Circular Design & Material Choices

We design timeless and durable products and select more sustainable materials.

 

Circular Design

Our products are designed to withstand the test of time, both in terms of quality and style. We always consider the durability, longevity, and recyclability of the products in our design. We only produce what we sell. As part of the product development process, we also trial and test the products.

Our Material Choices

Through material choices, we can influence the emissions and durability of our products’ entire lifecycles. Our goal is to increase the use of more sustainable materials in our collections.

At Nanso, we take responsibility not only for the longevity and quality of our products but also for what happens to them after they are no longer in use. Alongside their long lifespan, considering the recyclability of textiles is an important part of collection design process in line with the principles of a circular economy. In the future, we will increase the number of products made from mono-materials and reduce the proportion of elastane in material blends.

Our sustainability efforts are guided by concrete goals. Read more about material goals from our Sustainability Report.

 

Our goal is to increase the use of more sustainable materials in our collections. 

 

Materials That We Prefer

• more sustainable cotton: GOTS, BCI, Fairtrade 
• recycled materials 
• organic materials 
• fibers that consume fewer natural resources (e.g., water), such as linen and hemp 
• more sustainable cellulose fibers (e.g., TENCEL™ and LENZING™ ECOVERO™) 
• material innovations (e.g., Infinna, Spinnova) • sertified animal fibers (e.g., RMS, RWS, and RAS
• FSC-certified cardboard

 

Materials We Do Not Use

• cotton from regions with human rights risks (e.g., Uzbekistan and China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) 
• flax from Belarus 
• mulesed merino wool 
• non-certified mohair 
• angora 
• real fur 
• down

Materials We Used in 2024

In 2024, as much as 48% of our materials (calculated in terms of value) were certified or had a lower environmental impact. This marks a significant increase from 43% in 2023. The share of our preferred materials grew across all areas, rising from 34% of units in 2023 to 42% in 2024.

In every material category, the share of our preferred options has increased, as we have consciously aimed to choose certified qualities whenever possible. Variations in material use are mainly due to the structure of the collections – for example, the share of lyocell has decreased while viscose has increased. The use of polyamide has also grown, as it is increasingly used in knitwear blends, and the volume of knitwear has expanded. 

Materials used in Nanso collections in 2024 (% share of purchased materials in kilograms)

Criteria for Selecting Animal-Derived Materials

It is important for us to also consider animal welfare in our sustainability work. We always aim to choose certified animal-derived fibres whenever they are available.

In Nanso’s 2024 collections, the share of animal-derived fibres (wool, merino, mohair, alpaca and leather) was 5% of all fibres used, and 94% of these were certified (RMS, RAS, RWS and LWG). This share of certified fibres increased from the previous year (2023: 88% > 2024: 94%), and through our choices we aim to increase this figure further in the future.

We do not use angora, uncertified mohair, down, or wool produced using the mulesing method, as these fibres may be associated with risks of violating animal welfare.

 Our products are designed to stand the test of time. By following the correct care instructions for your products, you can enjoy them for as long as possible. Access our Care Guide here.

Read more about our material choices and goals from our Sustainability Report.