For years we have been fiddling around with the material for our winter hats, the Treeanies, making tests, talking to manufacturers and trying out new approaches again and again. Now we have found a suitable material: Our new Treeanies are made of Polylana®. But what is Polylana®?
Treeanies were the first products ever to be launched on the market by NIKIN . And since the first delivery, we have been searching for the perfect material. It should be fluffy, durable and vegan. Back in 2018, we reported on our high requirements for the Treeanie material. Now, with Polylana®, we have found a material that meets all our criteria.
Polyester and recycled PET
Polylana® is a sustainable synthetic fibre that is environmentally friendly. The fibre consists of polyester pellets and recycled PET chips. Polylana® can be combined with various other materials for optimal use. For our Treeanies we use a blend of Polylana® and cotton because it is best suited for beanies.
Saving Fox Polylana®
Polylana® requires significantly fewer resources than other synthetic fibres. This is one of the main reasons why the new Treeanies are made from Polylana®. The most important facts at a glance:
- 76% less energy consumption
- 85% less water consumption
- 76% less waste
- 19% less CO2
- 32% less microfibres emitted
- Polylana® is 100% recyclable
Less waste
In addition to the new material, the cut of the ribbed treeanies is also changing. These treeanies are now made from one piece without producing any cut waste. We are trying to do our part to reduce waste.
Long search for a suitable material
For about three years, the product team at NIKIN has been searching for a suitable and innovative material for our Treeanies. In our search for an alternative, we tested the following materials:
- Recycled jeans: Unfortunately, the treeanies made from recycled jeans lost their shape too quickly and also did not keep the ears warm enough. In addition, the processing was extremely difficult.
- Recycled polyester mixed with cotton: This blend worked a little better than recycled denim, but still didn't meet our requirements. These Treeanies also lost their shape too quickly.
- Bamboo viscose: This test was very promising at the beginning, but in the end the material did not meet our requirements. The treeanies were comfortable to wear and very warm, but they lost their shape after the first wear.
Soon all Treeanies from Polylana®
So far, NIKIN has offered treeanies made of acrylic as well as recycled cotton and recycled PET material. Throwing these products away now would not be very sustainable. Therefore, they will remain available in our online shop until they are sold out. However, they will no longer be reordered. Accordingly, only Treeanies made of Polylana® will be available in the future. The new Treeanies are made of a mixture of Polylana®, cotton and, depending on the colour, a small amount of acrylic.
