Statement on Current Media Coverage and CompanyCulture at ARMEDANGELS 

ARMEDANGELS was founded on the belief that fashion can work differently: responsibly, transparently, and fairly. Our mission is to create products that people love and that cause the least possible harm to our planet – a planet we can proudly pass on to future generations.

We believe that responsible fashion cannot remain a niche if it is to truly change the industry. Growth, for us, is not an end in itself – it is a lever to make better alternatives more visible, more accessible, and more relevant on a global scale. Grow to matter.

In connection with a recent media inquiry, we were presented with accounts from former and current employees regarding leadership behaviour, workload, internal processes, and individual HR matters. Some of these events date back several years. Since then, we have worked through many of these issues internally, initiated changes, and redesigned processes in numerous areas.

With the benefit of hindsight, we see certain decisions more clearly. Looking back, there are situations in which we would act differently today. The fact that former employees experienced their time at ARMEDANGELS as stressful or disappointing is something we take
seriously.

In recent years, we have already made significant progress as an organisation by developing our People & Culture structures and sharpening our leadership and feedback processes.

We are now taking targeted action where our regular employee surveys and internal feedback indicate the greatest need: establishing consistent leadership standards and strengthening
cross-functional collaboration.

“Today's coverage affects us deeply. The experiences described in it do not leave us unmoved.

We recognise situations in these accounts that truly happened. People who joined us with deep conviction found that our own standards were not reflected at a critical point: in the way we
treat each other as an organisation.

Growth made us unclear and inconsistent in places where we should have been resolute. Between what we communicate externally – transparency, responsibility, the courage to change – and how individual employees experienced their reality, there was a gap.

I take personal responsibility for that.

I hold myself to high standards – in our products, in our impact, and in who we are. That can be a driving force. At the same time, I now recognise that, in certain situations, this created pressure. Where employees experienced that as a burden, I am deeply sorry.

Ultimately, this is about the trust of the people who make ARMEDANGELS what it is: the employees who bring this brand to life every day, and the people who consciously choose us.

Protecting that trust is the work of my life.”  

(Martin Höfeler, CEO ARMEDANGELS)