The socks that bring comfort and performance into focus

Most of us reach for socks on a daily basis. No big deal, right? While the primary goal might be to keep our feet warm or to absorb moisture during a run, when you find a sock that performs its job while also incorporating upcycled ocean plastic and giving back to the community, it’s worth talking about. 

Swiftwick is a purpose-driven sock company born in 2008. On a mission to inspire activities of all kinds, the brand focuses on full performance sock materials for golfing, biking, hiking, running, snow sports or a day at the park. 

Related: Shoes made out of unused dildos feel like dancing on clouds

However, the company is also guided by a set of standards that focus on the health of the planet and the happiness of the consumer. Since its onset, Swiftwick has invested in quality materials and production methods in order to develop long-lasting, high-performance socks that enjoy maximum life before being sent to the landfill. 

Swiftwick leans into sustainable corporate responsibility at every turn, reducing transport distances, minimizing waste and reducing energy consumption wherever possible. 

The company’s most recent release is based on a long-standing popular sock in the line, the Maxus. This new version incorporates a full REPREVE recycled footbed. Each pair of socks includes the equivalent of one post-consumer water bottle, helping to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans and landfills. 

“Sustainability across both our business practices and our finished goods is important to our company and top of mind for our customers, which is why we’re excited to share the new MAXUS made with REPREVE,” said Joanna Mariani, chief marketing officer at Swiftwick. “We continuously work to reduce our environmental impact across our manufacturing processes, and this new release helps to close the gap in our sustainable product offerings.”

Continuing to delve into sustainable actions, Swiftwick announced that this year it achieved its goal to make 100% of Swiftwick socks with responsible, renewable or recycled materials. 

The next move for the company is to ensure 80% of their Merino wool raw materials are sourced from Responsible Wool Standard certified sources by the end of 2024. The responsible wool standard (RWS) is an organization aimed at monitoring the welfare of the sheep that provide wool. RWS also oversees programs to promote and ensure land management where the sheep graze, while tracking materials from farm to final product. The long-term goal is to achieve 100% responsibly-sourced wool by 2027. 

Sustainable business has been at the core of the Swiftwick business model from the beginning. Each year it takes additional steps to maintain and improve that devotion. In 2019, the company removed all single-use plastic from its packaging. It also puts ongoing efforts into finding and implementing sustainable fibers in all its products. 

Community is also at the foundation of the Swiftwick business model. The company said, “Swiftwick continues to support key community organizations that place a focus on connecting underserved youth with the outdoors, helping foster a love and respect for chasing adventure and keeping our environment clean and safe for all to enjoy. They also partner with organizations in need of socks, donating over 13,000 pairs in 2022.” 

Swiftwick product review

I won’t keep you in suspense, these socks are spectacular. The zero no-show Maxus socks arrived quickly and with minimal packaging. There was no unnecessary waste, tissue or stuffing — just a pair of socks in a brown, recyclable envelope. Thank you, Swiftwick!

This is a newly-released material content from the brand, although it’s a longstanding favorite with customers. I’m sure perspectives on socks are subjective, but I must say, I love the way these socks embrace my feet. They fit snugly, in a supportive, rather than restrictive, kind of way. 

The breathability is immediately noticeable. These aren’t your warm winter snuggly socks. In fact, my feet got cold in the winter while wearing them around my drafty house. These are performance socks. In that regard, they do their job perfectly. 

I’ve worn them to the gym with a few different pairs of shoes and have found them to offer great wicking and airflow. I also love to wear them with my low-cut canvas sneakers. They are a relatively thin sock compared to basic cotton athletic socks I usually wear, so they allow more movement within the shoe as well. 

Around the ankle, the trim rises higher in the back than on the sides to protect against rubbing on the heel. I appreciate this design, especially since I have one pair of shoes where I find that to be an issue with some lower-cut socks. 

Although lightweight, they offer a thick and impact-absorbing footbed, so they’re cushiony, yet still flexible and breathable. Plus, they have a really stylish design. 

In short, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend these socks for athletic or casual use. 

