Department store chain John Lewis has today (29 September) launched what it is describing as “a circular unisex knitwear collection” made from reclaimed wool.
The ‘Remade in Britain’ line features preloved wool clothing donated through John Lewis’s FashionCycle clothing takeback scheme in combination with materials from other second-hand garments. The material has been converted into new product using only UK manufacturers, in partnership with wool recycler Iinouiio.
Some 19 pieces are included in the collection, including five unique jumper designs as well as a striped rib beanie in three colourways and a knitted scarf. All items are created from 100% recycled and reclaimed wool.
Megan Lovesey, John Lewis knitwear buyer, commented: “We’re so excited to introduce what we believe is a first among major UK high street retailers, combining expert craftsmanship with customer donations to create a collection that continues our circular journey.
“I know our customers will love the collection not only for the environmental impact but also for the carefully considered and playful design of each piece. This collection is not only kind to our planet but one that champions great British manufacture and craft, which we aim to continue supporting in the future.”
The reclaimed wool is repurposed without re-dyeing. The pieces are also knitted on specialist circular machines, reducing production waste, and designed for further recyclability at end-of-life, minimising the environmental impact of each product.
Green Retail World was first introduced to the Iinouiio operation at Segura’s Retail Supply Chain Sustainability Conference earlier this year, as part of a range of circular fashion specialists who presented their proposition to delegates.
Dr. John G. Parkinson, Iinouiio co-founder, remarked: “Some people would interpret the materials that we work with at Iinouiio as ‘waste’, but we’ve never thought so.
“Instead, we think of them as ‘raw materials’, too often limited by our skills and imagination. Our collaboration with John Lewis develops this idea into action with a unique initiative for retailing in the UK. We’re incredibly excited to see the collection land in shops and online.”
Bernie Thomas, circular economy & sustainability manager at Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) which collects the items received by John Lewis via its FashionCycle scheme before separating the wool fibres using its unique Fibresort technology, said: “Closed Loop is more than an initiative – it proves that British fashion businesses can lead the circular economy – transforming worn clothing and textiles into stunning new products, ready to begin their life all over again.”
How the process works
Step one: John Lewis members drop off their preloved garments in a John Lewis shop to be resold or recycled using our FashionCycle scheme.
Step two: SATCoL collects and sorts the garments which are suitable for recycling, using their leading Fibresort technology to separate the wool fibres.
Step three: Once the wool garments are sorted, they travel to Iinouiio in Yorkshire, where they are cleaned, pulled, colour-matched and combined with other waste wool to prepare them for re-spinning.
Step four: Z. Hinchcliffe & Sons, a yarn spinner, transforms the recycled fibres into new recycled wool yarn by blending bespoke shades, spinning, twisting, and waxing.
Step five: Knitting company Skinwear Ltd knits the new yarn using waste-reducing circular knitting machines, individually hand-numbering each unique piece they create.
The new range can be bought online and in six John Lewis shops: London Oxford Street, Peter Jones, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Leeds, and Cribbs Causeway.
[image credits: John Lewis Partnership]
1 thought on “‘Remade in Britain’: John Lewis launches collection created from reclaimed wool”
This is such an amazing initiative made in the UK, using reclaimed wool, and showcasing true circularity and sustainability! It’s inspiring to see craftsmanship combined with a circular fashion approach. I do wonder, though, how much more impactful the story could be if John Lewis and Skinwear also highlighted the role of 3D digital garment design in the process. By using 3D design, they could have significantly reduced the need for multiple physical samples, making the collection even more sustainable and innovative. Sharing that part of the journey would truly position them as leaders in both sustainable and digital fashion. For future projects, please reach out to Shima Seiki Europe we would love to help you set this up!