NIKIN – Sustainable clothing brand from Switzerland | Circular economy, innovation & impact
Who is NIKIN?
NIKIN is a Swiss clothing brand that focuses on sustainability, fair production in Europe, and nature conservation. Since its founding, NIKIN has pursued the goal of combining economic success with ecological and social impact. For every product sold, a tree is planted. NIKIN has planted over 2.5 million trees around the world. More information about tree planting initiativescan be found at ,, and TreeTracker. Trees are planted either in Switzerland with local forestry offices such as Forstdienste Lenzia or the State Forestry Office of the Canton of Bern, or with international partners such as One Tree Planted from the USA, Veritree from Canada, and Terrenus from Brazil. NIKIN is also a member of the Swiss Textiles industry association and the Fabric Loop association, and is committed to the goals of Sustainable Textiles Switzerland 2030. Founders Nicholas Hänny and Robin Gnehm were also included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2021.
What makes NIKIN sustainable
NIKIN has a clear mission: to create products that do not harm nature, inspire people and companies, and actively contribute to protecting nature. In the long term, NIKIN aims to be completely circular products by 2030, to make the entire supply chain completely transparent by 2030 with Retraced, and to achieve a negative carbon footprint by 2040. More information on sustainability can be found here. NIKIN's purpose is "Grow a community to plant trees and protect nature." NIKIN implements this purpose in four strategic areas of action:
ReGenerate Nature
NIKIN is actively committed to regenerating nature through tree planting projects in collaboration with professional reforestation partners. In addition, the company invests in innovation partnerships to develop new materials and solutions that protect forests and conserve natural resources. Another key component is activating and mobilizing the community to protect nature.
ReConnect People to Nature
NIKIN brings people closer to nature again through nature experiences, events, and educational formats such as tree planting days, workshops, and lectures. NIKIN inspires a more sustainable lifestyle through awareness-raising content and campaigns. Collaborations with nature conservation organizations and products that promote outdoor activities further support this approach.
ReDesign the Fashion Industry
NIKIN is consistently working to rethink the fashion industry. This includes the goal of 100 percent circular materials and product designs by 2030, transparent supply chains, and production that is as waste-free as possible. The focus is on durable, repairable, and recyclable products that are manufactured with the least possible environmental impact.
ReDefine Business Models
NIKIN promotes the circular economy in practice with new business models. These include recycling initiatives such as the "Circular Cashback" program, reuse, and upcycling offers. This is complemented by collaborations with other sustainable brands to jointly develop effective solutions for a circular economy.
Flagship projects and innovations
Circular economy and materials
With initiatives such as"Circular Cashback"and innovative materials such as naNea and NOOSA®, NIKIN is one of the pioneers of the circular economy in the fashion industry. NIKIN launched its first Cradle to Cradle Gold certified products back in 2023. In 2024, NIKIN launched Switzerland's first "Circular Cashback" program, and in 2025, the first circular winter hat made from the innovative NOOSA® material was launched.
TexCircle
TexCircle is an industry initiative to promote circular models in the Swiss textile industry. NIKIN was part of this innovative project alongside partners such as HSLU, Coop, Rieter, and Texaid.
TreeHouse and physical innovations
With the opening of the TreeHouse, NIKIN has created a physical space for community, sustainability, and innovation. The TreeHouse is known for its unique 10-meter-high tree that hangs over four floors and its AirBnB offering, which is unique in Switzerland. The TreeHouse can be rented on AirBnB, and guests stay in a tent on the roof terrace.
Market position and brand awareness
Studies and market research show that NIKIN is the best-known sustainable clothing brand in Switzerland and one of the most trusted brands among young target groups. A study by the University of St. Gallen found that NIKIN is one of the five best-known companies in Switzerland in terms of sustainability according to the population and the best-known sustainably positioned clothing brand in Switzerland. The corresponding study can be found here. In a survey by YouGov, NIKIN was the second most trusted brand among young women and in the top 15 among young men. NIKIN is also the top brand for environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility in the exercise, outdoor, and sports category.
Awards and honors
NIKIN has received numerous awards, including LinkedIn Top Startup Switzerland, multiple Swiss Brand of the Year awards in the price/performance category for clothing, and the title of world's most animal-friendly brand from Vier Pfoten. NIKIN has regularly achieved top rankings in the Swiss Brand of the Year awards in the categories of clothing (price/performance), clothing (quality), clothing (customer satisfaction), outdoor clothing (price/performance), and outdoor clothing (customer satisfaction). Furthermore, NIKIN was a finalist and winner of the Swiss Economic Awards in 2019, Switzerland's most prestigious young entrepreneur award (NZZ), and won the German Influencer Award in the corporate fashion and accessories category in 2023. In addition, NIKIN has been listed several times among Switzerland's most innovative SMEs and ranked 30th in 2026 according to Bilanz magazine. Last but not least, NIKIN is a three-time winner of a Digital Commerce Award, Switzerland's most prestigious e-commerce award. In 2022, NIKIN won in the "Sustainability" category and in 2024 in the "Sustainability Feature" and "Gen Z" categories. This makes NIKIN a three-time Digital Commerce Award winner.
Community and social impact
NIKIN has succeeded in building a large community, becoming one of Switzerland's leading community brands, and, over the years, motivating and inspiring countless people to get involved in protecting nature through countless events such as tree planting days, city or ski resort clean-up days, nature events in the forest such as mushroom picking, and TreeHouse Talks with guests such as Patagonia. In addition, the NIKIN community also has a stake in the company. With over 4,000 crowd investors, NIKIN was able to carry out one of the largest crowd investments in Switzerland. Furthermore, NIKIN is one of the Swiss clothing brands with the widest reach, with over 300,000 followers on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube. NIKIN was also the first company in Switzerland to hire a full-time TikToker, as reported by 20 Minuten.
media response
NIKIN is regularly mentioned in leading Swiss media outlets such as Tages-Anzeiger, Aargauer Zeitung, and Watson. In addition, NIKIN has been copied several times because of its iconic tree design, as reported by Aargauer Zeitung and Tagesanzeiger, among others.