Sustainability
Sustainability matters to us because every decision we make when choosing materials, packing orders or running our shop has an impact. We understand that even a small business cannot change everything and that there is no completely flawless way to operate. However, we believe that smaller, thoughtful steps matter too.
That is why we try to find solutions that are kinder to nature, reduce unnecessary waste and encourage items to be used for longer. Rather than making grand statements, we want to focus on practical choices that we can uphold every day.
To us, sustainability does not mean perfection. It means thinking about what we buy, what we sell, how we package it and what happens to a product after years of use. If we can reuse something, use less material, help a customer choose the right yarn or extend the life of a handmade item, we consider it a step in the right direction.
Through our work, we want to make at least a small contribution to a better future—honestly, gradually and without pretending that we already have everything figured out.
Contents
Why we chose natural materials
When I first started, like many people, I mainly used acrylic yarns. They were inexpensive, readily available and seemed practical at first glance. Over time, however, I realised that I did not feel comfortable wearing items made from acrylic. To me, it felt a little like putting on a plastic bag and then sweating inside it. Some people are not bothered by synthetic materials at all, but I found the feeling very uncomfortable.
So I gradually began to choose natural yarns instead. I noticed the difference most of all with wool jumpers. Wool can absorb moisture, draw it away from the skin and respond to changes in temperature. As a result, the garment does not feel as enclosed and unbreathable as some synthetic materials. I felt warmer in a wool jumper, yet also more comfortable and less stuffy. Wool is also naturally resistant to odours, so it does not need to be washed as often.
Acrylic is a synthetic fibre made from polymers derived from fossil-based raw materials. Like polyester and nylon, it is essentially a form of plastic. Its production relies on non-renewable resources, and it can release microplastics during wear, washing and disposal. Synthetic fibres also do not fully decompose naturally and can persist in the environment as increasingly smaller particles.
Natural fibres are produced differently. Wool grows back each year on sheep, alpacas and goats, plant fibres come from renewable crops, and silk is an animal-derived fibre. At the end of their useful life, many pure natural materials can biodegrade under suitable conditions. However, dyeing, finishing treatments or blending them with synthetic fibres can affect this process.
This does not mean that everything natural is automatically perfectly environmentally friendly. Raising animals, growing crops, dyeing, transporting and processing materials all consume water, energy and other resources. When choosing yarn, its origin, the quality of its processing, production conditions and the length of time the finished item will remain in use all matter.
We consider the functionality and durability of natural yarns to be their greatest advantages. A well-chosen wool jumper can be worn for many years, does not have to be washed after every wear, and can be repaired, de-pilled or reshaped. Wearing clothes for longer and reducing the need to constantly buy new items are among the most important steps towards reducing the environmental impact of textiles.
For me, switching to natural yarns was therefore not simply an environmental decision. Above all, it was the result of personal experience. I found that I felt better in them, they were more comfortable to wear, and the finished items had qualities that I had missed with acrylic.
We do not mean to suggest that synthetic yarn has no place. It can be practical where high durability, easy care or a lower price is required. Even a small amount of polyamide in sock yarn can significantly extend the life of the finished item.
Nevertheless, we decided that natural materials would form the core of our range because we feel more connected to their origins, their properties and the way they perform when worn.
What we do in our shop
For us, sustainability is not one big action, but a collection of smaller decisions that we make every day. We now see many of them as a completely ordinary part of running the shop, but it is precisely these small actions that can make a difference when repeated over time.
We try to sort as much of our waste as possible. We separate paper, plastic, glass and other materials so that they can be processed further rather than unnecessarily ending up in general waste.
Whenever possible, we reuse packaging materials. We do not automatically throw away the boxes in which our stock arrives; we set them aside and reuse them to pack orders. We also reuse clean protective filling and other packaging materials as long as they remain functional and can protect a parcel safely.
In our physical shop, we also try to avoid unnecessary single-use packaging. For example, we pack purchases in bags from which we have previously unpacked balls of yarn to place on the shelves. Instead of ending up in the bin after a single use, these bags are given another purpose.
We do not print receipts and documents unnecessarily when they can remain in electronic form. We use energy-efficient LED lighting in the shop and switch off lights in areas that are not in use. We try to order stock in larger shipments rather than through numerous smaller deliveries.
For the day-to-day care of the shop, we use more environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Personal advice is also an important part of our work. We try to help customers choose the right material, yarn weight and quantity so that they do not buy something they ultimately cannot use. Making the right choice the first time can also reduce unnecessary purchases, returns and unused supplies.
We also offer collection from our shop. Orders collected in person do not require standard shipping packaging, and customers can see and feel the yarn for themselves at the same time.
Second-hand and Free sections
Yarn that someone no longer needs does not have to end up in the bin or forgotten in a cupboard.
If customers bring us balls of yarn that they can no longer use, we can place them in our Second-hand section and offer them at a reduced price. Balls that are no longer suitable for sale, or that we want to pass on free of charge, go into our Free section.
Any customer can take what they need from this section. It is a particularly good option for children or complete beginners who would like to try knitting or crochet before making a larger investment in materials.
When we accumulate a larger quantity of yarn, we also send it to care homes for older people. The women who live there can continue creating, enjoy the activity and make use of material that might otherwise have remained unused.