+ Swiftwick

Images via Swiftwick and Dawn Hammon

Editor’s Note: This product review is not sponsored by Swiftwick. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commissions at no cost to you. 

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Sustainable drafting chair Spinni sets a new standard

Division Twelve has made a new sustainable drafting chair or bar stool that comes in two different heights. It’s the perfect realization of a mid-century modern vision of functional, but lovely furniture. It’s simple and spare, but comfy and warm. Even better, you can make one yourself or purchase it ready made.

Spinni, like it sounds, is a spinning chair that swivels in a full circle. Division Twelve calls Spinni a playful spin on a simple drafting chair that will make you feel like a kid again. What is really interesting is the angles, where quite spindly legs are set under a low-backed fabric seat. You can purchase or build your own Spinni in two heights, which means no matter how you use this piece of furniture, you’re sure to get what you need to suit your space.

Related: Beautiful burnt cork furniture upholds ecosystem resiliency

Download designs to build your own Spinni chair or purchase the Spinni chair on Design Public. You can also find the Division Twelve collections for other types of chairs as well.

Don’t think Spinni looks quite right for your home or office? Check out all the customization options for ordering your own personal powder finish colors for finish, upgrade your textiles or even swap out the chair glides for tougher commercial grade for the bottoms of the legs. The chair comes in every color from pink to gray to orange and green. Textiles can be chosen from an entire textile library with over 300 options to choose from.

Division Twelve is based in Toronto, and they certify that each Spinni chair should last around 10 years. These chairs are made of steel, nylon, plastic and rubber that are not sustainably sourced, but they do use 29% recycled content. Division Twelve chose to be audited in their sustainability practices to keep the company accountable for environmental impact. While only about 10% of the energy used to produce these chairs is renewable, the company has used this third-party certification process to help improve their manufacturing processes and reduce impact.

Moreover, Spinni is certified by Carbon Fund as carbon neutral through their Carbon Free certification. Division Twelve supports electrified delivery trucks to reduce shipping carbon, managing sustainable forestry projects in Minnesota and they contribute to clean water access in Kenya. Spinni was certified by the SCS Global Services for Indoor Air Quality, achieving Indoor Advantage Gold status due to the Spinni not contributing to indoor air pollution by outgassing.

+ Division 12

Images via Division 12

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Houseplants arent really all that they seem

At the beginning of the pandemic, sourdough bread, dalgona coffee and houseplants thrived on social media. The increased amount of time spent at home meant we looked for ways to fill our time. Newly minted plant parents found themselves Googling care details: why a monstera leaf has a hole or what to do with brown leaves. Plants create a warm, lived-in space, but we are not always thinking about the larger impacts of our decisions.

Problem: Plants are grown in greenhouses that demand specific light and temperatures. These buildings need large amounts of energy to thrive, harming the environment by releasing large amounts of CO2.

Related: Bioluminescent indoor houseplants are opening new doors

Solution: The good news is that because so many plants are grown in one location, the carbon footprint is shared among thousands of plants, making a large greenhouse more energy efficient than many small ones. If you are still hesitant to buy plants grown in greenhouses, look for native plants that can thrive in your natural environment or plants grown in hoop houses that use the sun to keep plants warm. For another solution entirely, you can often find neighbors and community members who are willing to share plant cuttings, giving you a head start on a plant that is already mature.

Problem: Plants are grown all over the world, and with an increasing demand for them as replacements to decorations and pets, they are being shipped all over the world too. The travel of plants has been dubbed “plant miles,” similar to “food miles,” when thinking about how far rice and oranges travel to reach your plate. The shipping and delivery costs whether via boat, airplane or car are all calculated in this number. Thousands of plants, among other packages, share this carbon-emitting journey, but increased demand for tropical plants will only increase demand for shipping costs.

Solution: With transportation being one of the biggest carbon-emitting industries, this can be a real hiccup in plant purchasing. There are still benefits to shipping plants, namely that your plant will not be the only one flying on an airplane or traveling in a truck. There are other ways, though, including buying locally grown flowers at the farmers market, growing your plants from seed or cuttings or simply trading plants with local groups.

