Our new circular knitwear collection is here
With your help, we are repurposing wool to create a full-circle story for your wardrobe
We all have well-loved items of clothing in our wardrobe that are beyond repair, but did you know that some garments can be reclaimed and reimagined as part of our circular fashion system? John Lewis has just launched a unisex knitwear collection that’s made entirely from recycled wool, coming from spinning factory waste and donations to UK takeback schemes.
The Closed Loop Initiative is first collaboration to happen between the recycled wool trade and a British department store. The unisex knitwear collection is made in the UK from 100% reclaimed and repurposed wool - using a blend of pre and post consumer fibres.
The initiative takes unwearable wool products collected from UK takeback schemes, including John Lewis FashionCycle (which is serviced by Salvation Army Trading Company) and blends them with pre-consumer recycled wool to create new John Lewis products.
A celebration of British innovation and craftsmanship, the Closed Loop Initiative collaborates with industry experts from start to finish; game-changing technology separates donated clothing into different fibre types, before yarn spinners and knitters repurpose wool waste into new garments. Be part of this circular journey with us.
The circular journey
Step 1:
My John Lewis members drop off pre-loved clothing in stores, which is sorted in order to either be resold or recycled as part of our FashionCycle scheme.
Step 2:
Our FashionCycle partner The Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) captures unwearable clothing, sorts it by fibre type and groups raw materials together.
Step 3:
The collected woollen garments go to our partner iinouiio, who specialise in converting both pre- and post-consumer wool waste into both new yarns and cloth.
Step 4:
Z. Hinchliffe & Sons, our yarn spinners, transform the fibres into new recycled wool yarn by blending bespoke shades.
Step 5:
Our expert knitters, Skinwear Ltd, then knit the new yarn using waste-reducing circular knitting machines to create the new products.
Step 6:
New, recycled products go on sale in John Lewis menswear departments and online.
About the Closed Loop Initiative
The colourful 19-piece collection is made up of five jumper designs, a striped rib beanie, and two knitted scarf designs, all created from 100-per-cent recycled wool. Prices start from £49.
Available online and in our Oxford Street, Peter Jones, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Leeds and Cribbs Causeway stores now.