In this way, we try to extend the useful life of yarn and find a new purpose for it. A ball that no longer suits one person because of its colour, material or quantity may be exactly what someone else needs.
Brands in our range worth discovering
Among the brands in our range, the following stand out for their strong and clearly defined approach:
Retrosaria Rosa Pomar
Retrosaria Rosa Pomar processes wool from native Portuguese sheep breeds and works directly with shepherds, farmers and small-scale processors. Its yarns are made in Portugal, and the brand provides full traceability from sheep to ball of yarn.
It also works with wool that is often overlooked by the mainstream market, helping to preserve the value of endangered local breeds. The yarns are not superwash-treated or bleached, and no silicone softeners are used.
Wooldreamers
Wooldreamers is a Spanish project that uses local wool and works with local shepherds and flocks, including less common breeds.
The entire process, from raw wool to finished yarn, takes place in Mota del Cuervo. The brand works to restore value to wool that might otherwise remain unused or be considered waste, while also supporting the preservation of local textile craftsmanship.
Knitting for Olive
Knitting for Olive has clearly established traceability and certification standards. It uses wool certified to the Responsible Wool Standard and mohair certified to the Responsible Mohair Standard. The brand states that its wool can be traced back to specific farms and that it does not use wool obtained through mulesing.
In addition to animal welfare, these certifications also address working conditions and environmental protection.
mYak
mYak works with nomadic communities on the Tibetan Plateau and has established a cooperative with them. Fibres from yaks, Tibetan sheep and cashmere goats are obtained using traditional methods and subsequently processed in small Italian spinning mills.
The brand is also involved in social projects, supporting local families, education and the preservation of traditional textile skills. It is a good example of how sustainability can encompass not only the material itself, but also a fair, long-term relationship with the communities that produce it.
Rosários 4
Rosários 4 is a Portuguese manufacturer that produces and dyes its yarns directly in Portugal. The brand has long prioritised natural fibres and also offers a dedicated collection made from materials of natural or renewable origin.
Compared with Retrosaria or Wooldreamers, it is a larger manufacturer, but it is still noteworthy because its production remains in Portugal and the brand openly communicates its commitment to natural materials.
Vlnárska manufaktúra
Vlnárska manufaktúra holds a special place in our range and is a wonderful example of truly local wool processing.
It is a Slovak family business that processes Slovak sheep's wool in its own mill. This means the wool does not have to travel halfway around the world—the entire process, from receiving the shorn fleece through washing, carding and spinning to the finished yarn, can take place in Slovakia.
The mill also processes smaller quantities, giving local farmers and craftspeople an opportunity to make use of their wool.
These yarns are often stronger, more rustic and coarser to the touch than fine merino. However, this does not make them less valuable. Quite the opposite: they are well suited to durable jumpers, socks, home accessories, rugs and other items intended to last for a long time.
Vlnárska manufaktúra also helps restore the value of Slovak wool, which often goes unused because of the limited local processing options available. In doing so, it supports Slovak farmers, traditional craftsmanship and the preservation of skills associated with processing sheep's wool.
These are precisely the kinds of projects we like to support. Their origins and transparency make sense to us, and they offer customers a material with a distinct local story.
Proper care extends an item's life
Sustainability does not end with choosing a yarn or completing a project. How we care for the finished item matters greatly too.
When someone carefully chooses a material and spends dozens of hours knitting a jumper, scarf or blanket, they usually value the finished item much more. They are more inclined to take care of it, handle it carefully, repair it and use it for many years instead of replacing it with something new after a short time.
This is where we see one of the great values of handmade work. The finished piece was not produced anonymously in a matter of minutes. We know what it is made from, we understand how much work went into it, and we often form a personal connection with it.
Woollen items do not need to be washed after every wear. Often, simply airing them is enough, while individual stains can be spot-cleaned and pilling can be removed gently from time to time. Proper washing, drying and storage can extend the life of a jumper, scarf or blanket by many years.
That is why we also try to provide customers with information about proper care. The longer we use a finished item, the more worthwhile the time and material invested in it become.
Repair instead of disposal
A hand-knitted item does not have to end up in the bin just because it develops a hole, a worn edge or a pulled stitch.
Knitted items can often be repaired, re-knitted, shortened, lengthened or creatively patched. Sometimes it is enough to reinforce an area subject to heavy wear, replace a damaged cuff, or use a contrasting yarn to turn the repair into an intentional design feature.
Leftover yarn has many uses too. It can be used for repairs, swatches, stripes, small accessories, toys or mixed-yarn projects. Even a small ball that is no longer enough for an entire item can be given a new purpose.
Extending an item's life is often easier and more meaningful than immediately replacing it with something new.
We are not perfect, but we are trying
We do not have everything figured out, nor do we want to pretend that every decision we make is perfectly environmentally friendly.
For us, sustainability is not a one-off goal, but an ongoing process in which we continue to learn and look for better options. We believe in small, practical steps—reusing things, not wasting materials, supporting local producers, helping customers make good choices, and caring for finished items so that they last as long as possible.
We may not change the whole world, but we can influence how our shop operates, which materials we offer and which values we pass on with every ball of yarn.