Care Tip: Many houseplants are able to produce more plants from cuttings. Monstera plants, for example, are particularly adept at growing roots (and sometimes leaves) while only sitting in water. Once mature, cutting plants off with root nodes can be a way for you to have more plants without spending money. Succulents do not even require roots to regrow. Just place a few succulent leaves in soil and water regularly.

Problem: Many websites tout that plants in your home can help to clean the air of toxins and absorb CO2. More recently, scientists have noted that this is not true. Plants typically found in our homes (succulents, pothos, monsteras) have to be so dense in order to make any impact on CO2 that you mine as well move into a greenhouse. Even plants said to remove various toxins from the air do not have the kind of surface area needed to compete with the rest of the stuff in our 21st-century homes already filled with furniture and tchotchkes.

Solution: That does not mean plants do not do anything in terms of air quality. They help negligibly, and they are certainly better than plastic décor or dust-collecting objects. Just do not assume that you will suddenly breathe better because you have a few houseplants.

Care Tip: Especially if you are planning to put your plants on the floor, it is important to get plants that are pet friendly. Various lists of pet-friendly plants can be found online, and they range from vining plants to succulents. One way to counteract the fact that plants do not do much to clean the air is to buy edible plants. With the right conditions, herbs, lemons and even tomatoes can grow in your home or on your balcony. Edible plants help save you money in the long run and reduce shipping miles on food.

Problem: Plastic pots are much less likely to break in travel than ceramic or terracotta pots that would need more cushion, and they are much lighter, reducing the fuel needed to travel from point A to point B. However, they eventually lose their shape and break over time, meaning they are not helpful to the plant parent. Most cannot even be recycled because the black color means they cannot be seen by the recycling machines.

Solution: Some garden stores and groups have started take-back programs to keep plastic pots out of the landfill, but there will always be plants outgrowing their pots. One solution is to buy terracotta and ceramic pots that will last longer, though they are more likely to break in a fall. Another solution is plant-based pots made of compostable materials such as coconut and paper. You can even trade for pots as your plants grow to keep pots in rotation and out of the landfill.

Care Tip: Pots with drainage holes are a great way to avoid mold and rot, thus making your plants live longer. The soil can release the water it does not need and decreases the risk of root rot. Additionally, bottom water techniques are available when pots have drainage holes, allowing the plant to absorb as much water as it needs. These methods are also helpful when you leave for an extended period of time because plants can absorb and release water as needed.

Problem: Peat is an interesting environmental concern mostly because we do not talk about it much. If we know it is bad, we may not know why. Peat is a buildup of broken-down organic waste over many years. It is often found in waterbeds, and it is cheap to mine. It creates larger pockets of air for roots to grow while also retaining water to keep the plant hydrated. However, they break down over time and most plants do not actually need peat to survive. Additionally, in one year alone, 500 years of peat formation can be mined, so we will run out eventually.

Solution: Since plants do not need peat, the best solution is to find potting soil that does not include peat. This may mean mixing soils to get the correct nutrients for your plant, but that is better than continuing to mine a resource that is mostly unnecessary for your plants.

Plants, like most things, are imperfect environmentalists. At the end of the day, they may not clear the air, but they make us happy. They are beautiful and life-giving; we just need to pay more attention to our care and maintenance of them.

Lead image via Pexels

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These handwoven blankets are made with recycled materials

Perhaps the best products are those that are both useful and make a statement. Caminito meets those needs with blankets and baskets designed in the Bay Area, California, and handcrafted by artisans in Mexico. Yarns for the colorful, bespoke blankets are made from recycled fibers in a process that’s efficient and timeless.

“We love our Mother Earth and we want to keep her healthy for many years to come,” said Caminito. “With that in mind, we use recycled fibers for the weaving of our blankets. The fibers used come directly from clothing production remnants and are re-spun into new yarns.”

Related: Kapok fibers now used in biodegradable, all-natural clothing

Therefore, the yarn is then woven in a traditional manner. Some parts are handwoven, while others are guided through the loom to create a durable and versatile blanket. 

