Who would have thought that a visit to our bank could be so much fun? We at Lebenskleidung, your favorite source for organic fabrics from Berlin, made our way to Bochum to participate in the celebration of our bank, the GLS Bank. And believe us, it was more than just a ceremonial bank connection – it was a little adventure!
Joining the trip were Ben, Enrico, and Christoph, who were not only looking forward to the festivities but also to visiting some of our most loyal customers. And of course, we fully enjoyed the architectural brutalism and Ruhrpott vibes! Bochum, a city in the heart of the Ruhr area, immediately charmed us. From the impressive Jahrhunderthalle to the picturesque Westpark – we felt like we were on a little discovery tour. If we had had more time, we would definitely have visited the famous German Mining Museum, where you can experience the history of the region up close.
The GLS Bank, founded in 1974, is not just any bank. It is THE bank for sustainable businesses. And without it, our dream of producing eco-friendly fabrics might never have come true. The GLS Bank supports projects and companies that are committed to a sustainable and social economy. So, it was absolutely essential for us to visit this bank that has made so much possible for us.
The GLS Bank is a cooperative where every member has a vote. It is a community that uses money to operate sustainably. Employees, businesses, and customers together pursue the goal of making the world a livable place for the future. These values are ones we fully share. The bank's foundation was already community-oriented: some parents wanted to start an alternative school and organized a guarantee loan with the support of the future founders of the bank. The bank itself was founded on March 11, 1974, and has since grown into one of the 100 largest banks in Germany.
The celebrations of the GLS Bank were, of course, one of the highlights of our visit. In a festively decorated hall, people who are just as passionate about sustainability as we are gathered. There were inspiring speeches, delicious food, and a really good program of workshops and concerts. We took the opportunity to exchange ideas with other sustainable entrepreneurs and gather new ideas.
Amid the festivities, we set out to visit some of our customers in Bochum. First, we visited one of our earliest customers: Susa Flor. Susa, who is pictured in the middle on the far left, is not only an extremely wonderful personality but also an old-school designer who has been in the fashion industry for almost 40 years. She studied fashion and design at Schloss Eller in Düsseldorf and has designed collections for renowned labels over the years. For the past 15 years, she has been experimenting with sustainable fabrics and runs her own atelier with a showroom in Bochum.
Susa loves our Tencel Sweats, Coated Jersey, and of course, the Re-Woven fabrics. In her current summer program, she focuses on linen fabrics, Tencel Sweat, and Tencel Jersey. Her sample collections are presented in fashion shows at Henrichshütte, and she produces locally in Bochum only on demand – without overproduction and excess stock.
Next, we visited Katerina Amprazi from the label Kokolor. Katerina follows a "zero-waste" approach, where no waste is produced during production. All garments are made to order to avoid overproduction. Fabric scraps are used down to the last snippet and turned into accessories or recycled into new yarn. This innovative approach really impressed us!
In the same area is also Martin from RAPX, a world-renowned brand and Bochum cult. RAPX started in the 80s as a meeting place for skateboarders, BMXers, and surfers and has developed into a small but fine brand that is still known worldwide. For us, it was amazing to see how many cool and innovative brands come together in such a small area.
In conclusion, our trip to Bochum and the celebration of the GLS Bank were not only overdue but also truly enjoyable. It was a perfect mix of informative meetings, inspiring conversations, and experiences that we will cherish for a long time. On Sunday, we leisurely strolled through the marketplace set up by the GLS Bank and had many great conversations with people, some of whom we already knew. Our association, the BNW, was also represented there.
Such trips are not only important for us to strengthen our business relationships but also to gain new energy and ideas. We are already looking forward to the next visit – maybe some of you will join us?
