Where and how fashion products are made are becoming increasingly important for brands and consumers.
Two new hosiery and socks collections are touting their origins and materials with that in mind, while pushing the sustainable aspects and natural ingredients of their latest launches.
Farm to Feet, with a Made in America supply chain, said it has been awarded a significant order from the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for its merino wool Kodiak and Fayetteville sock styles.
This order is in support of the U.S. Army’s need for technically advanced socks for its soldiers. The wool for Farm to Feet’s socks is grown and sheared in the Rocky Mountains, with the remaining processes taking place within 300 miles of its sustainability-focused knitting facility in Mt. Airy, N.C.
All Farm to Feet socks feature seamless toe closures, a comfort compression fit from the top through the arch, and superior cushioning for performance and comfort.
“Those who serve in the armed services require socks that support their mission without fail,” Kelly Nester, Farm to Feet CEO, said. “As a result, service members are some of the most discerning critics, as they require socks that can stand up to the rigors of deployment. Receiving this contract further solidifies our belief in our products and Farm to Feet is honored to support our soldiers’ need for American-made socks.”
Named after the home of the Naval Special Warfare Cold Weather Detachment Kodiak, the Kodiak is a heavyweight sock knit with the traditional sock construction that produces classic heather textures with nylon plaiting and stretch yarns in the outer layers and U.S. merino wool body yarns on the inside. The nylon reinforcing yarns knit into the stretch shell increase durability, while the wool fibers that sit closer to the skin maximize comfort and insulation.
The Fayetteville is adapted from Farm to Feet’s most technically advanced hiking sock, the Damascus. Made with ultra-soft 19.5-micron merino wool on an advanced 200 needle knitting machine, the Fayetteville provides the comfort of a thicker sock in a lightweight package. It also features micro-channel circumferential ventilation, targeted hexagonal reinforcement and an improved comfort compression with Lycra spandex fiber for reduced fatigue and added comfort.
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Meanwhile, Italian luxury brand Sarah Borghi has launched the Green Collection of hosiery born from responsible values and collaboration with smart innovators.
The cutting-edge collection is the result of more than a year of research and development with high-tech yarn producer Roica by Asahi Kasei. The Green Collection by Sarah Borghi consists of premium Italian socks and hosiery and represents the next generation of innovation and design that integrates essential and smart values into fashion meeting the demands of today’s responsible consumer, the company said.
A range of products that blend next-generation sustainable yarns with exceptional wear and durability, the line is available in a rich color palette in classic styles spanning a 20-denier transparent sheer to an opaque matte effect 80 denier. All styles feature the Sarah Borghi signature waistband, blending quality with comfort.
The 20-denier ergonomic “shaper” tights have a contoured silhouette that’s designed to enhance and flatter the figure. The range extends to super-soft socks and tights crafted with natural organic blends, including soft 100 denier natural organic cotton tights, natural organic cotton knee highs and 100 denier tights with a cashmere blend.
“Our commitment to responsibility is extremely important,” Elena Marzocchi, co-owner of Sarah Borghi, said. “That is why we chose to team up with the market’s leaders in sustainable innovation and make use of renewable sources that perfectly match with sophistication in the design and creations of the collections.”
The collection features Amni Soul Eco, a biodegradable polyamide 6.6 yarn that degrades in around five years, developed by Solvay and produced and distributed by Fulgar, and Roica V550 by Asahi Kasei, a premium sustainable stretch yarn with a Gold Level Material Health Certificate by Cradle-to-Cradle Product Innovation Institute.
At the end of its life, it also breaks down without releasing harmful substances in the environment, according to the Hohenstein Environment Compatibility Certification.
“Sustainability is not only about clothes, but all items we wear from hats to socks,” Takaaki Kondo, manager of Roica’s global marketing department. “Hosiery is a very important sector hungry for innovation. With Sarah Borghi, we wanted to inject sustainability and responsible innovation at all levels.”