THE JOURNAL
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Sustainable Knits To See You Through The Cold Weather
Words by Fedora Abu
8 November 2021
The language of sustainable living can be pretty self-flagellatory – for the sake of saving the planet from impending doom, we’re typically encouraged to “reduce”, “substitute” and “sacrifice”. But what if we told you that curating a more environmentally friendly wardrobe could actually be rather indulgent? Enter recycled cashmere, which sees that most sumptuous of fabrics imbued with eco-wholesomeness. And rather than a compromise, a sweater that’s spun from repurposed cashmere fibres is no less soft and tactile. Still need further convincing? We’ve only gone and picked out five delightfully plush pieces to prove it.
01.
The recycled Mr P. rollneck
While we’re advocates of sporting bold, punchy colours whatever the season – especially in this maximalist post-pandemic era – rich jewel tones truly come into their element in the winter months. What makes this rollneck by Mr P. stand out, however, is the elegant, mottled effect, achieved by weaving together three varying shades of blue for added depth and dimension.
02.
The luxe John Smedley cardigan
Traditionally, cardigans sit alongside sweater vests in the library of geeky, grandad knits. But just as sleeveless jumpers are in the midst of a renaissance, one shouldn’t write off the humble cardie just yet. Take this undeniably luxe, lightweight piece from heritage label John Smedley – it features a cosy shawl collar for extra warmth, while the tasteful, goes-with-everything hue makes it ideal for autumn-winter layering.
03.
The Lardini Italian-(re)made crew-neck
There’s a reason why fashion houses across the globe defer to Italy for their sweaters: when it comes to knitwear (and shoes and tailoring and, let’s be honest, most menswear), the Italians quite simply do it better. For more than 40 years, Ancona-based label Lardini has upheld this adage with an array of premium-quality pieces – not least this classic crew-neck sweater in a delectable chocolate brown.
04.
The sleek Rick Owens cashmere hoodie
Recycled cashmere might read a tad virtuous for the brand of gothic glamour that Mr Rick Owens is famed for. But in reality, the American designer has as much a knack for knitwear as he does grungy leather. With this sleek khaki hoodie, however, he trades his signature avant-garde shapes for a timeless pared-back design that’s free of flourishes, save for an elegant seam that runs down the reverse.
05.
The timeless John Smedley striped sweater
For all the talk of repurposed fibres and revolutionary, eco-friendly fabrics, there’s really nothing more sustainable than simply re-wearing your clothes. Over and over again. A striped Breton sweater, such as this navy-blue number from John Smedley, might not turn heads or provoke a flurry of excitement, but its low-key colour palette, flattering fit and softer-than-softness make it the sort of wardrobe staple you’ll have on heavy rotation.
