SANS SOUCIE TEXTILE + DESIGN

 FAQ

photo by: Rob Matharu
 

What types of products do you produce?

We are an upcycling textile and design innovation brand that produces unique limited edition upcycled textiles, apparel, accessories and soft furnishings out of pre-consumer hosiery and UK sock manufacturing waste. Our unique design approach focuses on creative textile experimentation, zero waste - regenerative methods and are motivated by a responsibility and commitment to create solutions for textile waste.

We combine craft applications with obsolete sewing and textile machinery and digital tools to formulate regenerative, creative reuse methods for textile waste which allow us to produce our own bespoke upcycle textiles that are then further transformed into garments, accessories through our our namesake label, Sans Soucie  Each collection is limited edition and/or one of a kind due to the nature of our process and waste resource and all our materials are sourced from a UK mill based in Loughborough, UK.  When you purchase or have a customised design made, you own an original Sans Soucie textile, garment or accessory that has been sourced and made in the UK.

We are specialists in creative remanufacturing using craft methods and are in the process of developing textiles for other designers and artists to work with. We are also in the process of creating a line of upcycling materials and resources for upcycling businesses, crafters + DIYers to help inspire and foster local design and practices.   Our unique line of home decor is also under development and will be available in late 2024.  

How do I care for my Sans Soucie garment?

Each Sans Soucie garment is an artistic statement. In order to maintain the life of your piece, please refer to the following:

NYLON HOSIERY GARMENTS: Caring for your one-of-a-kind piece
For care instructions on a garment you purchased, all garments can be hand-washed in cold water and hung to dry or machine washed on delicate with a guppy ball and dried flat.

Note: You can tumble dry lightly to reshapen if it stretches out, but we only recommend this on occasion and on a light cycle.

WOOL BLEND SOCK WASTE GARMENTS:  Machine wash at 30 degrees or in cold water and dry flat.

COTTON BLEND SOCK WASTE GARMENTS: Machine wash at 30 degrees or in cold water, tumble dry as needed but we reccomend to dry flat.

How does your sizing work?

Our clothing designs follow this sizing chart: XS-XL in US/Canadian sizing

XS/S 0-2 fits up to a 32" bust

Small 4-6 fits up to a 34-35" bust

S/M 6-8 fits up to a 37" bust

Medium 8-10 fits up to a 36-37" bust

M/L 8-12 fits up to a 39" bust

Large 10-12 fits up to a 38-39" bust

L/XL 12-16 fits up to a 41" bust

X large 14-16 fits up to a 40-41" bust 

How do I wear a Sans Soucie garment? 

Our garments are extremely versatile and can be worn alone or layered over or under other garments in your wardrobe. Our pieces invite you to explore your garment and yourself by encouraging you to experiment with layering.  

Our customers continue to inspire us with how they play with our pieces.  And in ways we never imagined.  

You can wear every piece casually and dressed down layered with jeans and sandals or it can be worn formally to a cocktail party or art gallery opening.  It is up to wearer to see the potential in our garments and to imagine and (re)imagine them over and over.  The classic lines of our pieces are timeless and never go out of style. We take a season-less approach to our collections and encourage you to do so where you can as well.

Can I request a custom order?

Yes we do accept custom orders. We take a 50% deposit upon agreement and the rest is collected prior to shipping or pick up. 

If this is something you are interested in we would love to hear from you! info@sanssoucie.ca   

Does your company wholesale? 

At this time, we are not wholesaling.  If you would like to represent our line please feel free to contact us to discuss options.

What is you policy on returns and exchanges?

Our policy is exchange only.  Due to the timely nature of our process and the fact that each piece is hand crafted throughout we are not able to offer a refund.  We do not offer exchange on altered or custom work.  

How long does it take to receive my order?

Depending on where you are and whether you are purchasing from a garment already available through our site this can vary.  For the UK, we can deliver within a week.  For USA and Canada expect two-three weeks for delivery.  For other countries this can vary up to 4-8 weeks depending on where you are.  Faster shipping can be arranged but at the cost of the buyer.  

For all custom work we have a timeline for 4-8 weeks for production then shipping time.  This can sometimes be less depending on our production schedule.  

What happens if my textile or garment needs a repair?

We repair all textiles and garments.  If you need a repair we will fix it!  We have the special machinery to mend all of our pieces so please don't hesitate to contact us.  For a small fee plus shipping we will repair anything. If you are looking to have your piece transformed into another design style contact us for pricing. We also offer a range of mending patches, do let us know if you require any as we may be able to produce a custom set of patches for your Sans Soucie textile, accessory or garment.

If I wanted to have a previous Sans Soucie textile or garment remade, is this a service you offer?

Yes, please contact us for pricing. info@sanssoucie.ca 


Where can I find your work? 

