability is an obligation for us, not a buzzword. We use an array of sustainable fabrics: certified organic cotton, European linen, mulesing-free wool, ECONYL® — a regenerated nylon fibre made from industrial waste — and polyester made from recycled plastic. Dyeing happens at an ÖKOTEX-certified mill in Tunisia, which has been experimenting with plant-based, GOTS-certified colourants for over a decade. Each collection follows the Cradle-to-Cradle principle where possible — a consistent circular economy, not linear consumption.
PRODUCTION WITH RESPONSIBILITY
Where the CO₂ is actually measured.
Our factory in Tunisia produces around 70 percent of its own energy. Every step of production is reviewed for its impact — because the fashion industry carries a particular responsibility when it comes to CO₂ emissions. This is just the beginning, but it is the standard we measure ourselves by.
THE CORE IDEA REMAINS
Fashion that brings a story.
The path from 2,000 linen sacks to today's collection is shorter than one might think. The core idea has stayed: exceptional fashion that makes its resources transparent — and whose beauty arises precisely from the fact that the material carries not only outstanding quality but also a story.
VIEW THE COLLECTION