Eco-friendly knitwear from Izzy Lane

If you’re still searching for the perfect winter coat or cosy jumper, then look no further.  Izzy Lane, one of the UK’s hottest new eco-labels, has all you need to stay warm this winter.  Founded by Isobel Davis four years ago, Izzy Lane has gone from strength to strength, producing woollen knits, coats, dresses and accessories, all made with wool sourced from the label’s own flock of sheep.

With the British textile industry in long-term decline, Izzy Lane is almost unique in using textiles sourced solely in the UK.  The label’s story began when Davis, a committed vegetarian, discovered that local farmers were burning their wool because the low sale prices didn’t even cover the cost of shearing.  Deciding to take a stand, Davis opened her own sheep sanctuary which now includes rare Wensleydale and Shetland sheep discarded by mainstream farming because they were male, small, old, infertile or possessed imperfect fleeces.

Wensleydale sheep are a rare breed, with a beautiful fleece that Izzy Lane spins into wool for use in luxuriously soft knitwear.  Unlike merino, Wensleydale wool doesn’t contain kemp; the coarse fibres which make other types of wool itchy.  Dresses, skirts and jackets are made from the finer fleece of the Shetland sheep.  The cloth is woven at an ancient mill in Selkirk using Victorian machinery which has been in use for over 100 years.  This is really the essence of the Izzy Lane brand: traditional, sustainable manufacturing techniques combined with rare breed wool, creating garments made to last.  Each piece is knitted by hand by a network of cottage producers, mainly based in North Yorkshire.

Davis is a pioneer, embracing the slow fashion movement and using traditional techniques and ethical practices to create beautiful pieces, made to last.  If that’s not worth spending a little extra on, then what is?

For more info and to order online, see the Izzy Lane website.

A snapshot of an Izzy Lane show coming together