Materials & Standards

Shackleton designs are steered by purpose and performance – each piece must tick the boxes of efficiency, practicality and comfort. These properties are as relevant to the barren expanses of Antarctica as they are the frozen streets of New York City in winter.

KNOW YOUR KNITS

We use four fibres within our knitwear, chosen to excel in both performance and comfort – soft to the touch but also highly efficient when it comes to insulation and breathability. We source our yarns and design our jumpers with longevity in mind – our knitwear is built to last and hold its complimentary shape for many years.

Merino Wool

Merino is, quite simply, remarkable to work with when it comes to performance-wear. It is a fine wool, grown by Merino sheep in the highlands of Australia and New Zealand. These hardy sheep have adapted to life at altitude, withstanding temperatures that range from -20ºC to 35ºC – once the wool is spun, these qualities remain, making merino immensely versatile. It is thermo regulating – warming when cold and cooling when hot – meaning it can be worn all year round. It is extremely soft, durable, odour resistant, non-allergenic, naturally insulating, UV resistant, fast drying and water repellent – it can hold up to 30% of its weight in water yet remain dry to the touch. It is also renewable and biodegradable – these sheep produce two fleeces a year.

Geelong Lambswool

Geelong is the softest and most sought-after lambswool on earth. It is 100% natural fibre produced from a large species of merino sheep in Geelong, a county in Australia, with a softness and warmth that rivals that of cashmere. It is non-allergenic, highly breathable, lightweight and the fibres are carded to criss-cross each other, giving bulk and increased insulation. The natural fibres of Geelong are incredibly strong given its silky touch, meaning the knits are remarkably durable and will hold their shape for years.

Cashmere

Cashmere is sourced from goats and is the superfine fibre found on the underbelly beneath the animals’ coarse hair. Extracting the fibre is done by comb rather than shearing and is a meticulous and time-consuming process. It is then washed to increase the purity of the fibre. The result of this effort is nature’s finest insulation fibre, boasting numerous qualities that make it an incredible fibre for performance knitwear. Not only is it extremely soft to the touch, it is sustainable, renewable, biodegradable, lightweight, breathable and odour resistant.

Recycled Cashmere

Our recycled cashmere comes from a family-run company that has been operating in Italy for more than 125 years. The wool we use is 97% cashmere made from recycled fibres and 3% ultrafine wool. It is GRS-certified, promoting responsible and sustainable development in the textile sector internationally. Our supplier is also RWS-certified (Responsible Wool Standard), guaranteeing that the wool is sourced from farms managed according to strict criteria aimed at animal welfare and the reduction of environmental impact. In terms of performance, recycled cashmere has equal qualities to that of cashmere: it is soft, lightweight, breathable and odour resistant.

Production standard certifications

Global Recycle Standard (GRS)… promoted by Textile Exchange, GRS standard verifies the recycled content of the fibre, ensuring responsible social, environmental and chemical practises at all stages of production.

bluesign®… guarantees the highest degree of assurance to consumers, ensuring that products have been manufactured with a responsible use of resources, including water and energy, and therefore having the lowest impact possible on people and the environment.

STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®… is a globally renowned certification that ensures no toxic chemicals are present in fabrics that could be harmful to the consumer or the environment.

Bionic Finish® ECO… is a fluorine-free durable water repellent (DWR) finish that is used on fabrics. It is highly water repellent but without the harmful fluorinated compounds widely used throughout the outdoor industry. 

Responsible Wool Standard (RWS)... is a global standard that recognizes best practise farming. Under this standard, farmers are required to progressively manage their land, its soil and biodiversity as well as to ensure the well-being and fair treatment of the animals.

Responsible Down Standard (RDS)… is granted to a company that has had its supply chain audited by a professional, third-party body. It recognises and rewards the best practices in animal welfare.

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)... validates the organic content of fabric from the harvesting of raw materials to the finished product ensuring environmentally and ethically responsible manufacturing processes throughout.