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 2023

In Nanso’s 2023 collections, cotton continued to play a major role (50.5%). The proportion of more sustainable materials decreased by one percentage point in terms of pieces (2022: 35%, 2023: 34%) but increased in monetary terms (2022: 42%, 2023: 43%). The slight decline was influenced by a shift from organic cotton to conventional cotton in home textiles and bags. The use of Tencel and Ecovero viscose also decreased. The increase in monetary terms was driven by the purchase of certified yarns for knitwear and the switch of outer jacket main materials to recycled polyester.

Criteria for Selecting Animal-Derived Materials

Part of our sustainability efforts involves considering animal rights. We always strive to choose certified animal-derived fibers whenever they are available. In Nanso’s 2023 collection, animal-derived fibers (wool, mohair, alpaca) accounted for 3% of all fibers used, and 88% of these were certified (RMS, RAS, RWS). This percentage will increase in future collections. At Nanso, we never use angora, non-certified mohair, down, or wool produced using the mulesing method. These fibers are associated with risks of animal rights violations and unnecessary suffering for animals.

 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.