Choose your country / language

Accelerating the Sustainability Transition in Luxury Fashion

In the high-end luxury market’s exclusivity, craftsmanship and quality remain paramount. A brand’s success hinges on the careful selection of customized and sustainable components that go into the luxurious fashion pieces. 

Surface coatings have become an integral part of sustainability efforts, especially in the production of luxury zippers, buttons, fashion jewels and metal components, as they provide several technical and aesthetic benefits to accessories. As a result, the industry is gradually phasing out galvanic treatments, where possible, in favor of more environmentally materials, such as stainless steel, and advanced surface technologies like Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). PVD is a technique used to deposit a thin layer of material, only a few thousandths of millimeter thick, on a substrate surface in a vacuum. It offers a more sustainable alternative with lower energy consumption, minimal waste, and no use of harmful chemicals. Furthermore, PVD has the ability to create innovative, durable coatings with enhanced material properties and uniform finishes on accessories.

Accelerating the Sustainability Transition in Luxury Fashion

In an industry where uniqueness and exclusivity are key, tailored components enable brands to express their distinct identity and meet the high expectations of selective consumers. This requires exceptional customization capabilities, combining deep technical expertise with artisanal craftsmanship to create highly tailored products resulting from innovative materials and advanced production techniques.

As the demand for customized, environmentally friendly solutions grows in the luxury goods industry, Oerlikon is the partner of choice. We offer exceptional customization and PVD coating capabilities, combining deep technical expertise with handmade craftsmanship to create specially made and sustainable products. With a focus on innovative materials and advanced production techniques, we provide bespoke solutions that meet the specific needs and preferences of clients. This know-how spans across luxury zippers, buttons, fashion jewels, and metal components, allowing for precise, detailed customization in both design and functionality, making each piece uniquely sustainable and aligned with customer requirements. Whether for small series or large batch production, we ensure consistent quality and precision at every scale.

Multiple Brands Supporting in the Luxury Segment: Oerlikon Riri, Fineparts & Balzers

During the years of 2021 – 2023, Oerlikon acquired two companies: Coeurdor and Riri Group. With these acquisitions, two new brands were launched: Oerlikon Riri and Oerlikon Fineparts. These new brands mark Oerlikon’s entry in the high fashion sector, combining expertise in the world of accessories to cater to specific luxury segments while advancing sustainable technologies, such as PVD coatings from Oerlikon Balzers. Learn more about the brands by clicking below.

PVD Coatings, Recycled Materials, and Ethical Standards at the Forefront

  • Both Oerlikon Fineparts and Oerlikon Riri are adding cutting-edge Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technology from Oerlikon Balzers to the luxury scene, offering more environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional coatings for luxury goods.

  • The brass and stainless steel in Oerlikon products contain a high percentage of recycled materials. Simultaneously, Oerlikon pursue highly ethical measures by adapting extraction and processing procedures in accordance with Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC).

  • Oerlikon Riri zippers and tapes use GRS certified recycled polyester and GOTS organic cotton as a production standard. At the same time, the zippers as well as the buttons from Oerlikon Riri have been certified according to Oeko-Tex Standard 100 since 2010.

At Riri, Sustainability is Zipping Toward the Future

April 29th, 2024, was World Zipper Day but it was also exactly 100 years ago that the founder of Riri, Martin O. Winterhalter, obtained the patent for a closure system which he continued to develop. He also developed the first machine that enabled the industrial production of zippers that are still widely used and recognized today and are essential accessories of the textile and fashion world's history.

Read Full Story

© Copyright 2024 OC Oerlikon Management AG

Back to top keyboard_arrow_up

keyboard_arrow_up