WARM HEARTED

TWO AUSTRALIAN SISTERS ARE TACKLING THE ISSUE OF TEXTILE WASTE ONE BLANKET AT A TIME.

Blankets are a symbol of comfort and care, so it’s fitting that sisters Samantha (right) and Karina Seljak focused their energies on making blankets when they decided to launch a business built on a foundation of environmental responsibility.

These aren’t any ordinary blankets: they’re made from textile waste. When Seljak

Brand launched in 2016, they collaborated with Waverley Mills – the oldest textile mill in Tasmania and the only one left in Australia – to create a range made from a minimum of 70 per cent recycled wool and a 30 per cent blend of other fibres.

Seljak Brand also collects any unwanted blankets free of charge. “We shred them and spin them into yarn to make new blankets. This circular model allows us to divert waste from landfill while creating useful, beautiful products,” says Samantha.

The venture with Waverley Mills was so well received that the sisters began thinking about ways to offer more designs and divert even more textile waste. Waverley Mills’ parent company proved the answer. “That company also has a mill in Lithuania that produces very high quality recycled textiles. Textile waste from 16 mills across Europe is gathered and turned into our Dune blanket [pictured] at the Lithuanian mill.” Dune is a lighter-weight offering than the original collection, which is produced in Australia.

So far, Seljak Brand has diverted more than 2300kg of textile waste from landfill. “People’s awareness of waste is growing. The ABC’s War on Waste shocked us by revealing that, as a nation, we send 6000kg of clothing to landfill every 10 minutes. We’re committed to doing our bit to reduce textile waste and we see so much potential in doing so. Valuing fabric as a resource is at the heart of what we do.” Seljak Brand donates one blanket to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre for every 10 sold. seljakbrand.com.

Brought to you by King Living

“People’s awareness of textile waste is growing. We’re committed to doing our bit.” Samantha Seljak, director, Seljak Brand