Turtle Doves, Socko and iinouiio link for UK’s first recycled cashmere and British wool socks

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Jul 5, 2022

As the sustainability movement grows within the fashion and textiles industry so more companies are finding collaborations the way forward to develop their eco identities further.

The latest to join forces are luxury recycled cashmere accessories brand Turtle Doves, textiles recycler iinouiio and sustainable sock maker Socko. Together they’ve launched a “first-of-its-kind” range of socks made from 100% recycled cashmere and British wool.

The socks are available in blue-grey, with more colours coming this autumn.

And to go the extra mile by further prolonging the life of the socks and prevent even more waste from going to landfill, customers will be sent a free mending kit with every pair, along with a video of the steps needed to reinforce and repair knitwear, “re-teaching the lost art of darning”.

Behind the collab, iinouiio, which is working on “re-energising" traditional Yorkshire manufacturing techniques for recycling fibres, provides “the skills, knowledge and manufacturing capability to recover waste fibres, which is then re-spun to begin a new life".

The partnership also furthers Turtle Doves’ drive into further developing circular systems, making use of all its cashmere waste. 

Socko, meanwhile, provides the “hosiery know-how” to the project, combining traditional techniques with innovative materials to extend its range of sustainable UK-made socks.

Graham Holbrook, Turtle Doves CEO, said the new collaboration “provides a much needed model of circularity within the industry". 

Emma Mathews, founder of Socko and author of How to Quit Fast Fashion, added: “It goes to show the power that comes from having sustainability at the heart of your business, as opposed to it being a nice-to-have. We have worked closely with our manufacturers to produce a classically designed unisex sock that combines both comfort and durability.”