ESG Outlook: Swedish Stockings CEO Linn Frisinger on Making Stockings Circular

ESG Outlook is Sourcing Journal’s discussion series with industry executives to get their take on their company’s latest environmental, social and governance initiatives and their own personal efforts toward sustainability. Here, Linn Frisinger, CEO and co-founder of circular hosiery brand Swedish Stockings, illustrates how even a fashion item like stockings that seem designed for obsolescence (8 billion pairs of tights are produced, worn once and then discarded each year) can be reused and repurposed for good.

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Name: Linn Frisinger
Title: CEO and co-founder
Company: Swedish Stockings

What do you consider your company’s best ESG-related achievement over the last 5 years?

Our most significant ESG-related achievement over the last five years is the development and implementation of our closed-loop Recycling program . By collecting old stockings from consumers and recycling them into tables, we have significantly reduced waste and promoted a circular economy. This initiative not only addresses the issue of textile waste but also educates consumers on the importance of recycling and sustainability in fashion. As of now we’ve also made it free for our members to send back the old tights.

What is your company’s latest ESG-related initiative?

Our latest ESG-related initiative is our collaboration with B-Come traceability platform. This innovative tool allows us and our customers to track the entire lifecycle of our products, from raw materials to finished goods. By providing transparency at every stage of production, we aim to build trust with our consumers and encourage more informed purchasing decisions.

What is the biggest misconception consumers have about sustainability in fashion/accessories? And since you work in this industry, do you find yourself trying to help clarify such misconceptions?

The biggest misconception is that sustainable fashion is either too expensive or lacks style and quality. Many consumers believe that environmentally friendly products cannot be fashionable or durable. At Swedish Stockings, we constantly work to dispel this myth by creating high-quality, stylish products that are also sustainable. We use innovative materials and processes to ensure our products meet high standards of fashion and functionality while being eco-friendly.

What was your company’s biggest takeaway from the Covid crisis that is still relevant today?

Our biggest takeaway from the Covid crisis is the importance of flexibility and resilience in our supply chain. The pandemic highlighted the need for robust, adaptable systems that can withstand disruptions. We have since diversified our suppliers and enhanced our digital capabilities, ensuring we can maintain operations and meet customer demands even in challenging times.

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As consumers become more aware of worker conditions and how clothing is produced, how can the industry best spread the word on progress?

The industry can best spread the word on progress by being transparent and proactive in sharing information about ethical practices and improvements. Brands should leverage social media, blogs and other digital platforms to tell their sustainability stories, highlight fair labor practices and highlight the positive impacts of their initiatives. Collaborations with influencers and third-party certifications can also help validate and amplify these messages.

What do you consider to be the apparel industry’s biggest missed opportunity related to securing meaningful change?

The apparel industry’s biggest missed opportunity is the slow adoption of circular economy principles. Despite the clear environmental benefits, many brands have yet to fully embrace recycling, upcycling and sustainable material sourcing. By not prioritizing these practices, the industry misses out on reducing waste and creating long-term sustainability.

What is your personal philosophy on shopping and caring for your clothes? How do you try to minimize the environmental impact of the clothes you buy? Either on the purchasing side and/or end-of-use angle? By less, choose well. I think this says it all. I look for quality, something that lasts longer. Longevity equals sustainability. I also take care of my clothes, leave them to tailors to repair them and use dry cleaning when necessary.

How much do you look into a brand’s social or environmental practices before shopping?

I support locals and conscious brands. I also try to avoid fast fashion.

Anything new you are doing to boost sustainability beyond the fashion industry?

We make furniture! Together with designer Gustaf Westman, we have created a collection of tables made from recycling our customer’s old tights. This ensures a second, much longer life for the tights. Each table is manufactured by hand in our warehouse in Sweden and contains 200-500 pairs of old tights.

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