Openness and transparency

We believe it is important to communicate openly and honestly with our customers about our suppliers and partners.
Everything can be better, that is known ... We do our best to work in a human, animal and environmentally friendly way, and continuously strive for a better version of ourselves and our socks.

Who are we
Nadia De Leyn, wife of Kris (the man who repairs everything as long as it can be done or gets to work and makes furniture with written-off dented residual material). Our ecological footprint is not clean at first glance (Kris has 5 sons, I have 1), but we compensate as well as we can, mostly ... We mainly buy second-hand, wear everything down to the wire, love natural materials , prefer to buy from the farmer, focus on native plants, grow wild herbs and focus as much as we can on permaculture principles.

The concept
100% Belgian, a collection based on 7 colors with which we can realize an enormous number of combinations. We resist Fast Fashion and erratic trends. We do not sell teasers genre limited edition. All our socks are more durable, handy, especially when it comes to socks, you know ... You can buy them by piece, by the way, if you wish.

Production Zokk'n
Unfortunately we have not found a Belgian partner who would make socks for us, because of the small quantities and the fact that we are starters. We want to stay in Europe anyway and in Portugal we have visited Fiorima, a modern company in Braga, near Porto, known for their knowledge and quality. Since 1 December 2018, Fiorima has been using energy from 100% renewable sources. By 2020 they have a photovoltaic system for their own use. They provide a number of guarantees that we are keen on:

• SA8000: 2014 (Social Accountability International)
• OHSAS 18001: 2007 (Occupational Health & Safety)
• ISO 14001: 2015 (Environment)
• ISO 9001: 2015 (Quality)
• GOTS - Global organic Textile Standard
• Oeko-Tex 100: Tested for Harmful Substances

Used yarn
Our yarn consists of 85% merino wool! Also 13% polyamide and 2% elastane for strength and comfort, it is waiting for naturally degradable alternatives (but they are not yet on the market). Merino socks usually have much more polyamide and elastane. Our merino socks have no coating and can therefore not be washed at 40 ° C. A wool program (30 ° C) and wool soap are strongly recommended. So we ask our customers to make a little effort. Some people drop out because of this, but we strongly believe in our concept and the importance of sustainable maintenance. You know: for some reason you don't have to mention elastane if there is only 1% in the yarn. Who makes up such a thing?
Igea (Prato - Italy) is the spinner and supplier of Fiorima. They guarantee that our yarn is spun with mulesing-free wool. The animals are therefore not abused. Since 2010, a photovoltaic system has been operating on the ceilings of the Igea sheds, with 2000 panels, for an annual production of 550 MW, which corresponds to 50% of the company's needs, with an annual reduction of around 400 tons of CO². We have not yet visited this company due to insufficient budget.

Label
At the back of each sock is a label made of biologically raw cotton. The name of the reference is embroidered on the inside, our logo on the outside. The labels are supplied by REBIL Group in Aachen, Germany. You know: our first shipment with labels to Portugal was declared missing by bPost (they were subsequently found and remain with the knitter). REBIL saved us and made labels again in a weekend, sent them directly to Portugal, and the second order arrived earlier than the first. All at the same price, there was never an intention to abuse the situation. Enfin, a sustainable partner for us! But, again, we did not visit this company due to insufficient budget. Their guarantees at a glance:

• Oeke-Tex 100: Tested for Harmful Substances
• ISO 14001: 2015 (Environment)
• ISO 50001: 2011 (Energy management standard)
• Higg Index
• ISO 9001: 2015 (Quality)
• OHSAS 18001: 2007 (Occupational Health & Safety)

Packaging
We have thought long and hard about how we would attach labels to our socks. We absolutely wanted to avoid the one plastic thing that people sometimes shoot through. The other metal thing on the toes too.
We have had wraps made. With a wrap we can hold up to 7 socks together and in the meantime provide information about material and washing instructions. The printer is Baskerville from Kontich. The wraps are printed on cycle offset 170 g, made from 100% recycled fibers. Baskerville uses vegetal inks (70% quadri / 100% Pantone colors), prints almost alcohol-free.
The strictly separated waste collection contributes to the preservation of the environment.
In addition, we also buy letterbox boxes made from recycled cardboard that we stick together with paper tape. We are saving for our own printed boxes ...
When we receive products in boxes, we strip these boxes completely from their plastic and then we reuse them when we have to send a large package ourselves. We also do it with all the stuff that we unfortunately sometimes get for free.

Marketing
Both for the design of our logo and corporate identity, for product photography and for the photo shoot, we went to work with local talented young people. Eternal thanks to Shtick from Berchem, Thomas Nagels Photography from Brasschaat and Tone & Co from Bornem and his team (Photography: Oona Smet // Styling: Marieke De Pauw - Liza Babylon // Models: Sarah Currinckx - Kenny Smet // Model by Jackie Lee Antwerp). If we want to print a small amount of name cards, etc. we would like to go to Drukkerij Marc Troch in Ekeren.

Photographic material
Powerful visual material to support the shopkeeper is important. We have opted for Re-board, cardboard with a honeycomb core, covered on both sides with coated white kraftliner. It is a lightweight material and environmentally friendly compared to commonly used material (plastic) for such promotion. Sustainable as long as we handle it with care. What could be better: we had to make a quick decision and started working with Drukland without knowing what the company stands for in terms of sustainability.

To print
We have purchased an Epson ET-2650 to avoid ink cartridges. This printer works with integrated ink reservoirs. Our printing paper is recycled gray kraft paper.

Bank
We have an account with Triodos, because ethical banking is also important. We have not made it easy for ourselves with this decision. We do not have a bank card and in the beginning there was not even an app available. We also think Triodos is a little short in their service for small companies like ours. Anyway, everything can be better, we know ...

CSR
We have supported two organizations on a very small scale: Filets Divers (offers opportunities to people in poverty) and the Down Syndrome Flanders association. This happened with their prior approval. We will never give a discount on the socks or do promotions for ourselves. Logical, because we have no problems with stock that needs to be sold quickly. When we come up with actions, we only do so for the benefit of these important organizations. You know: the support is based on the number of socks sold and as a small company we still have little knowledge and resources to run a large campaign. Is being worked on ...