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
Billi London aims to make fashion and sustainability compatible. The company wants women to feel confident with their appearance, and encourage them to choose from a collection of ethical, chic and fashionable tights to accessorise their outfit, knowing that they are not adding to the mass of landfill and waste.
"Women have accepted that tights are not far from being a single-use garment and they robotically dispose of their ripped tights, without realising the impact that this has on the environment: it is how it has always been and it is how it will always be." - Sophie Billi-Hardwick, co-founder
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The collection will be available on Ulule from May 15th 2020, offering the public the opportunity to pre-order the tights for 30 days, with a limited discount. If the campaign of reaching 250 pre-orders succeeds, Billi London will be able to produce the first collection, which will be delivered in September 2020. Sign up here for pre-orders.