The company describes the weaving process as “First off the warp is prepared for the looms. The colored yarn is transferred from larger cones to canillas (smaller spools), and then either passed through the loom by hand (for detailed sections) or in a shuttle (for larger colored areas) all on their beautiful wooden floor looms. Each of our blankets is woven by hand by talented weavers in central Mexico. We are so grateful to be able to work directly with this community of weavers and help support their craft.”

Furthermore, Caminito blankets are warm enough to use as a lap blanket on a winter’s evening and thick enough to rely on for a picnic. They are designed to be compact and portable so they can travel to the beach, sporting event, mountains, pool or camping spot. Since the blankets are handmade, each features a one-of-a-kind pattern and color profile. The company takes pride in supporting this traditional craft that preserves history, art and culture. 

Caminito blankets can be spot cleaned or washed on a cold, gentle cycle in a washing machine. Due to shrinkage, it’s recommended they are hung to dry or tumble dried without heat. Each blanket is wrapped in a leather strap to secure it for travel or bind it as a space-saving design for storage in your tiny home. 

The company also produces baskets and totes made from natural palm fiber and leather straps hand-made out of vegetable tanned leather. Blankets and totes can be found on the Caminito website and are also sold through West Elm and Anthropologie. 

+ Caminito 

Images via Caminito

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Historic airport in Norway is transformed into a school

As a result of a competition to revitalize Oslo’s historical, decommissioned airport, the Bærum municipality will be getting a new school and cultural center.

The winning bid was submitted by Haptic Architects and PIR2, standing out against dozens of other proposals, including a short list of big hitters in the industry. Known as Tårnkvartalet, the complex will house a secondary school for 900 students alongside community spaces such as a community center, theater, sports complex, library, health clinic and skate park. It will also include workshops and restaurants.  

Related: Remodeling of Madrid railway hub receives the winning design

The architectural design for the cultural center incorporates stepped brick and timber for environmental and aesthetic reasons. With a population set to grow to 25,000, Tårnkvartalet aims to meet the needs of the expanding community while maintaining cultural ties. Inasmuch, the modular design allows for reconfiguration as the need arises. Where natural light is prevalent in the upper levels, the building will rely on glazed facades for energy efficiency and to deflect light from the nearby air traffic control tower.

Additionally, it aligns with the goals to act sustainably and respect the aviation heritage of the site as Norway’s first airport. Thereby, the team plans to revamp the 1940s hangars into workshop stations, artist studios and TV production facilities. Additional spaces will embrace an amphitheater, park, and green space.  

The design team leaned into Norway’s established environmental standards by meeting the outlined FutureBuilt criteria for school design. As a result, construction materials will include recycled brick and sustainably-sourced wood in an interconnected design that creates classrooms and teaching areas which directly engage with the outdoor landscape.

“This piece of city regeneration represents a bold and progressive investment in education and culture to spearhead the placemaking process,” remarked Scott Doig, design director of Haptic Oslo. “We have enjoyed responding to this aspirational brief, and the unique historical heritage of the site.”

The development is expected to open to the public and students in August 2027.

+ Haptic and PIR2

Images via Haptic, PIR2 and AestheticaStudio

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Ettitude offers a new attitude about sustainable fabric

Ettitude is a bed, bath, clothing and accessories company setting out to expose the damaging aspects of the textile industry. It’s equal parts environmental education and transparency about a cleaner way to produce the products we love to use every day. 

The product lineup includes loungewear like robes and silky shirts, shorts, pants, dresses and jumpsuits. To further the bedroom comfort, it offers its flagship sheets and duvet covers alongside sleep and travel accessories like eye masks and pillow cases. 

Related: Stay comfortable in these socks made from recycled textiles

The newest addition to the collection, released in February, is a vegan version of a cashmere throw blanket that comes without cost to animals and minimizes its environmental footprint. The proprietary CleanBamboo fiber not only cleans up an often dirty transition from raw bamboo to fabric, but offers transparency to the process.

