Slow fashion creating jobs

who we are and why support sustainable fashion?

Hi, i’m Nicol Founder of Ashka

I’m a Peruvian-Swiss entrepreneur.

I have been in the sustainable fashion industry since I’m 17 years old, and since then I worked for the development of slow fashion while creating jobs for women in low income communities in Peru.

Since I was a kid, I’ve been immersed by the alpaca industry, as my dad worked for the most important alpaca brand of Peru for 35 years. On the other hand, my mom is a specialist in circular economy and my sister is a fashion designer. For that reason, sustainable fashion has been in my blood ever since and its been my mission to create a brand that helps women be the best version of themselves and take sustainable purchasing actions.

Growing up in Peru, I witnessed the vulnerable conditions women face and for that reason I wanted to do something to change this. So I decided to get out of my comfort zone and migrated to Europe to train in International Sales so that I could generate employment for them through the production of sustainable fashion.

I started selling my sustainable collection in street markets in 2019 with big dreams, and a face mask due to COVID. I did this for 2 years sharing my story with local people in Switzerland, until I got the opportunity to showcase my brand in the corner of a Eco-friendly Store in Lyss. There, I confirmed that there was a need for sustainable options and I took the chance to open my own sustainable-fashion store in Bern.

Through my passion I am sure that creating the connection between Peru and Switzerland is the way I can contribute to generate sustainable options in Bern and directly influence the economy of Peru and women in Switzerland by generating environmentally and socially conscious products.

I love what I do, and I am willing to keep fighting against fast fashion, and contribute to a conscious consumption. Where you know who made your clothes, and who you influence directly with your purchase.

I have been in this world since I was 17, and now I’m 28, I’m eager to work to create environmentally conscious products and contribute to responsible consumption.

These years of experience, from production in Peru and direct sales to the public in Switzerland, I am confident that my vision of sustainable fashion can generate a better world, and accompanied by positive vibes to achieve our dreams.

Let’s create a more conscious world, together we are stronger!

Fast fashion is one of the main pollutant industries in the world, generating around 10% of global CO2 emissions, primarily from the production of raw materials such as polyester, nylon, and cotton. It is also responsible of creating 92 million tons of waste per year. It creates a culture of overconsumption while it highly affects the environment of the producing countries as well as it increases waste in the countries where it is sold. Not only this, but the industry offers very low standard and unethical working conditions to people in low income countries, including Peru, such as low wages, poor labor rights, and lack of safety, sometimes promoting child labor and physical and sexual exploitation of women.

In Ashka we want to change this by bringing a sustainable alternative to Switzerland. We support slow fashion and responsible consumption offering high-quality and versatile garments that have an extended life in our wardrobes and that create dignified jobs to vulnerable women in Peru.

How Ashka is supporting sustainability and women’s dignity

With our project we want to offer you clothes that are made with natural materials such as alpaca, organic cotton, silk, cupro and linen which are certified as ecologically and socially conscious. Also, providing you garments made with upcycling textiles, econyl and recycled plastic that reduce the environmental footprint of fast fashion. Moreover, we also want to bring you unique hand-embroidered pieces that have positive messages over them, so not only we act positively, but we also say it!

Our mission is also to make women feel empowered, unique, comfortable and beautiful with unique pieces that stand out and tell a positive message. We believe we all have the power to change the world by supporting ecologically sustainable brands that employ vulnerable women while we share positivity.

Ashka sustainable steps

2019: Sustainable fashion fairs, e.g. Frau Gerold Garten, Zurich. (Switzerland).

2020: Fairs every Saturday in Biel and Christmas fair, e.g. Frau Gerold Garten, Zurich (Switzerland).

2021: Corner in a sustainable store in Lyss (Switzerland).

2022: Inauguration of our first store in Bern (Switzerland).

2023: The first alpaca fashion show organized by the Peruvian Embassy, in the Stadtsall of the Kornhausforum, Berne (Switzerland).

2024: Launch of the Ashka brand, designed in Switzerland and produced in a small women’s atelier in Lima (Peru).

Where are we today?

We have sold sustainable fashion for 3 years in Bern working with Peruvian and Swiss sustainable and socially conscious fashion brands. During these years we focused on the development of slow fashion in Switzerland participating in different sustainable markets, with the opening of our store and in different events, including 2 sustainable fashion shows: UnDress Project in St. Gallen and the First Alpaca Show in Bern.

All of the above has been created with the joint mission of employing women in low income communities. All of the brands we work with are designed and produced by women, some of them support different social initiatives, such as:

• «Chimuk-Madre Cesapu»- A program that educates and employs low income women in Trujillo, Peru giving them a fair salary and working conditions.
• «Empoderamiento y Empleabilidad»- This program works for the social and professional reintegration into society of inmates of a women’s prison in Lima,Peru.

To increase our contribution to sustainability and women’s dignity, we started producing few sustainable pieces in a small women’s atelier in Arequipa, Peru and we realized that we can offer even more sustainable and versatile fashion options to Swiss women while generating more jobs, but we can’t do it on our own.

For this reason, we want to fund the design, sales and marketing effort in Switzerland of Ashka brand to produce clothes from sustainable materials with a versatile and unique style, supporting women employment in the atelier.

This atelier is directed by Marcia, a Peruvian mother of an autist kid who provides for her family while taking care of him, in addition to creating fair and ethical jobs for other Peruvian women.

In order to achieve this we need a starting capital of at least CHF 15’000.-

With your support, we can fight fast fashion and create ethical jobs for women, while we reduce our environmental footprint and spread positivity! Donate to join our mission!