2017 – The beginning with the very first TreeShirt
The original TreeShirt wasn't the very first NIKIN product – that honor belongs to the Treeanie – but it was the second. With little experience but a lot of ambition, we wanted to develop our own shirt from the start. However, it soon became clear that making a T-shirt is more complex than anticipated. Material selection, cut, collar size, sleeve length, logo placement, and size grading – behind every detail were decisions, discussions, and a lot of learning by doing.
The first TreeShirt was launched in 2017. At that time, it was still produced in Asia, made from conventional cotton with a polyester blend. Today, all our Basic TreeShirts are made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and are ethically produced in Europe. We'll explain why this change was so crucial shortly. The initial focus was on the tree-per-product principle. But feedback from the community quickly made it clear: if we truly want to give something back to nature, simply planting trees isn't enough. Our products must also meet this standard. This was the beginning of an intensive journey full of development, responsibility, and progress.
2018–2019 – Production in Europe, new cuts, organic materials
The second version of our TreeShirt in 2018 was a significant step forward. For the first time, it was produced in Europe. Additionally, we developed our own women's cut to better accommodate different body shapes. Although the shirt initially still contained polyester, we began transitioning to organic cotton and recycled polyester in the same year. Simultaneously, we worked intensively on the fit. Together with a local pattern maker, we implemented community feedback and significantly improved the cut.
A special moment was our first visit to the producer in Istanbul. Finally, we could see with our own eyes how our products are made. We also wanted to make this insight available to our community. We documented the visit, shared the footage online, and thus for the first time opened a glimpse behind our supply chain. This marked the beginning of a new phase of transparency for us.
By the way: If you want to join us on further manufacturer visits across Europe, you can check out our playlist. In Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, or Portugal, you can see where and how our products are made.
A year later, the biggest milestone yet followed: in 2019, we became GOTS-certified. This made our first TreeShirt a reality with the internationally recognized sustainability standard. GOTS certification includes ecological and social criteria and places high demands on all involved parties. Since then, we have been re-certified every year. We are particularly proud of this, as it shows: our commitment to responsibility is not a snapshot, but a lasting promise.
2020–2022 – Quality, fits, and new materials
From 2020 onwards, thanks to a growing and more experienced team, we were able to significantly advance our product development. We introduced a standardized sizing system, developed new fits, and established quality controls for better reliability.
The new fits created more choice: Regular for a normal, close-fitting shape, and Relaxed for those who prefer a looser feel. Today, our sizes are harmonized across all products. Once you know your size, you can rely on it – regardless of the product. This makes selection easier, the ordering process more efficient, and reduces returns. A clear step forward, also in terms of sustainability.
We also made significant progress with materials. During this period, we completely removed recycled polyester from the material mix of our TreeShirts and have since relied exclusively on 100% organic cotton. The only exception was the popular mélange colors, as the characteristic effect could previously only be achieved with polyester fibers. But we wanted to find a better solution for that too.
After a long search, we found a yarn manufacturer who developed mélange yarn from 100% organic cotton. For this, different colored, pre-dyed fibers are mixed and spun into yarn. This solution not only made it possible to avoid polyester but also solved another problem: pilling. The short polyester fibers often led to lint formation during washing. With the new yarn, we were able to eliminate this quality defect as well.
Today – EVOLVE & 100% transparency
And that brings us to the present: Today's TreeShirt represents the result of years of work, countless optimizations, and valuable feedback from the community. And we can proudly say, it combines the highest quality, noticeable durability, sustainable materials, fair production in Europe, and a reliable fit. Furthermore, it is still made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, now always pre-washed to prevent shrinking and pilling during washing. And: Thanks to the partnership with retraced, you can transparently trace where the cotton comes from, how and where the shirt was made, and who the people behind the production are – right down to the packaging.
To celebrate all these development steps and milestones, we have created a limited collection. The EVOLVE TreeShirt symbolizes our journey and our aspiration to constantly rethink fashion. It unites everything we have improved over the past years. Each shirt comes with tonal tree embroidery, a subtle print on the hem, and a QR code through which you can view the entire supply chain.
EVOLVE is more than a shirt. It is our promise to you, to nature, and to the future. Discover the limited EVOLVE Edition now and help us continue to make our products even better – step by step, shirt by shirt.
