Each year, more than 2M pairs of tights are worn once and then thrown away, in light of the growing responsibility on the manufactures to address issues of sustainability, something had to be done. And so Billi London introduces the world’s first enhanced biodegradable tights and will launch within weeks on Ulule.
Maintaining the features and quality of traditional tights, these tights have a specific composition, which under the anaerobic conditions of landfill make it easier for bacteria to reach and digest the discarded products to accelerate the process of biodegradation.
Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to re-make tights from old tights, as the technology to separate nylon from elastane does not exist. But, along with being the first company to make enhanced biodegradable tights, Billi London aims to become the world’s first zero-waste tights brand in the long term.
“We think that using recycled yarns is not a satisfactory and long-term solution to fix tights’ adverse impact on the environment. Our ambition is to create a movement and a new norm for the tights sector going far beyond the recycling approach which we think is only a sticking plaster for social and environmental sustainability.” – Marie Bouhier, co-founder of Billi London