At the moment Sans Soucie textiles, garments and accessories are made available direct to consumer from the studio, at pop up events in London and through Alterist  We currently have our own online store unavailable as we are developing new textiles and collections out of UK pre-consumer sock waste. Please email us info@sanssoucie.ca if you would like to schedule a private visit either in person or to be put on our waiting list for our next collection availability.  

Who are your clientele? 

Our clientele range in age and size.  Over the years, our customers tend to be women from the ages of 25-75 who are looking for a unique garment and/or accessory that is made using responsible design and production methods.  They come to us because of their desire to express their identity in ways that other clothes do not offer.  Our garments are versatile in that they embody the ability to transform and are designed to tell your story. We design intentionally to ensure you don’t have to worry about what you are wearing. Our textiles and garments are easy to care for, great for travel and are meant to compliment other items in your existing wardrobe.

Our clientele like to support the local production of hand made textiles and garments and purchase our products because they are unique, one of a kind and cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. Our clients are a community of like-minded and empowered women who seek to support creativity, environmental awareness and ways to see and do things differently in this world.

We welcome questions, photos, inspiration and feedback from our clientele.  If you have a question that we have not addressed here or if you would like to submit photos please email us at info@sanssoucie.ca   

 Testimonials

Over the years we have received numerous emails of praise, support filled with wonderment.  The stories that you have all shared speak of life altering moments that for some have discovered themselves, their identity and their home.  The empowerment that you have all shared in relation to wearing our work inspires us to keep moving forward doing what we do best.   

Here are just a few selected emails we have curated for this page.  If you have a Sans Soucie story you would like to share with or without an image please email us at info@sanssoucie.ca  We want to hear your stories and feedback.  Please also view our reviews on Etsy

"A good friend introduced me to Katherine Soucie’s clothing, and I am so grateful! The garments are comfortable, and her unique designs can be worn for casual as well as more formal occasions." 

- Catherine Russell, New York, USA -- photo by: Amy Arbus

"Katherine's pieces are the 'basics' around which I build my working wardrobe. As a hairstylist I must be fashion forward, and since I am mobile I need garments that are comfortable and look great all day long, no matter what I'm doing - especially since I am in and out of the car, carrying my heavy kit from booking to booking without time to think about how I look. I love the vibrant colours and beautiful designs of Katherine's work! They're so flattering, easy to layer, dress up/dress down, plus it's a real bonus that they're easy to care for. I believe everyone can benefit from having even just one Sans Soucie garment - it will be a favourite because you'll keep finding new and interesting ways to wear it!"

-- Victoria Kuzma, Vancouver Mobile Hairstylist, Canada --

photo: with permission from Victoria Kuzma

" Hosiery has never been so lucky as when Katherine Soucie of Sans Soucie gets ahold of it. Zero-waste fabrics, hand dyed, and then crafted with body-loving design, these are simply amazing garments — easy to move in, funky and stylish. No one will be wearing what you've got on, even if it's another Sans Soucie! Durable, lightweight and non-wrinkling, these creations also have a practical side and are a go-to for travel. Katherine is very responsive to questions and wonderfully flexible. Her imagination shines in the many ways she has taken "leftovers" and created art with them."

-- Lisa Klein, Chicago, USA -- 

" I have purchased several items, including two dresses, from Katherine and everything is so much fun to wear, to give as a present, and, as always, pleasant to the eyeballs.  She is great person with whom to work as she had to alter both dresses that I bought and she was kind and cheerful the entire time she worked on them.  I love my dresses and they are so easy to wear as you are never uncomfortable in her clothing.  On a personal note, she is very pleasant, hardworking and attentive. Finally, anyone who has adopted at least two rescue animals gets an "A" in my book."

                               -- Cristine Goldberg, Dalton, GA -- 

"Katherine's unique "wearable art" are pieces that are comfortable, easy to care for and great for travel. Her "zero waste" philosophy is another reason I love to purchase and wear her clothes. Her whole company is a pleasure to deal with."

-- Marcy Newman, Vancouver --

I love my Sans SOUCIE originals!    As an Eco-Positive Artist, Creator and Educator I love being able to share the Zero-Waste ecology and beauty with the world!  and they're great to hula hoop in at any kind of event!!!"

-- Valérie d. Walker, Montreal PQ --

photo: with permission from Valérie d. Walker

 "I acquired my first Sans Soucie dress in 2003, only a few weeks before heading off to Cannes Marche du Film to distribute our short film. During this whirlwind tour, I discovered my new dress was the most practical traveling attire I'd ever owned! It was slept in during our drive from Amsterdam, rolled up in my purse, and washed in a hotel sink. Because it is made of hosery, it dried within an hour, it took no space and was weightless to carry and as comfy as yoga-wear to nap in. It never lost its shape or wrinkled so I didn't look like I hobo artist, living out of a car.  It looked chic...the French loved it. It is still part of my Sans Soucie collection and now resembles an antique dress from the 20's."  

-- Diane Farnsworth, Canada --