Materials

Each material used presents its own challenges. We carefully choose the materials for our products based on their intended use, as material choices affect both people and the environment.  

Our aim is to reduce our environmental impact and we design our products to be as durable as possible in terms of time and use.

Cotton

Soft and breathable cotton is one of the most commonly used fibres in our products. Clothes made from cotton are breathable and do not irritate the skin. Cotton rarely causes allergic reactions. Cotton is a strong, durable fabric and easy to dye. While cotton fibre is natural, renewable and biodegradable, cotton is grown using large amounts of water, pesticides and fertilisers. Wherever possible, we choose either organic cotton or recycled cotton over conventional cotton.  

Organic cotton

Organic cotton is grown without artificial fertilisers, chemical pesticides or genetically modified cotton seeds. It is a third-party certified raw material and is kept separate from other raw materials throughout the process: from the field to the product. 

RECYCLED COTTON 

Recycled cotton can be either a by-product of textile mill processes or made from discarded clothing. In the recycling process, the fibre is mechanically torn, which shortens the length of the fibre. This reduces the durability of the fabric, which is why recycled cotton is often used with conventional cotton or in other blends. 

viscose

Viscose is a cellulose-based fibre made from materials such as bamboo or other wood pulp. The advantage of the material is its good drape and pleasant, cool feel on the skin. The traditional viscose manufacturing process, however, uses a lot of energy, water and chemicals.

ecovero viscose

Viscose is obtained from cellulose, where the raw material is broken down into fibres using chemicals. Our collections contain mainly EcoVeroTM viscose, whose fibres come from responsibly managed forests. The production process has half the carbon dioxide emissions and water consumption of conventional viscose, and the wood used as raw material is FSC or PEFC certified. Factories producing EcoVeroTM viscose have been awarded the official EU Ecolabel.

oncemore viscose

OnceMore viscose developed in cooperation with Södra, Sweden’s largest association of forest owners, is made from 20% recycled pulp made from textile waste and FSC-certified cellulose pulp. The process combines recycled textile fibre and wood fibre, which is produced from Swedish forests.

lyocell

One of the most common regenerated cellulose fibres is lyocell, known by the brand name Tencel®. Lyocell is a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional viscose, as less energy and harmful chemicals are used in its production, and 99% of the chemicals used in its manufacturing can be recycled for reuse. The raw material used to make lyocell is usually fast-growing eucalyptus or other cellulose-based raw materials. Compared to cotton, Lyocell has twice the ability to regulate moisture balance, so as a knitted fabric it has a cooling and warming effect.

polyester

Polyester has many good properties that make it suitable for many applications: it is strong, soft and elastic, does not wrinkle, but is resistant to abrasion and dries quickly. Due to its strength, polyester is often blended with other fibres. Polyester dyeing requires less chemicals than, for example, cotton.

recycled polyester

Recycled polyester is made from used PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate). Our aim is to switch to using textile-based recycled polyester, made from industrial offcuts or used clothing, for example. The chemical recycling of polyester does not degrade the quality of the man-made fibre, so the material produced is as good as new. Virgin polyester, also known as conventional polyester, is made from petroleum, which is a non-renewable natural resource. The production of recycled polyester requires less water and chemicals than that of conventional polyester.

wool

Nowadays, there are dozens of breeds of sheep that produce wool. Wool is used in a wide range of clothing and home products. Wool is a soft, natural fibre that stays in good condition for a long time when properly cared for. Wool has many excellent properties: it regulates temperature and is suitable for use in both cool and warm conditions, it absorbs moisture, and wool’s lanolin makes the material naturally repellent to dirt, water and odours. 

RESPONSIBLE WOOL

The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) aims to ensure sheep welfare and sustainable land use in wool production. The RWS requires certification throughout the supply chain, focusing on animal welfare, land health and social well-being. The RWS promotes best practices, ensures wool origin and provides reliable certification through third-party audits. It supports transparent communications and engagement with stakeholders worldwide, including farmers, experts and brands.

RECYCLED WOOL 

Recycled wool is a natural fibre made from raw materials such as industrial surplus (yarn and knitting waste) and used woollen garments. Recycled wool has shorter fibres than new wool, so it is used as part of a blend with traditional wool or in other blends. 

