Onion

Onion’s range of yarn is made and dyed in Italy by small family businesses which all prioritise good working conditions. They are developed specifically for Onion according to the brand’s criteria for quality and sustainability. This Danish brand have also developed their own colour combinations. Onion have a very close relationship with their suppliers, which here at COSH! we wholeheartedly approve of.

The raw materials used in their yarn come from all around the world. The wool is from South America, the nettles are from China, the mohair wool is from South Africa, and the organic cotton is from India and Turkey. Onion guarantees, however, that all of these fibres are extracted and collected with respect for people and the environment.

Onion’s yarn collection is all from natural fibres and does not contain any artificial fibres, such as nylon. A bonus is that most of their collection is also organic. Organic farming does not use harmful pesticides or GMOs (genetically modified organisms) making it much kinder on the environment.

In addition to wool made from 100% organic wool and organic cotton, Onion’s collection also features mixed yarn made from cotton, hemp and modal, among others.

Hemp is a very strong fibre, which helps garments keep their shape for longer and makes them more enduring. This brand also uses nettle fibres in its wool yarn. Nettles grow particularly quickly and require little maintenance making them very handy. Stinging nettle fibres are also very strong, making them the perfect yarn for a pair of socks.

Onion also proposes yarn made by mixing organic cotton with merino wool. This combination is particularly soft and not itchy – ideal for baby and children’s clothes, cushions, blankets and jumpers.

Organic sheep’s wool and alpaca wool is also on offer. Alpaca wool is incredibly soft, even softer than merino wool, and stronger and warmer than sheep’s wool. It’s great if you feel the cold easily.

Here at COSH!, we’re generally not big fans of mixed materials because it makes them more difficult to recycle. However, with wool we will make an exception. Adding hemp, cotton or nettle to the yarn makes the wool much stronger making a much more durable pair of socks, t‑shirt or children’s clothes. So don’t panic if you see that it’s composed of different materials – it’s extending the lifespan of your knitted product and it’s super sustainable because no new raw materials have been extracted.

Despite the fact that the raw fibres travel quite the distance, the spinning and colouring of Onion’s yarn is all done on a very small scale in Italy. The yarn is also only sold in Europe, further cutting down on its footprint. Onion’s plant-based yarn is for sale in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the Netherlands, and, of course, Belgium.

The 100% organic cotton yarn is animal-friendly and vegan. The yarn containing sheep and alpaca wool is, of course, not vegan. However, Onion really care about animal welfare so they choose organic wool producers who should treat their sheep better than regular sheep farmers. Their merino wool is also certified to be mulesing-free. Never heard of mulesing? Learn about this practice in our blog post on the topic.

Onion does not tolerate animal cruelty so you don’t need to fear for the welfare of the sheep.