Harlie K is a company that truly and holistically encompasses ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) with our business model emphasizing on empowering the local senior community. We turn waste into functional designs to pass on for generations.
Our company headquarters is located in the fastest aging city in Korea—Daegu. Within the past 10 years the city has seen a population decrease of over 22.5 percent. Youth are fleeing the city, leaving Daegu at risk of extinction. Those who are left are the senior citizens in search of work.
Another one of our biggest concerns is environmental waste from textile industries. Each year the fashion industry generates waste equal to the entirety of Europe’s carbon emissions, about 3.5 million tons. The planet is at serious risk because there are no systems put in place to properly recycle these textiles—and no leading Korean brands that are willing to tackle this major problem.
At Harlie K, we empower these senior citizens through jobs where they help disassemble textiles, which then get processed into a durable, recycled felt. We give opportunities to these communities to return to work, transforming industrial waste into beautiful and functional pieces in the process.
Our competitive edge is our ability to design sustainable materials. We have material patents, processing technologies, and a strong production network. The company's focus on local production for supply chain stability and carbon reduction efforts, has caught the attention of global buyers.
We plan to continue to use our technology and digital assets to educate, inspire, and spark change in the sustainable fashion market in Korea.