In October 2026, we will celebrate 10 years of NIKIN. Ten years in which we have grown—as a brand, as a team, as a community. A lot has happened since 2016, but it all started with a simple idea: For every product sold NIKIN plants a tree. And that first tree has now grown into a forest of over 2.7 million trees. As we kick off our anniversary year, we're looking back at our roots: planting trees.
This one tree set everything in motion
The story of NIKIN begins in 2016 with two friends, an idea, and a tree. Robin was traveling through the forests of Canada at the time and was inspired by the untouched nature and endless tree landscapes. Back in Switzerland, he met up with Nicholas, and they talked about fashion, the environment, and how the two could be meaningfully combined.
The idea was as simple as it was effective: sell functional clothing and plant a tree for every product sold. An idea born out of a love for nature and a desire to give something back. It's no coincidence that a tree is still the logo and distinguishing feature of NIKIN today. Inspired by the maple trees in Canada, Robin designed the logo that can still be found on (almost) every product today – and which has earned us the familiar phrase: "NIKIN, they're the ones with the trees, right?"
What began as a spontaneous idea over a beer has developed into a movement ten years later. Today, we have planted over 2.7 million trees in Switzerland and around the world. If you want to read the whole story of how it all began, you can find it in our blog series on our founding history – with part 1, part 2, andpart 3.
2.7 million trees. Planted together.
Between 2016 and 2026, we planted over 2.7 million trees together with our community. Together with our long-standing partner One Tree Planted and other organizations, we implement reforestation projects around the world – wherever trees are most urgently needed. In Canada, the USA, Peru, Haiti, Indonesia, Nepal, Australia, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Kenya, and many other regions, our tree planting campaigns help to restore destroyed ecosystems, strengthen biodiversity, promote sustainable agriculture, and support local communities.
But we are also actively involved in reforestation in Switzerland: since the early years, we have been organizing our own tree planting events, where our community gets involved and plants new trees in local forests. This closeness to nature and direct involvement on the ground are just as much a part of NIKIN's DNA as our global projects.
Some milestones remain unforgettable: in 2019, we reached our500,000th planted tree, followed by our millionth in 2021. On both occasions, we symbolically planted a tree in Lenzburg – where it all began. Today, ten years after the first tree, we can proudly look back on over 2.7 million. Each one represents commitment, change, and collective growth – step by step, Tree by Tree.
TreeHugger: a tribute to our roots
To kick off our anniversary year, we are launching the TreeHugger collection — a visual homage to our roots. The designs reflect what NIKIN has stood for since day one: planting trees, connecting with nature, growing together.
You may remember that a few years ago, we called on the community to take part in the HugATree Challenge, inviting them to hug their favorite tree and share the picture with us. The many submissions from forests, gardens, and parks showed how close our community is to nature. Today, we are once again declaring ourselves TreeHuggers and celebrating what has connected us since day one with this collection.
What remains is the tree
In 2026, we will celebrate 10 years of NIKIN – a decade full of ideas, challenges, and joint steps forward. Each month of this anniversary year, we will look back on a topic that has shaped us. The first is dedicated to planting trees, the origin of everything. What began with a single tree has remained our foundation. And we continue. Year after year. Tree after tree.
