Sustainable Options to Emulate Bernie's Mittens
They're everywhere: Bernie Sanders' sweater-patterned mittens. We love them. We want to emulate them.
Bernie’s mittens, made by Vermont school teacher Jen Ellis from recycled wool sweaters and recycled fleece, were given to him a few years ago. We can't have Bernie's mittens (they’re no longer being made), but we can learn how to care for the wool mittens we have, and perhaps find some similar sustainable options! It just so happens Jen is teaming up with a sock maker to make socks inspired by the mittens!
How to Clean Wool Mittens (Like Bernie’s)
Or gloves! If you wear them pretty much every day, wash them 3-5x a season.
Since it's important mittens keep their shape, it's best to hand wash them.
Fill a sink with warm water and mild detergent. About a tablespoon will work.
Submerge mittens. Don't agitate or scrub, just let them soak for 5 or so minutes.
Rinse with cool water and do not wring out. Wool loses shape easily.
Lay flat on a towel to dry.
And there you have it. Clean mittens, ready for sitting in the cold on a fold-up chair. Or at your favorite outdoor dining facility.
Other Sustainable/Ethical Outerwear Options
LA Apparel’s wide selection of winter accessories. No mittens, but they have scarves and legwarmers. LA Apparel promises US-made garments made in ethical conditions with living wages averaging $20/hour.
Brooklyn-based Package Free has a pair of alpaca-wool fingerless mittens great for those chilly walks to the store. Package Free has a commitment to zero-waste and sustainable products across the board – from food to clothes to cleaning.
All of Patagonia’s gear this season is made from 68% recycled material. Here are some cozy mittens from their site. Oh, and they also re-sell used gear!
Frank & Oak has super soft lambswool gloves, and they have a commitment to sustainability – from their packaging to their distribution, from their factories to their fabrics.
These hand-knit wool mittens on Etsy are made with wool dyed without heavy metals or environmental burden and are certified organic, mulesing-free, and fair trade.