Zokkn

Pro­duc­tion locations

• Design & Headquarters: Belgium
• Knitting producer: Portugal
• Yarn production: Italy
• Origin of wool: South Africa

The production of the socks is done in Portugal, by knitting manufacturer Fiorima. The yarns are spun by Italian producer Egea. Zokk’n communicates very transparently about their producers. 

Working Conditions & living wages

Thanks to European production, the brand can guarantee better working conditions. The factory also uses 100% renewable resources and has several certificates, such as SA8000 and GOTS, which ensure more humane and environmentally friendly practices. These certificates also carry out regular audits, so you can be sure that your pair of Zokk’n are made in good conditions!

Materials

• Merinowol
• Polyamide
• Elastane

The yarn consists of 85% merino wool, 13% polyamide and 2% elastane. The label of the socks consists of organic raw cotton made by a German manufacturer. 

Why did Zokk’n choose wool? Merino wool is heat-regulating and antibacterial. This makes it ideal for sweaty feet! In addition, wool is obviously a renewable resource that is completely biodegradable. The socks have no coating and therefore cannot be washed at 40 degrees. So washing by hand or in a wool wash cycle is the message. Want to know more about how to properly maintain the Zokk’n? Check the Zokk’n website.

The synthetic materials polyamide and elastane come from crude oil and are therefore not biodegradable. However, they do guarantee firmer toes and heels, thus extending the socks’ lifespan. Fun fact: Every size of socks has a different colour toes at Zokk’n. This makes it easy to find your size in the laundry basket of socks!

Packaging

The brand also considers sustainability for its packaging. The cardboard boxes are made of recycled paper, making them fully biodegradable. Around the socks there is only a wrap made of grass paper. So no plastic packaging!

The brand also makes sure to use more sustainable options for the packaging within the production chain. For example, the socks are packed together in a large number in a certified biodegradable plastic bag. And the delivery of your socks? For that, the brand chooses the more sustainable delivery options, every little bit helps! 

Water usage & chemicals

No information on water and chemical use is available from producers. Zokk’n does offer tips on their website on how to wash your woollen socks properly and keep them beautiful.

Cir­cu­lar product design

As the socks are made of different materials, they are not easily recyclable. Therefore, the brand’s philosophy is to make your socks last as long as possible by repairing them if possible.

Fortunately, knits are easier to recycle than woven textiles, though.

Opting for a combination of merino wool and polyamide also makes your socks last longer. After all, 100% wool socks don’t last as long, and who has time to plug holes all the time!

Cir­cu­lar business models

There is no information on any circular business models at Zokk’n. The brand could capitalise on this by, for example, collecting old socks for recycling itself. 

Distance & complexity of the supply chain

Apart from the wool, which comes from South Africa, Zokk’n’s entire supply chain is in Europe. We at COSH! can certainly applaud that! The wool is spun in Italy and then knitted into socks in Portugal. 

Trans­portation

Transportation between the spinning mill and knitting manufacturer is always done over land. There is no information on how the wool is transported from South Africa to Italy.

• Merino wool, origins South Africa

The Zokk’n wool producer is in South Africa and is fortunately mulesing free. This is cutting away skin around a sheep’s hindquarters so that the skin is less likely to attract flies. This procedure is often done without anaesthetic and is therefore very painful for the sheep. At COSH! we are already fans of mulesing free wool because it is better for animal welfare!

Moreover, the yarn producer Igea guarantees that the wool is certified by RWS (Responsible Wool Standard). This label audits wool producers on the animal welfare of the sheep to ensure that the animals are treated well.

Pro­duct design

The collection is built on the basis of 9 colours, with which you can make an awful lot of combinations. Zokk’n resists fast fashion and fickle trends and stays true to these colours. As a result, the socks are everlasting and when one gets broken or lost after a few seasons, you can restock your sock drawer with a new one.

Slow fas­hi­on processes

Zokk’n also designs according to slow fashion principles. The brand has a permanent collection, with a few designs added every year. The socks are not trend-sensitive, so you can wear them all year round. Moreover, the brand has the cutest socks for the whole family. For men, women and even toddlers!

Transparency on product

On their website, you can read the whole story behind this original brand. They are open and give a lot of information about the producers and materials.

Transparency on processes

Zokk’n communicates very transparently about the different players in their production chain on their website. COSH! also sat down with the brand and experienced openness and transparency from founder Nadia.