Recycled Wool Socks

Our original wool socks are warm even during winter and can be worn to work. They are knit in middle gauge and can fit your feet with just the right thickness while retaining warmth and can be worn with your regular shoes. The fit is not loose, but perfectly fits the line of the foot.

The wool yarn comes from discarded Merino wool cut during the manufacturing process and blended with soft lamb wool to create recycled wool with a soft textured finish. The material is washed after knitting so that the yarn absorbs air for an expanded touch that offers a soft and plump feel during wear.



Original Socks Made from Recycle Cotton and Wool

D&DEPARTMENT's original socks are made in Nara Prefecture, one of Japan's major sock manufacturing regions. They are made from recycled materials such as cotton from the yarn spinning process and leftover merino wool.



Thread from recycled cotton socks is spun by KAYAZAWA Shoten in Nara prefecture, whereas the sock manufacturing is done by Souki Inc., which is also located in Nara.

KAYAZAWA Shoten is a thread distributor founded in 1948 in Nara. We got to know them through the publication of "d design travel NARA". And then, in 2018, we decided to create original socks with them, because we empathized with their "efforts to promote sustainable manufacturing".



Seiichi Kayazawa, the president of KAYAZAWA Shoten, doesn't sell just any thread. He only sells thread that he is sure sock manufacturers would want. While growing up and watching his business, his son Ariatsu and his wife Ryoko founded "saredo", a sock brand that embodies the best of Nara's sock-manufacturing technology and skills.

"These may only be socks, yet have an importance nevertheless."

Recycled cotton socks of "saredo" use 100% waste cotton, a by-product of the yarn spinning process at domestic spinning mills, to apply their unique spinning process only to long fiber waste cotton. They have a slightly thick and comfortable feel. And, recycled wool socks are made from a blend of recycled merino wool waste from the cutting process and soft lamb wool for a soft textured finish. They are washed after completion to allow the yarn to absorb air and gain bulk for a fluffy and soft feel.

The Kayazawa couple's explanation of the "saredo" brand name is as follows.

"S"ustainable - We can go on forever, maintaining the present state without destroying the global environment.

"A"lternative - Another choice, heterogeneous, not in type.

"RE"novation - Innovation, repair. We create new value, reproduce and reconstruct.

"DO"mestic - Based on the domestic inspiration of the country = the do-it-yourself spirit.

Mr. and Mrs. Kayazawa work on manufacturing with 4 keywords "Faith", "Honesty", "Humility" and "Delicate", based on the spirituality and artisan disposition of the Japanese people. Moreover, they propose and market thread that gives the "nevertheless" impression, rather than "only be..." one.

We recycle materials that would normally be discarded without creating waste, rather than simply creating a product cycle. We also like to meet people from every corner of Japan and emphasize activities to expand the sphere of production. Using the 4 words as keywords, we propose "a sustainable lifestyle spun from waste cotton". We feel that everything about Nara's craftsmanship is embodied in these words: "These may only be socks, yet have an importance nevertheless."

Size S/M (approx.) : 22-24cm, US Women's 5-7/ US Men's 4-6, EU: 35-38
Size M/L (approx.) : 25-27cm, US Women's 8-10/ US Men's 7-9, EU: 39-42
Material: Wool (Recycled Wool) 69%, Nylon 22%, Polyurethane 2.5% and other materials

Produced by: D&DEPARTMENT

Manufactured by:
KAYAZAWA Shoten,Co.,Ltd.
A yarn wholesaler founded in Nara back in 1948. It released its "saredo" brand in 2014.
Saredo's recycled cotton uses 100% unused cotton that is left over during the yarn manufacturing process at domestic spinning mills. Utilizing a unique spinning process where they use leftover cotton that only has long fibers.

Inoue Corporation
Founded in Nara prefecture, where many sock factories still exist as the local industry.
They have accumulated technology and knowhows from manufacturing a wide variety of sock while continuing to produce high-quality "made in Japan" sock products.
They currently use knitting machines that are extremely rare, even in Japan.
And by customizing the knitting machines, they are developing "creativity" that no other firms can achieve.

・Handwash or use a laundry net and wash in a short period of time. Dry out of direct sunlight and hang with the openings facing up. Use mild washing detergent.
・Do not use dryer. Due to the nature of the wool, the fabric may cause piling through continued use.
・The rubber material can deteriorate from UV exposure and may get damaged when using the dryer and should be handled with care.
・The socks have a soft finish and may get damaged from strong friction.