We are not sustainable.

Plakate auf einer Wand zeigen Botschaften gegen den Kauf bei Ettics, betonen, dass jeder Kauf schadet und Ettics nicht nachhaltig oder cool genug ist.Six posters on a brick wall with blue lettering from Ettics.
Project:
Service:
Channel:
Year:
Project:
ettics
Service:
Development of a Brand Campaign
Channel:
Campaign
Year:
2024
Executive Summary:
Objective
Position ettics as an authentic fair-fashion brand.
Solution
Development of a high-attention brand campaign with a clear stance.
Result
Cross-channel increase in brand awareness.
Initial Situation & Challenge
ettics stands for ecological, fairly produced fashion - and for the ambition to not only promise sustainability, but to live it transparently. However, in a market increasingly overshadowed by greenwashing, it is no longer sufficient to simply label oneself as “green”. The challenge was to generate attention within an overloaded sustainability discourse - while demonstrating a clear stance without appearing patronizing.

The objective was to position ettics as a credible brand with strong values - while simultaneously creating subtle awareness around the true cost structure behind sustainable fashion.
Advertising poster on a concrete wall with the inscription “Don't buy from Ettics! “and a picture of a young woman with a serious facial expression.Advertising poster with the text “DON'T BUY AT ETTICS! *” next to a portrait of a woman with long hair and a gray shirt, attached to a concrete wall.
Hand holding a smartphone with an ettics ad that says in blue letters: “Don't buy from Ettics!” , underneath are some folded sweaters.Hand holding smartphone with advertising: “DON'T BUY AT ETTICS! * “over a pile of folded clothes.
Our Solution:
We chose a bold approach that initially appears completely counterintuitive - but precisely because of this, generates attention and awareness for a fundamental issue: a values-driven campaign that begins with radical self-reflection and honesty, and replaces marketing buzzwords with an authentic confrontation with responsibility, consumption, and change.

At the launch of the campaign, the webshop and social media accounts were temporarily taken over and brought to a standstill through the striking messages “Don’t Shop at ettics!” and “We are not sustainable” - statements that, without immediate explanation, caused irritation and captured attention. The four physical stores were also extensively covered with campaign assets, fully blocking the shop windows.

The actual campaign began with the reactivation of the social media accounts and, above all, a personal message from founder Lucas Bauer, which resolved the statement and the unexpected shutdown in terms of content: Do not shop at ettics if you believe that buying environmentally friendly fashion absolves you from contributing to climate protection. Only buy when you truly need something, because the world cannot simply be consumed “green”, and as a fashion label that produces new clothing, we can never be completely sustainable.
Smartphone mit Instagram-Post 'WE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE' und Diagramm sowie Texttafeln zur Preisaufgliederung nachhaltiger Mode.
Ein Aufsteller mit einem großen blauen Pfeil nach oben rechts und dem Text 'DON'T BUY HERE' steht auf einem hellen Boden vor einer Betonbank.Schild mit einem blauen Pfeil nach rechts oben und dem Text 'DON'T BUY HERE' auf hellem Boden vor einer Treppenstufe.
This not only explained the stance behind the campaign, but also marked the beginning of a new communicative direction. For the first time, Lucas moved fully into the spotlight as a person and sender, as part of a long-term approach. Authentic, direct, and consistent. At the same time, the new webshop (insert link) was launched, including transparent price breakdowns that make ecological and social costs comprehensible.
Laptop zeigt Website mit moderner Kleidungskollektion und großem Text 'WE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE' auf weißem Hintergrund.
Tablet mit E-Commerce-Webseite, die einen rosa Pullover mit asymmetrischem Design zeigt.Tablet displaying an online shopping page for a pink knitted sweater with blue jeans shown on a black stand on a white surface.
Immediately afterward, the holistic rollout of the campaign followed. Out-of-home visuals, packaging, guerrilla actions, social media, and performance marketing ensured visibility across all relevant touchpoints.
“While many brands make the mistake of assuming the most naive consumer and oversimplizing content to avoid alienating anyone, it was especially important to us in campaign planning - alongside an attention-grabbing setup - to take both the topic and, in particular, the target audience seriously and to initiate an honest dialogue about consumption, responsibility, and price sensitivity.”
Mann mit weißem Hemd vor grauem Hintergrund, Arme verschränkt und freundlich lächelnd.
Julius Schweizer, Managing Director at Gateway.
Person hält ein aufgeschlagenes Magazin, links Text "WE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE", rechts Bild einer Frau mit gelber Eistüte und cremefarbener Strickjacke.Person hält Magazin aufgeschlagen, auf einer Seite steht großer blauer Text 'WE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE', auf der anderen Seite ist Bild einer Person mit gelbem Eis in Waffel.
Flyer liegt auf einem Marmor-Tisch mit dem Bild einer Person, die einen Strauß bunter Blumen hält, und der Aufschrift 'EVERY PURCHASE HURTS*'Flyer mit der Aufschrift 'Every Purchase Hurts' und einem Foto von Händen, die Blumen halten, auf einem runden weißen Marmor-Tisch neben zwei weißen Tassen.
Sticker on a weathered surface with text in blue capital letters stating 'WE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE' and smaller text below saying 'TO CHANGE THE WORLD ON OUR OWN.'Plakat mit der Aufschrift 'WE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE' an einer verzierten, wettergegerbten Wand im Freien.
Results:
The campaign generated broad resonance across all channels - from social media and stores to the public space. The deliberate irritation acted as an effective conversation starter: users discussed, shared, and speculated about what lay behind the sudden standstill. As the underlying stance of the action unfolded, it was not only understood but also widely received positively.

The clear positioning set ettics apart from the competition - as a brand that dares to address issues transparently instead of offering easy answers. Choosing radical honesty over greenwashing promises created credibility and trust. Rather than shouting loudly, ettics demonstrated substance-driven values - and was perceived as a brand that doesn’t just communicate responsibility, but truly lives it.

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