Wool Project Knitwear Collection Makes Sustainability Essential
The fashion industry’s struggle with sustainability continues. Even as more companies and consumers realize the importance of shifting to a new paradigm, for most, the road to an environmentally responsible business model remains long and difficult.
The statistics from independent studies are sobering. According to research published by Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company, as much as 12% of fibers are discarded on factory floors, 25% of fast fashion garments remain unsold and less than 1% of products are recycled into new garments. Additionally, according to Greenpeace, synthetic fibers account for 30% of the microplastics that pollute the oceans, while fashion manufacturing produces 10% of CO2 emissions, said the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. By 2030, emissions are projected to increase by 49%, Scientific American estimated.
Responsible & Sustainable Materials
To address this problem, the team behind new luxury brand Wool Project says that true sustainability begins with transparency. Wool Project founder Kazumi Shibakura said, “Only 17% of brands are transparent about their annual carbon footprint at raw material level.”
Key to her collection is its lushly soft yarn blends of natural, organic and recycled materials sourced from an Italian mill dedicated to socially responsible sustainability in its production protocols. The mill produces its unique blends of Egyptian Giza, organic cottons and fine cashmere with a circular production model that minimizes waste and environmental impact and is certified by the Global Recycled Standard. Shibakura chose to source her materials from this mill because it supports sustainable agriculture methodologies and techniques which increase productivity and benefits farm communities in Egypt, while maintaining transparency in its cotton supply chain.
Wool Project’s yarns are approved by European and United States consumer regulation agencies under the Project Safety Improvement Act and the stringent Japanese regulations of non-use of harmful substances for textile and clothing production, as issued by the Japan Textile Foundation.
Limited-edition Garments
Wool Project only produces limited-edition items, which are locally manufactured in Los Angeles so that there is no excess inventory. The sustainable label recently unveiled its first collection of casual yet sophisticated knit essentials that provide fit that feels specifically tailored for the wearer.
Featuring a range of tops, shorts, leggings, lounge pants and dresses in neutral and muted tones for easy and versatile mixing with casual or dressy ensembles, the adaptability of the pieces also motivates consumers to limit their purchases since each item has multiple uses. Wool Project’s colors and cuts are also designed to defy trends so that they can outlast seasonal limits.
The collection showcases fine gauge knits for exquisite draping as well as an original openwork stitch design of a relaxed tension knit, which is presented in lightweight and breathable cardigans, ponchos and turtlenecks. The sweaters are constructed to move and settle with the body regardless of size or shape, and some items such as the leggings and bodysuits use Lycra for support and retention as well.
Everything in the Wool Project line highlights premium quality cashmere material from new and regenerated fibers, some of which are gathered by manually combing and clipping the softest and wooliest layer of the goat’s undercoat. The yarn’s base color can be reused as a recycled material by combining printed, fun-colored yarns to make a completely new look.
Shibakura’s Fashion Background
Shibakura shared that the Wool Project is the culmination of her 25 years in fashion as a highly skilled patternmaker and technical designer. As a child, she would watch her father work tirelessly dyeing kimonos — and she was so deeply inspired by the precision, techniques and beauty that went into his craft that she began designing clothes at 10 years old. Her career has included work with an array of brands including Habitual Jean, Blue Life, Jonathan Simkhai and Reese Cooper among others.
Today, she infuses Wool Project’s debut line with thousands of years of tradition and elegance passed down from her father and her own modern sense of style and comfort; her heritage also plays a part in her awareness of humanity working in tandem with nature to coexist harmoniously with the planet.
While the apparel industry anticipates next-generation alternatives in materials and recycling methods or production capabilities using green energy and other means of drastically lowering its carbon footprint, these technologies are in their infancy and likely to be costly to develop. In the meantime, Shibakura intends to do her part in working toward sustainability in everything she creates.
The entire Wool Project collection retails at $495 to 693 for the tops, $583 for body suits, $462 to $517 for bottoms and dresses at $594.
