Retailer Marks & Spencer has launched a new range of suits made with 55% recycled wool, which includes wool M&S customers have donated in stores through its Shwopping initiative, as part of its commitment to address the social, ethical and environmental impacts of its products.
The Recycled Wool Blend Suit, also dubbed the ‘Shwop’ suit, is available in tailored fit in five colours, selling for GBP149 (US$196), with a three-piece option also available.
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M&S says the wool is woven into the suit fabric at Nova Fides – a 50-year-old family-run mill based in Prato, Italy.
David Gandy, ambassador of tailoring at M&S, explains a suit not only needs to look good and fit well, it must stand the test of time. “Wool has proven to last, retaining its shape and colour through the years. My suits are predominantly crafted from wool, a fabric that is breathable, warm and resists creases.”
Gandy adds 80% of the retailer’s new tailoring collection will be made with wool.
The new suit builds on M&S’s latest Plan A 2025 sustainability plan, launched earlier this summer, in which the retailer is committed to a quarter of its clothing and home products being made using at least 25% recycled materials.
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By GlobalDataOther goals include 100% of M&S products having at least one Plan A sustainability attribute by 2020; and for every product to have attributes that address all priority social, ethical and environmental impacts by 2025. The company also says that by 2019 all its cotton will be sourced more sustainably.
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The Recycled Wool Blend Suit follows a range of more sustainable selvedge denim jeans the retailer launched in August which feature recycled polyester thread and zip tape, a biodegradable leather patch, and are made from responsibly sourced cotton through the Better Cotton Initiative.
M&S launches sustainable selvedge denim jeans
