Choosing yarn might seem simple — you pick a colour you love and get started. But behind every skein of yarn is a supply chain, a farming practice, a dyeing process, and a set of choices that add up to something either responsible or problematic. At Les Cousines, we've spent years researching, testing, and building relationships with yarn suppliers whose values align with ours. Here's what we look for — and why it matters.
What makes yarn truly sustainable?
The word 'sustainable' gets applied to almost everything these days, so it's worth being specific. For us, sustainable yarn means several things working together: the fibre source should be natural and biodegradable (wool, alpaca, cotton, linen, bamboo — not acrylic), the animal welfare standards at the source should be high, the dyeing process should use low-impact or natural dyes with responsible water treatment, and the supply chain should be as short and transparent as possible.
No yarn scores a perfect 10 on every metric — but the brands we work with are genuinely trying, and that matters.
What we look for in a yarn partner
Our criteria are straightforward: natural fibre content, certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) where applicable, transparent sourcing information, and most importantly — yarn that actually performs beautifully when knitted or crocheted. Sustainable yarn that's unpleasant to work with doesn't help anyone.
We also strongly favour European suppliers where possible. Shorter supply chains mean lower transport emissions, better traceability, and a stronger connection to the local textile industry — something we're proud to support as a Belgian brand.
Why we don't use acrylic
This is a question we get fairly often, usually from people who've seen how inexpensive acrylic yarn can be. Our answer is always the same: acrylic is a plastic. It sheds microplastics with every wash, it doesn't breathe, it doesn't age well, and it won't biodegrade at the end of its life. For a brand built on the values of slow fashion and sustainability, it simply isn't an option — regardless of the price difference.
The payoff for you as a maker
Beyond the ethical dimension, working with natural, high-quality yarn is simply a better experience. It feels better in your hands, it knits or crochets more evenly, the finished fabric drapes beautifully, and the colours — whether classic neutrals or bold on-trend shades — look genuinely rich and alive. When you invest in a quality kit, you feel the difference from the very first stitch.
Every kit at Les Cousines comes with carefully selected natural yarn, full materials information, and our commitment to making slow fashion accessible and beautiful. Discover the range at les-cousines.be.
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