The list below is edited selection of all the companies I’ve come across over the years and found while researching this article. I left out companies that don’t have Europe based retailers or etailers.
I’ve also omitted providers of bamboo fibre socks, except for one; Boody. You can read exactly why I don’t rate bamboo in my article on Sustainable Ethical Fabrics and Fibres
I’ve organise the listing under headings that most likely match most readers objectives; organic, recycled, and / or with a lifetime guarantee. If I’ve missed any out please let me know. This article is dedicated to Íde and her search for sustainable socks!
Nothing mentioned in this article has been sponsored. It’s all just my own personal opinion. If you like your sources to remain independent then please;
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Local
Kerry Woollen Mills (Ireland: 100% wool, using some Irish wool, undyed, made in Ireland, processed using eco-sensitive methods €€)
Organic
Looky Socks (Ireland: % of organic cotton varies and is blended with elastane and/or polymide & 2% elastane, made in Europe, they offer a discount code when worn out socks are returned to them, €€)
Nah store (Ireland: Tie dyed, 87% of organic cotton blended with 12% elastane & 1% elastane, made in Europe)
Boody (Australia: 80% organic bamboo, OEKO-TEX certified, closed-loop manufacturing, made in China, available through health stores in Ireland, €)
Peau Ethique (France: 98% organic cotton, made in a SA8000 (fair conditions) factory in India, available through website, € – €€).
Wituka (Spain: 85% of organic cotton blended with 12% elastane & 3% elastane, made in Portugal)
Organic Basics (Denmark – 80% GOTS organic cotton, vegan, company uses recycled plastic mailers, made in Turkey, Available from website, € – €€)
A-dam (Holland – 84% GOTS organic cotton and recycled marine waste, Available from website, €€)
Nudie Jeans (Sweden – 75 – 90% organic cotton, made in Portugal, available from website, €€)
Living Crafts (Germany – 98% organic cotton, vegan, made using wind-powered factories with as few chemicals as possible, available to buy from website and UK etailer By Nature, €-€€.)
Blutsgeschwister (Germany – 98% organic cotton, 2% elastane, made in Fairwear accredited factories in Portugal. available to buy from website €€)
Jollie Socks (UK: 80-92% organic cotton, take-back service for end-of-life socks, one pair donated for every pair bought, made in Portugal, available through website or through UK social enterprise website Big Issue, €€€)
Unisock (UK: 90% organic cotton, made in a family-run factory in Portugal, available through website, €€)
Lucy & Yak (UK: 75% organic cotton, made in small factories in India paying fair wages, can buy in their store in Brighton, UK or directly from their website, € – €€)
Conscious Step (America: 75% GOTS certified organic cotton, Fairtrade, Vegan, 1% planet member, one pair donated for every pair bought, made in India, available from UK websites Union Clothing and Trouva, €€€)
Recycled
Dedoles (eco range) (Hungary: 80% Recycled Cotton, heavily involved in tree planting, made in Turkey, available through their Irish website €€)
Rockay (Denmark & USA:100% recycled content, some from marine waste, sports, lifetime guarantee, made in Europe, available through website, €€€)
Thunders Love (Spain: 90% recycled cotton, made in Spain in family workshops, €€€€)
Healthy Seas (Holland: 70% GOTS organic cotton and 28% recycled nylon from marine waste, Fair Wear member, available from website and the Sock Shop, €€)
Ostrich Pillow – Compression socks (Spain: 50% bamboo, 25% recycled polyester, 10% recycled nylon, 15% spandex, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, carbon offsetting of products through Pachama, €€€€)
Rifó (Italy – 95% recycled cashmere and 5% recycled wool, made in Italy, available from website €€€€€€€€)
Teko for Life (UK: 98% recycled polyester salvaged from marine waste, €€€€)
Arvin Goods (USA: 92% recycled cotton and polyester, made in China, available from UK websites Union Clothing, Working Class Hero’s and Parasol Store
Lifetime Guarantee
Rockay (See above)
Darn Tough (USA: 45 – 65% wool, made in USA, available from Buy Me Once in UK, €€€€)
Deadstock
Socko (UK – wool / nylon, made in UK, from deadstock (existing) fibre that would otherwise have gone to waste, €€€€
Thanks for Reading
Elaine
PS – If you want to find out where to buy other items check out my article Where to Buy
living lightly in ireland 