UK sock and hosiery retailer Sockshop has launched its first fully recycled sock brand, Tore – an abbreviation for “totally recycled”.
According to the company, the 100-per-cent recycled socks aim to tackle textile wastage and water consumption by making sure every element used in production – from packaging to distribution – is made sustainable.
The socks are made from recycled fibres, including polyester and polyamide from plastic bottles; recycled cotton from consumer waste such as fabric by-products and yarn scraps; and recycled elastane. They’re also packaged using recycled paper and a plastic substitute made from fermented cornstarch called polylactic acid (PLA).
Certified by the Textile Exchange Organisation with an RCS100 (Recycled Claim Standard), the company claims that one pack can save nearly two years worth of drinking water, 2.4 plastic bottles, and 0.6 t-shirts from landfills.
The brand added that more than just eco-friendly, each pair offers comfort, durability and is hypoallergenic.
“When we started our sock company 25 years ago, one of our core philosophies was to protect and nurture the environment, and we hope Tore embodies this movement,” said Amit Ruia, MD at Sockshop. We hope to make small changes to make a better world, sock at a time!”
Companies around the globe also offering recyclable socks include: Osom Brand, made from recycled fibres and recycled dyes from clothing companies, made ethically in Guatemala; UK-based Girlfriend Collective which recently launched Everyday GF, a range of socks made from recycled bottles; and US sock brand Solmate made from 62-per-cent recycled cotton, 22-per-cent recycled polyester, 15 per cent nylon, and 1 per cent Lycra.
