Nicholas, how would you describe NIKIN in three words?
Spontaneously, I would say trees, fashion, and sustainability.

How did NIKIN come about?
My business partner Robin and I have been friends since childhood and always had the desire to start a joint project. I had a pre-project called Nikit at that time and wanted to develop it further. Everything got rolling over a beer in Lenzburg. We were scouts and decided to develop a winter hat with a tree motif, as Robin was fascinated by nature and the forests of Canada. After a few months, we decided to offer all products as sustainably as possible at fair prices in response to customer inquiries so that we can also reach the younger generation.

What makes NIKIN so successful?
We had good timing and were the first with the idea of planting trees. We addressed the topic of sustainable fashion earlier than others. We were ready with our online shop when Corona came and were able to benefit from this time. We are down-to-earth and approachable and have a good reputation in Switzerland. We communicate transparently, try to inspire others, and remain true to our values.

How did you come up with the idea of planting trees?
When we founded NIKIN, we quickly realized that we wanted to combine style and usefulness and give something back to nature. So we decided to plant one tree for every product sold. We came across the then-young North American organization "One Tree Planted," which plants trees worldwide. Since then, we have been working with them. With the order number, our customers can track in our "TreeTracker" where and in which project their tree will be planted. We have now planted two million trees and the number is increasing daily.

Why did you choose the fashion industry?
That was a coincidence. I am the CEO of a clothing brand, but personally, it is not so important to me how I dress. Robin has always been more interested in fashion and had the idea with the winter hat. When that worked out, it was clear to us that we also wanted to offer other things like sweaters, t-shirts, etc. My motivation is not necessarily fashion, but that I can live out my passion for nature, startups, social media, and e-commerce.

How do you complement Robin, your colleague, and co-founder of NIKIN?
Robin is the creative part and the heart of NIKIN. I am more the strategic business and marketing type in the background. We complement each other very well and have a basic trust as well as a very good basic respect.

How do you approach sustainability?
We see sustainability as a process or a path that needs to be taken step by step. We are super proud of what we have already achieved, but we also know that we are far from reaching our goal. We want to inspire individuals, but especially companies, to address the issue and make their contribution. It applies to everyone to simply start where they can and then improve every day.

Which NIKIN product is particularly popular with your customers?
The beanie is our bestseller, but the winter socks are also very popular. I would say that these two products are our signature items. We also have tree planting sets that customers can purchase to plant a tree themselves. My favorite product is the winter socks, which I wear today and almost throughout the year. The bamboo viscose is comfortable to wear.

What are your criteria for production and what do you focus on?
Except for the stainless steel bottles and coffee cups, we produce all our products in Europe. We haven't found a producer in Europe who can manufacture these double-walled beverage bottles. Our other products are made in Portugal and Bulgaria. We visit almost every production site and check for the appropriate certifications. We strive to use sustainable materials and are always looking for more sustainable solutions.

What do you personally associate with traveling?
I associate traveling with discovering cultures, emotions, and excitement. I believe that traveling between the ages of 20 and 30 is extremely important to learn about different cultures and bring the world closer together. I love to travel, and when I fly, I prefer to fly with SWISS. However, I try to consume consciously and keep my ecological footprint as small as possible. That means that when I fly, I choose direct flights and prefer to travel by train, such as my recent trip to London.

What comes to mind when you think of SWISS?
I think of Swissness, sympathetic, quality, Made of Switzerland, and friendly.

What is your favorite destination?
My favorite travel destination is São Paulo. That's also because my wife is from there. The city may not look beautiful from the outside, but as a tourist, you just have to know the right places and people to experience the city's vibe as authentically as possible.

What travel tips do you have for São Paulo?
There are many great restaurants, bars, and bakeries that are definitely worth a visit. Avenida Paulista is a great bar street where there is always a lot going on. Every Sunday, the main street is closed, and there is everything from Zumba dance classes to street food stalls to various artists.

What has been your highlight since NIKIN's founding?
My first highlight was when I saw someone wearing a NIKIN product for the first time. The second highlight was when we reached one million planted trees. That was a milestone which made us proud. I also count all the visits to our partners and team events among the many highlights.

Where do you see NIKIN in ten years?
In ten years, we see ourselves as an established fashion label in Europe that stands for fair fashion at fair prices and also advocates for nature conservation. I dream of becoming one of the largest sustainability communities in Europe and hope that we can inspire other brands and individuals to take their own steps towards sustainability. We have already carried out several actions in the last year, such as planting trees in Switzerland or cleaning Swiss cities, and I hope that we can implement more projects in the future.