founder
Elisa Yip
With over twenty years of knitwear design experience in New York, Asia, and Seattle, Elisa has developed a refined aesthetic while working with luxury fibers from across the globe.
Having witnessed the impact "fast fashion" has on the environment, she wanted to change her approach to design. She created Sskein, a knitwear brand that has integrated sustainable and ethical value systems into the supply chain, design process, and the company at large. The company is based in Seattle, Washington.
About
Alpaca
Alpaca is an inherently sustainable textile holding one of the lowest environmental impacts of all animal fibers. Their softly padded hooves do not cause soil erosion and flooding like sheep. Alpaca is hypo-allergenic as it contains no lanolin, which causes the majority of allergic reactions to wool. It is naturally antimicrobial, so it resists odors and rarely needs washing. Its exceptional durability extends the lifespan of the garment.
OUR Alpaca Story
Peru
Our yarn, mill, and factory are all in Peru, reducing the carbon footprint in the supply chain. The alpaca is sourced through farms addressing animal welfare and land management, and who are currently working toward obtaining their Responsible Alpaca Standard certification. Our mills are STeP by Oeko-Tex certified, selected for optimum working conditions and an environmentlaly friendly production process. Our factories are Gold-WRAP certified to ensure social and environmental ethical practices.
About
3-D Seamless Knitting
All of our cotton and merino wool products are made on demand with 3-D seamless knitting machines. This technology is at the forefront of clothing manufacturing. The process eliminates excess waste, and to create fully fashioned garments with no seams or sewing, which improves the wearer's comfort and creates a more durable, longer-lasting garment.
our Cotton story
Egypt, Italy, New York
Our cotton fiber is sourced in Egypt and spun in Italy. The yarn and mills are Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certified, and sourced through farms of the Cotton for Life Initiative, which promotes a fully transparent, eco-friendly and socially responsible cotton value chain. The final garments are made on demand with a New York City-based 3-D knitting factory to eliminate excess waste. They are machine washable, allowing for easy and environmentally-friendly care.
Our Merino story
Australia, Italy, New York
Our merino wool is sourced in Australia and spun in Italy. The yarn and mills are Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certified, and sourced through IWTO certified farms, which promotes a fully transparent, ethical animal welfare responsible wool value chain. The final garments are made on demand with a New York City-based 3-D knitting factory to eliminate excess waste.
