How sustainable is the Samsoe & Samsoe conscious collection?

Wool products including sweaters, hats and scarves are made of sheep’s wool and merino sheep’s wool. These are all RWS (responsible wool standard) certified, complying with a list of animal-friendly criteria that purchased wool must meet. Worldwide, only less than 1% of total wool production is RWS certified.

For the mohair and alpaca wool Samsoe & Samsoe exclusively works with suppliers that follow animal welfare policies in line with the World Organisation for Animal Health’s recommendations. Also, the leather at Samsoe & Samsoe is certified through the Leather Working Group.

However, because of the long supply chains and many middlemen, it remains difficult to be 100% assured that the sheep, goats and cows are all living in decent conditions, even with a certification.

Materials

We see that the brand has evolved tremendously over the past few years. In 2017, the percentage of sustainable materials was only 7.4%, this has increased to 35.8% in 2019. Samsoe & Samsoe hopes to be using strictly 100% sustainable materials by 2024. A transition we can only encourage.

We see a range of different materials at Samsoe & Samsoe. The brand divides their materials into 3 categories: ‘preferred’, ‘acceptable’ and ‘limited use’. The preferred materials are made from natural fibers. These are also our favorite at COSH! because they are biodegradable. Samsoe & Samsoe uses cotton for half of its collections, preferring GOTS certified organic cotton (their preference). The brand only utilizes regular cotton in limited quantities.

Samsoe & Samsoe has also limited its use of synthetic materials. Like the brand, we are not a fan of this type of material, since synthetics release microplastics into water streams when washed. For some clothes we make an exception because in some cases a percentage of synthetic fibres can enhance the comfort and thus the lifespan of a garment.

For example, for wool pullovers it’s important to add a proportion of synthetic materials (polyamide or acrylic, for example) to increase comfort. Your favorite sweater will stay beautiful for much longer. Samsoe & Samsoe wants to keep the percentage of synthetics in their clothes as low as possible. Besides, they opt for recycled alternatives when possible.

Good news: all materials Samsoe & Samsoe uses are Oeko-tex certified. This label for raw textile materials prohibits the use of harmful chemicals. Better for the environment and for your health.

Ethical

Samsoe & Samsoe has a code of conduct to ensure that all minimalist clothing is produced in an ethical and responsible way. They encourage their suppliers and subcontractors to comply with this code of conduct in order to make the whole sector more sustainable. The brand has also implemented the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the apparel industry to properly identify and monitor risks throughout the supply chain.

Circular economy

Samsoe & Samsoe uses recycled materials, such as the recycled cotton in their jeans. The recycled cotton is Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified. This quality label takes into account the traceability of the materials and various ecological and social requirements in the production of the materials. Also, for part of the collection of evening gowns and jumpsuits, the brand uses 100% recycled polyester.

At COSH!, we love to see the use of recycled materials because it means that fewer new raw materials are created. This way Samsoe & Samsoe manages to drastically reduce their water and energy consumption as well as their use of chemicals and production of waste.

How sustainable is the Samsoe & Samsoe conscious collection really? At COSH, we note that with its conscious collection, Samsoe & Samsoe has established a nice ambition as well as an extensive product knowledge of the environmental impact of its fabrics. Well done, if you ask us.

Curious about this timeless and comfortable Samsoe & Samsoe conscious collection? Take a look at the shopping map below.