“Bamboo is an incredible plant. However, transforming it into fabric is where things can become complicated,” said Ettitude. “Bamboo viscose, rayon and modal go through a chemically intensive process that harms the environment, workers and local communities. Our CleanBamboo is the only bamboo fabric that uses a non-toxic solvent and recycles 98% of the solution up to 200 times to turn raw bamboo into the silky-soft sheets you know and love.”

CleanBamboo fiber’s innovative design is hypoallergenic and materials are sourced from FSC-Certified forests. Bamboo comes with a variety of benefits when compared to cotton, primarily that it doesn’t require supplemental watering or chemicals to grow. Plus, it regrows without replanting and is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet, making it endlessly renewable. 

Following material selection, the company further commits to minimizing water usage through a closed-loop process. 

“Our CleanBamboo vegan cashmere is produced with 82% less CO2 and 72% less water than traditional cashmere. That’s the equivalent of 1,315 water bottles and the amount of CO2 absorbed by a tree annually,” said Ettitude.

Through its efforts, Ettitude has earned several certifications including B Corp, 1% for the Planet, PETA vegan-approved and Climate Neutral. Many products have also earned Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX. Each of these pedestals have been reached through the company’s mission to embrace the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

For example, all of the company’s partners that provide cut and sew operations are audited by SMETA and BSCI for ethical standards. The company has a Code of Conduct agreement with all new factories and suppliers to ensure ethical treatment of employees. It also practices diversity within the workplace. 

To tackle the world’s plastic problem, Ettitude has swapped out all plastic components in its goods and cleaned up its packaging through the use of biodegradable glassine, photo-degradable stone paper and FSC-recycled inserts.

Starting in 2021, Ettitude took the added step of measuring and calculating the carbon produced during operations and subsequently invested in offsets by planting 5.5 hectares of bamboo in Nicaragua through CarbonFund. It initially reduced emissions in a variety of ways, including reducing air shipping by 89%. The same year, it partnered with another organization to bring clean drinking water to the people of Nepal. On another front, Ettitude is shepherding a campaign to minimize textile waste.

“In the US, 21 billion pounds of textiles get thrown away annually,” said the company. “More than half a billion kilograms of unwanted textiles end up in Australian landfills every single year — 95% of this could be recycled. We’re committed to sending zero waste to landfill through our take-back and recommerce programs.”

The process led to the introduction of the Loop recycling program in Australia, which diverts waste from landfills and reduces greenhouse gasses. The company also regularly donates returned and less-than-perfect items to homeless and animal shelters. 

Ettitude woven throw blanket review

Upon release of the new line, the company provided a woven throw blanket for review. As promised, it was responsibly packaged. 

The blanket is available in oat and graphite colors, which are essentially tan and gray. It’s promoted as a vegan cashmere because of the finished texture. Not owning any cashmere myself, I can’t really speak to that, but I will say it is incredibly soft and cozy. It’s sized at 50 inches by 70 inches for a perfect lap blanket. 

This is a thin and lightweight blanket. It’s not one you would rely on as a bed blanket or a heavy winter solution to the cold. However, for mornings sipping coffee with a bit of a chill in the air, it’s the perfect match. Because it’s not bulky, it’s easily packable and takes up little storage space in the closet. It can be rolled and put into a basket in the tiniest room. 

Each end of the blanket features soft tassels with a unique design. Rather than tying a knot along the edge of the blanket, Ettitude connects the strands, twisting them into an addictively soft fringe. I find myself feeling soothed by the texture as I roll them between my fingers.  

The Ettitude throw would make a generous gift any recipient would appreciate. 

+ Ettitude 

Images via Ettitude

Editor’s Note: This product review is not sponsored by Ettitude. All opinions on the products and company are the author’s own.

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Bamboo toilet paper from Reel wipes away deforestation

Reel bamboo paper products set out to wipe away deforestation driven by the consumer paper goods market. It’s on a mission to bring the same comfort, strength and quality in a tree-free package. 

Reel toilet paper, paper towels and tissues are all made from fast-growing and sustainable bamboo. Bamboo is an ideal replacement for slow-growing wood by not releasing carbon dioxide when it’s cut down, and harvest is significantly less environmentally impactful. Bamboo also requires less water to grow and doesn’t need to be replanted after collection. That means it provides soil stability rather than the problematic erosion left behind when trees are cut down.

