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The iinouiio project is a passion for the founders and a demonstration of what is possible with wool and luxury fibre recycling in the UK.

This is our first batch of reclaimed wool, made with loving care by iinouiio’s founders. With increasing concerns about resource depletion, climate change and 'fast fashion', we hope the iinouiio project will be supported.

Having knowledge of recycling post-consumer wool from many years ago, we are compelled to offer this alternative as our contribution to change.

Our business is changing because we are delighted to announce that this year (2021) we are installing the first wool and luxury fibre recycling line (for re-spinning) since that last one in the UK closed during 2000. We are also proud that this will be located at a venue soon to be announced in 2022.

Our partnership with BFTT provides (1) the necessary control of (recycling) production for the iinouiio brand of fibres, yarns and fabrics, (2) the capability of repurposing manufacturers' waste (and retailers’ take-back schemes) so they can re-use or make new products to re-brand/take-to-market and also (3) offer a training and R&D service.

This initiative is both a landmark within iinouiio’s short history, but a new milestone for the UK textile/fashion industry whereby it can preserve and re-energise the heritage, corporate responsibility and commercial opportunities offered by the oldest textile circular economy that began in the UK over two hundred years ago.

At iinouiio, we’re not just making and selling stuff – even though we’re passionate about making, creating and designing. For us, this is how we fund our work with education, history and the arts about textile recycling in West Yorkshire.

Energy, water and pollution savings from choosing recycled wool, made in Yorkshire, England

The iinouiio project believes in using the textiles we have for as long as possible, to find new uses for them, dispose wisely and consume thoughtfully. But when it’s time to buy something new, it might be worth reading this.

According to ‘Case Study 181’, a report compiled by the British Textile Technology Group, funded by the Energy Efficiency Office (Department of the Environment) and published by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 1993 ‘Textiles and the Environment’ there are huge savings in energy, water and pollution from choosing recycled wool made in the UK.

In addition to the significant energy savings:

Fresh water consumption and effluent production are greatly reduced because processes such as raw wool scouring and dyeing do not need to be repeated.

Old woollen garments, synthetic garments and factory waste are usually dumped in landfill sites. When wool decomposes it produces methane, a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect. By recycling wool, methane production is reduced because less material goes to landfill sites. Old synthetic garments will not decompose.

Recycling our past: creating a future

In 1993, the forerunner to iinouiio (Evergreen) worked out that:

if everyone in the UK bought just one woollen product each year - but chose recycled wool made in Yorkshire, on average it would save approximately:

  • 371 million gallons of water (the UK reservoir holds around 300 million gallons).
  • 480.8 tonnes of chemical dyestuffs.
  • 4,517 million days of average family electricity consumption (1.125KW per garment).

"In 1989, I co-founded Evergreen (see video), emerging from our small family business, recycling wool. Evergreen’s aim was to make textiles with the most responsible materials and methods. We supplied some forward-thinking high street retailers, small-scale designers, artisans and charities.

Despite a break of 25 years, our work is still not over and has been re-started through iinouiio.

We aim to maintain our legacy and the heritage of skills and knowledge through iinouiio. The products we offer are made using traditional Yorkshire wool recycling techniques to provide truly authentic and unique materials. We are so proud - even giddy - for sharing this passion with all our website and social media visitors".

- John Parkinson (Co-founder)