This One Tree Started It All
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, captivated by the untouched nature and endless tree landscapes. Back in Switzerland, he met with Nicholas, and they discussed fashion, the environment, and how the two could meaningfully converge.
The idea was as simple as it was effective: sell functional clothing and plant a tree for every product sold. An idea born from a love for nature and the desire to give something back. It's no coincidence that a tree remains NIKIN's logo and hallmark to this day. Inspired by the tall, slender fir trees in Canada, Robin designed the logo that can still be found on (almost) every product – and has earned us the well-known phrase: "NIKIN, aren't they the ones with the trees?"
What once began as a spontaneous idea over a beer has developed into a movement ten years later. Today, we stand at over 2.7 million trees planted, in Switzerland and around the world. If you want to read the complete origin story, you can find it in our founding story blog series – with Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
2.7 Million Trees. Planted Together
Between 2016 and 2026, we were able to plant 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 worldwide – always where 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 restore destroyed ecosystems, strengthen biodiversity, promote sustainable agriculture, and support local communities.
But we also actively engage in reforestation in Switzerland: Since the early years, we have organized our own Tree Planting Events, where our community lends a hand and plants new trees in local forests. This closeness to nature and direct on-site engagement are just as much a part of NIKIN's DNA as the global projects.
Some milestones remain unforgettable: In 2019, we reached the 500,000th tree planted, followed by the millionth in 2021. Both times, we symbolically planted a tree in Lenzburg – where it all began. Today, ten years after the first tree, we proudly look back at over 2.7 million. Each one stands for commitment, change, and collective growth – step by step, Tree by Tree.
TreeHugger: An Homage to Our Roots
To kick off the 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, being connected to nature, growing together. Perhaps you remember: a few years ago, we called on the community to participate 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 once again identify as TreeHuggers and celebrate with this collection what has connected us since day one.
What Remains is the Tree
In 2026, we celebrate 10 years of NIKIN – a decade full of ideas, challenges, and collective steps forward. In each month of this anniversary year, we look back at a theme 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 will continue. Year after year. Tree by tree.