Related: California is the first state to ban plastic produce bags

“Traditional toilet paper production alone destroys as many as 27,000 trees per day, which equals nearly 10,000,000 trees per year,” reported the company. “A healthy forest has around 50 trees per acre, which translates to roughly 200,000 acres of trees per year lost. That’s an area the size of New York City (Manhattan and all other boroughs combined) lost. Every. Single. Year.”

Sourcing bamboo for its paper products is just the beginning in Reel’s mission to provide eco-friendly products. It also sources post-consumer paper products from schools and offices within the U.S. to avoid using virgin materials and long transports. From there, it keeps products as natural as possible by skipping all dyes, inks and BPAs. 

It also aims to reduce plastic packaging in the industry by eliminating the standard plastic-wrapped toilet paper and paper towel packaging in favor of paper wrap instead. All packaging can be recycled and the products themselves are biodegradable. Reel even transitioned to paper tape.

Reel’s mission is to encourage people to shop sustainably and greatly reduce the number of trees that get cut down every day. It recognizes the tragedy of single-use products.

“For various reasons, toilet paper and paper towels can’t be recycled,” Reel said. “They’re used once and then flushed down the toilet or thrown in the trash, never getting the chance to serve any other purpose. And that’s the real tragedy here; for all its hygiene and convenience benefits, traditional toilet paper is an incredibly inefficient — almost wasteful — use of a precious natural resource.”

Inasmuch, Reel makes conscientious decisions at each step of the production process to reduce that impact as much as possible. At the end of the production cycle, Reel acknowledges there is a remaining carbon footprint. For its part the company  offsets 100% of the carbon emissions produced in overseas transportation through its partners Flexport and the Carbonfund Foundation.

The product line includes bamboo toilet paper in packages of 24 or 48 rolls. It also offers a box for kids that includes a storybook that outlines the journey of a lemur in search of toilet paper. Each roll offers 300 sheets of three-ply toilet tissue. Products can be mail ordered through Reel and delivery is free. There is also a subscription option for easy refills. Reel toilet paper is also found in Target stores. 

The paper towels come with 12 rolls per box. Each roll features 135 sheets, each with a half-sheet option to reduce waste. Tissues are the company’s newest product, made from FSC-Certified recycled materials. Packaging includes 24 boxes per case with 80, two-ply tissues per box.

Review of Reel toilet paper

How much can one say about toilet paper? You might be surprised. 

The company offered to send a sample product and a few days later I received a box of toilet paper. As promised, the packaging was entirely recyclable with a simple cardboard box and 24 individually-wrapped toilet paper rolls. With five people in the house, it’s been quite the topic of conversation as I assigned everyone the mission of providing a review. Five behinds are better than one, am I right?

I’ll start by saying I love the paper wrapping as a replacement for the ubiquitous plastic on most products. Few people even know that plastic film, such as that found around toilet paper at the store can be recycled when returned with the plastic grocery bags, so it is a rarely recycled item. The Reel solution makes it easier to change that purchasing habit. Plus, avoiding plastic is always better than recycling it, even when it is successful. 

Anywho, shall we talk about poo? Well, maybe not but we “doo” need to talk about performance. I’ve experienced bamboo toilet paper in the past, with varying results. It’s easy to say Reel toilet paper is the best I’ve tried. 

Straight off the roll, it has the texture of a paper towel. Slightly rough to the hand, my expectations were low, but I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t feel abrasive while “dooing” its job. 

There were varying opinions throughout the house. My two young adult males and husband are all big fans. Each of them described it with words like “effective, tough, strong” and my favorite: “grippy.” With more sensitive regions to concern ourselves with, my daughter and I found it to be absorbent and efficient, however for some tasks, we prefer a softer touch. 

Overall, everyone agrees it’s a quality product. The three-ply thickness is noticeable, making for a durable paper product that’s good for nature and natural human bathroom activities. 

+ Reel

Images via Reel

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