The Wool Pile Vest
A total of 150 vests for both men and women are being produced in this run, and the retail price may be slightly higher when the product is in stock.
The classic fleece vest—only in wool, of course. And not just any wool, but recycled wool from Manteco in Italy. Some might call it wool pile, others wool fleece, or in Norwegian, perhaps Teddy fabric. Either way, a vest is brilliant for quick insulation on a cold mountain hike or in a slightly too chilly office. And maybe it’s cool to have a vest that doesn’t shed microplastics?
NB! All images show a prototype, and the final product will differ slightly from the one in the pictures.
A total of 150 vests for both men and women are being produced in this run, and the retail price may be slightly higher when the product is in stock.
The classic fleece vest—only in wool, of course. And not just any wool, but recycled wool from Manteco in Italy. Some might call it wool pile, others wool fleece, or in Norwegian, perhaps Teddy fabric. Either way, a vest is brilliant for quick insulation on a cold mountain hike or in a slightly too chilly office. And maybe it’s cool to have a vest that doesn’t shed microplastics?
NB! All images show a prototype, and the final product will differ slightly from the one in the pictures.
- Material+
- Use and care+
- Environment and footprint+
- Pricing and production+
VERSATILITY – GO VEST!
A vest covers the most important parts of your body that need warmth, while sweat under your arms automatically disappears into the air for the crows to enjoy. If you’re not a vest person, it’s simply because you haven’t tried one.
Like all our other products, our goal is for you to use this vest as much as possible—both in summer and winter—for many, many years. Wear it over your jacket while skiing, over your shirt on a sailing trip, or over your sweater at the café office with your laptop in your lap.
MATERIAL
At Manteco, old wool garments are mechanically shredded into small pieces and then spun into yarn. This creates the perfect thread for making the "Teddy texture," which provides excellent insulation. To make the garment as interesting as possible while keeping its footprint minimal, it is completely undyed. The old wool garments are sorted into piles of similar colors before being knitted. Read more about the production process at Manteco here.
Wool is, of course, magical with all its properties—you probably already know that. But let’s be honest about its one downside: it won’t be as durable as a regular fleece vest (made from plastic materials). That doesn’t mean it’s fragile, and if you take good care of it, it will last for many, many years. Plus, you’ll get free repairs, of course.
Oh, and there’s one more downside. Recycling wool in this way is very expensive, and buying this fabric costs a small fortune.
TESTING, TESTING
We have tested this fabric for months and have, at times, almost fought over who gets to use the samples in our cold office this winter. In other words—we love this material. It’s warm, soft, and comfortable, while still having a rugged look.
The supplier recommends not washing the material, or only doing so in the gentlest way possible. To be sure about what we communicate, we tested this ourselves. Our experience is that a gentle wool wash in the machine works fine—as long as you follow our advice and treat the vest with the respect it deserves. (Check out "use and care" in the drop down menu).
DETAILS
The vest features a sturdy front zipper. Two zippered side pockets ensure you can keep your hands warm or bring home a perfectly sized porcini mushroom. The chest pocket also has a zipper, providing space for your phone or other essentials. The zippers are equipped with a puller made of coarse cotton, making it easier to grip with frozen fingers or large mittens.
At the neckline, the zipper is protected by a garage to prevent your beard from getting caught. The vest is trimmed with a woven wool fabric, which is also used for the pocket linings and other small details.
FIT
The women's vest has a slight taper at the waist and a wider cut over the hips but is generally relaxed in fit.
The men's vest also has a relaxed fit, but the overall cut is straight.
Check the size guide (at the top) for more details, but choose your usual size as a starting point.
USE MORE+
Planning to keep this product for a long time? Well, that’s absolutely possible—it’s designed for longevity. But its lifespan also depends entirely on how you take care of it. If you treat it well and repair it when needed, you’ll enjoy it for many years.
We support you in this through Use More +, a service that includes guidance on repairs and maintenance, as well as one free repair. Learn more about Use More + here.
STORE AND MICROFACTORY
Our store is not your typical shop. Sure, we sell clothes and make money from it, but can we do everything the opposite of what typical clothing stores do? Our goal is just as much about opening minds and showing that it's possible to do things in a completely different way, with a totally different footprint.
Process
This product is now in production. Preorder to make sure one becomes yours.
Discussion
To make sure we make clothing that can last a lifetime, we need your feedback. In our Community you can contribute in the development of new and existing products. Have thoughts on anything we should do different or a question about the product? Join our Community and the discussion below!
