The fashion industry is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions and millions of tonnes of textile waste each year. Many of those clothes are made from synthetic fibres that release microplastics into our waterways every time they’re washed, polluting oceans and entering the food chain.

Afternoon is built on a slower, more thoughtful approach. We use natural fibres like wool, alpaca, and mohair for their quality, longevity, and the fact that they’re biodegradable, so they won’t outlive us in landfill. They also naturally resist odour, meaning they can be worn more and washed less, reducing environmental impact over their lifetime.

Certifications

The Alpaca yarn we use is certified by the Responsible Alpaca Standard, sheep's wool form the Responsible Wool Standard, and mohair by the Responsible Mohair Standard. These certifications ensure that the wool is sourced from farms that prioritise animal welfare and responsible land management practices, as well as maintaining a transparent chain of custody from farm to finished product.

In addition, all yarns are dyed with OEKO-TEX certified dyes which is a globally recognised testing and certification system for textiles, ensuring they are free from harmful substances.

Our suppliers uphold the highest standards in sustainability, animal welfare, and ethical sourcing, ensuring full transparency from raw fibre to finished yarn. They are GOTS and SFA certified. 

Transparency 

We’re not perfect, yet. There’s more we want to do, from switching to fully sustainable labels and tags to exploring even lower-impact materials, and offsetting our carbon footprint from transporting yarns and knits. Being a small brand makes some sustainable choices challenging right now, ordering at a larger scale often means tying up significant costs and producing more than we can realistically sell without waste. For us, responsibility means growing carefully, and making realistic, informed choices so every piece we make has a purpose and a home.

We’ll keep learning, keep improving, and keep being transparent about our progress. Because the most sustainable knitwear is the one you love, wear, and keep for years.