The Story of ragwear – From Skate Style to Vegan Streetwear with Purpose
Our story began in the late 1990s – right in the middle of a thriving skateboarding scene, surrounded by hoodies, streetwear, and a whole lot of DIY spirit. Although our founder Holger Brodkorb was more at home on a snowboard, he was inspired by the creative energy of the scene in Limburg. One of the first indoor skateparks in Germany had just opened – and with it came the idea for ragwear.
What started as a small project making handmade sweatshirts quickly turned into a real streetwear brand. ragwear became the sponsor of the first all-female pro skate team in Germany, travelled from event to event with its crew and tour bus – and soon landed in skate shops across the country. From logo tees and hoodies to jackets and jeans, the collection steadily grew.
A turning point with lasting impact
In 2007 – ten years after the brand was founded – Holger visited an industrial denim laundry in the North African desert. At the time, denim was a core part of our collections. What he witnessed there changed everything: in massive warehouse-sized facilities, thousands of jeans were being dyed and treated at once. The toxic wastewater, saturated with chemicals, flowed untreated straight out of the building and formed an illuminated “lake” behind the facility. From there, it seeped directly into the dry ground – and into the local groundwater supply.
This experience became a turning point. Holger began to question the way we produced clothing – and ragwear entered a new era. From that point forward, our mission was to create fashion more consciously: with fairness, respect, and environmental responsibility at the core of everything we do.
Today: Streetwear with purpose
ragwear has grown and evolved – our style is urban and timeless, our values are clear. We create clothing that looks good, feels good, and is produced with care. That includes denim: it’s once again part of our collections, but only under conditions we fully stand behind.
ragwear is a brand with a story – and with a future. Authentic, mindful, and always connected to the street.