Merino wool

Merino wool comes from Merino sheep, which are mainly farmed in New Zealand and Australia. The wool fibres from Merino sheep are clearly longer and thinner than those of ordinary wool. Merino wool is lightweight, warm and effectively draws moisture away from the skin. All Merino wool used in Stockmann’s own brands is mulesing-free. 

Cashmere

Cashmere wool is a fine-quality wool from the cashmere goat that lives high in the Asian mountains. Cashmere wool is finer, softer and warmer than other wools. It caresses the skin, is light, breathable and delicate. Cashmere wool can be cleaned by airing and only rarely needs washing. 

alpaca wool

Alpaca is a soft material that is warmer, lighter and stronger than sheep’s wool. Alpaca wool does not contain lanolin (sheep’s wool fat), and it is not coarse like sheep’s wool, which makes it suitable for many people with wool allergies. Alpaca fibre is obtained from the alpaca, a South American camelid of the llama family. Alpaca products are treated in the same way as the finest wool. 

Responsible Mohair

Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) certifies producers who meet the requirements for animal welfare and land use. RMS ensures, among other things, a closely monitored production chain and responsible working conditions. The certificate includes third-party audits. RMS engages stakeholders from farmers, animal welfare experts and soil conservation specialists to brands and retailers around the world.

silk

Silk is the fibre spun from the cocoons of silk moth larvae and the fabric made from this. Silk is a highly valued fabric in garments due to its good qualities such as shine, softness and strength. Silk fibre is flexible and strong. Thanks to its good thermal insulation properties, silk keeps you warm but still feels cool. Silk feels comfortable because its texture and moisture content are similar to the skin. Despite its strength, silk is lightweight. Silk neutralises odours, repels dirt and is fire-safe. Silk can often be cleaned simply by airing. 

linen

Linen is made from the flax plant whose stalks are used to make highly durable textile fibre. Linen textiles have unique antibacterial properties. The properties of linen include breathability, strength and a beautiful sheen, but also poor flexural strength and a tendency to wrinkle.

recycled linen

Recycled linen is made from leftover textile waste which is spun into new yarns and fabrics. Its environmental impact is lower because it is made from existing material instead of producing new material. Recycled linen has the same good properties as new linen, such as durability and breathability.

Responsible Down

The down material used in Stockmann’s own brands is responsibly produced and certified according to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). The aim of the RDS certificate is to ensure that animals are treated well: they are fed responsibly and no down or feathers are taken from live animals. Third-party audits cover the entire production chain.

lwg = leather working group

LWG is a global non-profit organisation with many stakeholders. LWG is committed to building a sustainable future and driving social and environmental change through responsibly produced leather. LWG guarantees product certification for certified and audited leather products that have a proven track record of responsible manufacturing. LWG leather is used in accessories of our own brands.

VEGETABLE-TANNED OR SEMI-TANNED LEATHER 

Tannins, or plant extracts, transform the rawhide of an animal into a durable material called vegetable tanned leather. Natural materials are obtained from different species of trees and plants. They are found in the bark, leaves, fruit and roots of trees. The colours are natural and may vary. Leather products made from this material age beautifully and are durable.

RECYCLED PLASTIC

Plastic is valuable and useful raw material that can be reused. In the recycling process, plastics are first collected and then processed into a suitable form, after which the plastic is reused as a product material or recovered as energy. Our own-brand sunglasses are made from recycled plastic.

Our product policies 

Stockmann has policies on the production methods and procurement of product ranges. A few examples are given below. 

DENIM TREATMENTS 

Stockmann’s own-brand denim clothing is not produced using the sandblasting process, which is banned by law in the EU and Turkey, for example. Giving jeans a worn look using the sandblasting method can be hazardous to the health of workers if it is done without proper protective equipment and training. To avoid the risk, we do not order products from factories with sandblasting equipment.

angora wool

Wool must be taken from rabbits in a way that respects the animals’ rights and does not cause them any pain. Only suppliers who can certify the exact origin of angora wool and the good treatment of the animals are included in the ranges of the Stockmann department stores’ own fashion brands.

LEATHER AND FUR  

The leather products in our range must be made from leather obtained as a by-product of the food industry. We do not sell furs made from fur animals. Fur trimmings have not been used in Stockmann’s own brand products since 2021. Fur-trimmed products are available in limited quantities as part of our fashion range of third-party brands and these products are labelled “Contains non-textile parts of animal origin” in accordance with the EU Regulation.

sustainability report

Read more about the Stockmann division’s sustainability work from the Group’s sustainability report.

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