It’s no lie or secret that in this day and age, we are in need of a shift towards sustainability. It can be hard to hear, but we have to hear the experts out when they say we are facing a climate crisis. And we need to take action now.
In the past, sustainability and the climate crisis were only tied to cars and the trash in our oceans. But nowadays, we understand that the scope of that extends much further.
Taking Steps Towards a Safer Future
In almost everything humans do, we potentially put the planet at risk. And one of the biggest things that put humanity at risk is unsustainable products.
Most of the time, the products we use daily, from bottled water all the way down to the socks we wear, are produced with fossil fuels one way or another.
And we all know how harmful fossil fuels are to the environment. That’s why we need to start making noticeable changes.
But with the extent of our climate at the moment, what can we actually do to make a difference in our everyday lives?
Let’s talk about that.
Traditional vs Sustainable: Is It Time For a Shift?
Traditional fashion brands and clothing manufacturers damage the environment more than you might think. In fact, at the moment, fashion accounts for over 10% of global emissions.
While that might seem like a small number, fuel and power only account for 10.1% of emissions, while oil and gas production only accounts for 6.1%.
And that’s just talking about their environmental impact.
There are many brands out there with reports of unethical manufacturing practices that leave their workers tired, under-compensated, and for lack of a better term, abused.
With that context, it’s easy to see that the fashion industry is a major contributor to climate change. And the solution for that? Sustainability.
While it might sound daunting and a large task to take on, shifting to sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be so sudden. The fashion industry is huge, creating countless pieces of clothing every day.
And if you can’t commit to changing out your whole wardrobe and closet for sustainable clothing, there is nothing wrong with taking baby steps.
So, how can you do that?
Well, start small. And by small, we are referring to one of the most underrated and overlooked pieces of clothing out there: socks.
Yes, you read that right; there are tons of different sustainable sock brands that use environmentally friendly materials and ethical workplace and manufacturing practices.
And if you’re looking to learn more about sustainable socks, you’ve come to the right place.
Keep reading to learn more.
But, How Can Socks Be Sustainable?
If you’re asking yourself if socks are sustainable, then the answer is yes, they can be sustainable.
In fact, when looking at the bigger picture, it might be easier to shift to sustainable fashion when starting with socks.
There are tons of brands out there that promote sustainable socks, and on our website, you can find some of the best options on the market.
There are many ways a sock brand can be sustainable, but we’re going to focus on the two main ways sock companies make the shift towards sustainability: good materials and ethical workplace practices.
Using Sustainable Materials
The first way manufacturers make sustainable socks is by using environmentally friendly materials. These include materials all the way from bamboo and recycled polyester to synthetic wool, and some of which we will talk about in more detail below.
The typical socks you know are made out of cotton. Cotton is an unsustainable material, which comes as a surprise to most people. While cotton makes up over 33% of fabrics in this day and age, producing, harvesting, and using cotton for clothing is highly unsustainable.
That’s why there are sustainable crew socks, sports socks, ankle socks, and many more being made by a bunch of different brands out there, some of which we feature on Our Sock Stories.
For example, Re.socks uses recycled plastic bottles to create their socks.
Instead of harvesting cotton and using up a ton of resources for their socks, the brand focuses on repurposing used plastic bottles and turning them into fibres that they can use to make comfortable and sustainable running socks, ankle socks, and more.
Another example of a sock brand using environmentally friendly materials to make socks for boys, girls, and people of all ages is Conscious Step.
While the brand still uses cotton, they make sure that it’s sustainably sourced and the manufacturing process leaves a minimal environmental impact.
Just because cotton has a negative impact on the environment, doesn’t mean there isn’t good cotton out there. Conscious Step uses organic and sustainable cotton to create comfortable socks that can compete with just about any top brand out there in terms of function, comfort, and style.
Ethical Workplace Practices
Another way that a sock manufacturer can practice sustainability is through their workplace and treatment of their workers.
Since most socks are made in large batches, it leaves workers feeling tired, and without proper breaks or compensation for their efforts, these workers are abused by their employers.
Sustainable sock brands aim to end worker abuse, especially when it comes to manufacturing. A great example of this is FAZL socks.
FAZL produce handmade socks from the Himalayas that are warm, comfortable, and sport great designs. On top of all that, the Himalayan craftswomen who spend their hours making these socks by hand are treated humanely and are well-compensated for their efforts.
FAZL prides itself on sustainability, which is evident in its products and its treatment of workers. Sustainability isn’t just about shifting to environmentally friendly materials.
A genuine sustainable socks brand needs to have ethical manufacturing practices that properly compensate the workers who put all their heart and effort into making sustainable and durable socks that last for a long time to come.
Why Shift to Sustainable Socks?
So, now that you know that socks can be sustainably made, why do you need to make the effort to switch to them? Well, there are a whole lot of reasons.
The fashion industry is taking a toll on our environment that can cause and has already caused significant damage to many places all around the world.
And instead of creating more disasters that we have to face, we can start making a change. While it might seem small, simply shifting to more sustainable socks can already make a big impact.
And the more people who make the shift, the better chance we have of healing our planet and avoiding a climate crisis in our and our childrens’ near future.
If you’re still on the fence about shifting to sustainable socks, here are a couple more reasons why it’s important;
Contribute to the Future
Buying and shifting to sustainable socks is a step in the right direction to investing in the future. We’re not just talking about your future, but also the future of your children and their children.
If we don’t make the right choices now and start shifting to a more sustainable future, it won’t just be us who have to deal with the consequences.
Long after we’re gone, future generations will feel the harsh effects of the climate crisis, which will likely just get worse as time goes by.
But if you make the shift to sustainable socks today, you can take the first step in the right direction to help minimise the impact we have on the climate.
A pair of sustainable socks aren’t just stylish and comfortable; they also don’t have a major toll on the environment.
Remember, to fix this climate crisis, we all need to take small steps together, which, in the end, is what really drives the big changes in our future.
Peak Comfort With a Lower Impact
Sustainable socks are made with love. Just look at the stories of any of the sustainable sock brands we feature on our website, and you’ll see that the people who make these socks are dedicated to providing customers with comfortable and stylish options to keep their feet warm and dry.
Comfort is always a top priority when looking for socks, and these sustainable brands know that. So, when you shift to sustainable socks, you don’t have to sacrifice any of the comforts you have with your regular socks.
In fact, there’s a big chance that these sustainable socks will even be more comfortable than the ones already in your drawer!
Sustainable Socks Are Already Here
If you need even more convincing to shift to sustainable socks, here it is.
Sustainable sock brands are here and all over the market. So, you won’t have to make a huge effort to find sustainable sock brands that have ethical workplace practices.
Our Sock Shop features tons of different brands and designs. But with all this variety, there is one uniting factor: they are all made sustainably.
Conclusion
The climate crisis is scary. And a lot of times, it can be a very hard topic to talk about. With that said, that doesn’t mean it’s unimportant. The climate crisis is one of the biggest hurdles humanity faces today, and while it is a huge problem, we can start tackling it with baby steps.
Just like the way we healed the ozone by shifting to products without harmful chemicals, we can do the same thing with the rest of the planet. And you don’t even have to make a major lifestyle shift. Remember, baby steps will lead the way to a healthier and more sustainable planet.
And when trying to make the shift to a more sustainable lifestyle, socks are a great way to start. It doesn’t take that much effort to find a wide array of different sock brands and manufacturers ready to take you and your feet into a more sustainable future for you, your kids, and for future generations to come!