We love clothes, we love craftsmanship and we love super soft materials against our skin. As a business, this industry is our passion and for 42 years it’s been the reason we get out of bed in the morning. But it’s no secret the fashion industry can cause a lot of damage and as the second most polluting industry behind oil, it produces 20% of global wastewater and is responsible for nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
An enormous impact can be made if we change how we make our clothes and it starts from the ground up- with us. It is more important than ever for fashion brands to step up and think of new innovative ways to tackle waste and what we release into the world if we want to protect and preserve our planet.
At Untouched World, we have a simple and transparent supply chain and are fortunate enough to be able to see how our garments are made from start to finish, right here in our Head Office in Christchurch. Over 90% of our collection is made in our very own workrooms and we have full visibility and control over every process, so we also see first-hand the amount of textile waste that is created during production.
So, as a part of our greater commitment to the circular economy, we’ve created a new range that uses waste from our supply chain to create something beautiful– our new (depending how you look at it) Rubbish Socks!
Introducing the Untouched World Rubbish Socks
These socks are crafted from our own yarn scraps. Over time, we collect left-over pieces of knitwear from our production runs – pieces which otherwise would be tossed out with the rubbish – and we send them to our yarn spinner in Wellington. They’re cut into smaller pieces, then shredded down into individual fibres, and eventually given a second life in the form of a new yarn.
Once we receive the new cones of yarn, they’re knitted into soft and cosy socks, then sent off into the world to live new lives on your feet!
What’s the difference between Rubbish Socks and regular socks?
One of the wonderful things about our Rubbish Socks is that the recycling process is completely water and dye free. The fibre is already clean and needs no further processing, nor does it need to be dyed again – instead, it takes its colour from the offcuts used to create it, resulting in stunning and completely unique colours. And even better, it requires far fewer non-renewable resources like oil since it is only transported to Wellington and back to our headquarters in Christchurch.
Because our socks are made from scraps (previously thought unusable) we can preserve the oil, energy, and water needed to transport, clean, and produce new textiles and also save our waste fibres from being down-cycled- we’ve made them into something of value, something to treasure.
Working towards a more circular economy of our things
Launching our new Rubbish Sock range is just one of the major ways we are helping to create a circular economy. The fashion industry has traditionally been a linear one – textiles are produced, bought, and discarded, with any waste discarded along the way. This model is what has created the environmental crisis we currently find ourselves in.
At Untouched World, we are working towards a future where, with careful design and innovative practices, waste is not produced in the first place and once our designs are with you we encourage sharing, reusing, repairing, and recycling. To truly create a sustainable future, the industry must be transformed into a circular economy, where we can work together to keep waste from making its way into our precious environment.
Why socks?
One of the main reasons we are starting with socks, is that we only make fairly small batches of waste yarn. With each batch only amounting to 50kg, we wouldn’t get very many full garments out of a production run. And given the nature of the reused yarn, each batch colour is unique to the waste that went into it. This means we would never be able to recreate a shade even if we wanted to. Socks are the perfect use for our waste-made yarns.
Plus, socks are universal and since this product helps us further our goal to send zero textile waste to landfill by 2024, we wanted it to be available to as many of our customers as possible. No matter your age, gender, or personal style, you can enjoy a soft and stylish pair of socks.
It’s just a bonus that our Rubbish Socks help save the world, too.
Experience them now
Inspired by the story of Rubbish Socks? Experience them for yourself online and in-store now.
Check out our new range of Rubbish Socks to get your very own pair and help reduce the cycle of waste in the fashion industry at the same time.
To learn more about the circular economy and why wool in particular is such a perfect material for it, check out these resources:
- Stephen Russell et al: Review of Wool Recycling and Reuse
- Isabella Bianco et al: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of MWool® Recycled Wool Fibers
- Manteco: 5 Reasons Why Wool Is the Circular Fiber Par Excellence
- Woolmark: Global Wardrobe Study
