Many people today are trying to make their lifestyle more ethical. They are considering the impact of their choices on the environment and whether there has been human or animal exploitation and/or cruelty. Knitters who are keen to make their hobby more ethical may also like to consider the origins of their yarn.
Choosing yarn
If you want to use a more ethical yarn, you will need to consider where it has come from. If it is from animals, you need to think about what the animal may have gone through to produce the yarn. If it is plant-based, think about the farming practices involved – are they sustainable or have they involved destruction of natural habitats?
You should also consider the manufacturing process; for example, is there a high ecological impact and what conditions do the employees work under?
Yarn comes in many different fibre types, such as DK yarn and four-ply. If you are not sure about the origin of your yarns, find out more from your retailer. This may be a high street shop or an online retailer such as https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/dk-yarn.
What is ethical yarn?
You may decide not to buy yarn that comes from a country with a poor record for workers’ rights and safety. for information on the use of abhorrent work patterns in the fashion industry, including cotton pickers and yarn spinners.
Vegans will usually not use animal products such as wool, silk, or mohair in their knitting. Even though the process may not kill the animal, there are often issues with how the animal is bred, treated, and kept. This means some people will consider it unethical. Ethical suppliers provide yarns from well-cared-for animals.
Artificial yarns such as nylon and acrylic may not involve any cruelty, but this does not mean they are ethical. These are fossil fuel-based fibres that may contribute to climate change.
Ultimately, ethics can be a personal choice. It is up to you to make decisions you are comfortable with when choosing the yarn for your next project.