FIBERS
As a fashion brand, we live of designing and selling styles from fibers and we are deeply passionate about the different qulities they come in. We love to be fiber nerdy, and we keep being curious by testing new innovative fibers available on the market. The listed qualities are the ones we use in our collections.
Learn more about our fibers and how we classify them in our material strategy here.
ORGANIC COTTON
Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic chemicals. This includes pesticides and GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Cotton is a water consuming plant, but since pesticides are not used, the soil has more natural nutrition and therefore it needs less water over time. Some argue that it needs more water, since you cannot protect the plant.
PROS
No use of harmful chemicals which is good for the environment
Better conditions for the farmers' economic situation because they don’t rely on big agrochemical companies
Better conditions for the farmers health because they are not exposed to as many chemicals
Better biodiversity
CONS
Uses a lot of water
GOTS—ORGANIC COTTON
Organic cotton certified by Global Organic Textile Standard is as good as it can get within the cotton category. The production method is the same as organic cotton, but with a certification process throughout the supply chain using Scope and Transaction certifificates. Learn more about GOTS and our certification here.
PROS
Full transparency
No use of harmful chemicals
Better conditions for the farmers and workers
CONS
A lot of administration in managing the certification
The price of the organic cotton and the certification
RECYCLED COTTON
Recycled cotton is cotton material made from cut-offs when cutting the fabric from the design pattern. The fabric is ripped into smaller pieces, carded and spun into a new thread to be weaved into a new fabric.
PRODUCTION
01. The fabric is ripped into smaller pieces
02. The pieces are carded
03. This is spun into a new thread
04. The thred is weaved into a new fabric
PROS
The use of waste materials to create new products enables a circular industry
CONS
Virgin cotton must be added to ensure a good quality
CONVENTIONAL COTTON
Cotton derives from the cotton plant and is grown in more than 80 countries around the world. Cotton is a very water consuming plant and is often protected from insects by using pesticides. Cotton can also be treated with GMO’s, to ensure a larger outcome of the individual plant.
PROS
Strong and breathable fiber
A natural fiber
CONS
The use of chemicals that are bad for the environment
Potential loss of biodiversity
Uses a lot of water
WOOL
Wool is sheared from sheep.
PRODUCTION
01. The sheep is sheared of its wool
02. The wool is cleaned and sorted into bales (treated with chemicals)
03. The fibers are made into long strands
04. The long strands are spun into yarn
05. The yarn is woven or knitted into a fabric
06. The fabric is dyed and/or printed
07. The fabric is cut and sewn
PROS
Wool is very sustainable in the use-phase, since it is not washed as often and you tend to care much for your wool product
A natural fiber
CONS
Uses vast amounts of land for the animal to grass
The methane gas from the sheep releases CO2
Water is used to clean fibers
TENCEL™ LYOCELL
TENCEL™ is Lenzing's brand for it's Lyocell fibers. The wood used in production comes from certified sustainably managed forests. The production process is similar to viscose, but made using non-toxic organic solvents. The solvents are recycled in a closed-loop system, recycling up to 99 PCT. of the water and chemicals.
PROS
Wood from certified sustainably managed forests
Produced in a closed-loop system
Almost 100% of the water and solvents used can be captured and reused
A strong fiber
LENZING™ ECOVERO™ VISCOSE
Viscose is a man-made regenerated cellulose fiber made from dissolved wood pulp from trees. The wood pulp for LENZING™ ECOVERO™ Viscose comes from certified sustainably managed forests. LENZING™ ECOVERO™ fibers are produced using a fiber identification technology, making it possible to identify the fiber in the end-product. The production process is similar to viscose, but produced with lower emissions and water impact compared to conventional viscose. LENZING™ and ECOVERO™ are trademarks of Lenzing AG.
PROS
Up to 50 PCT. less carbon emissions, compared to generic viscose
Up to 50 PCT. less water used than for other generic viscose types
Wood from certified sustainably managed forests
Fiber technology to trace the fiber up to the final product
LENZING™ ECOVERO™ branded viscose fibers are certified with the EU Ecolabel for textile products
POLYESTER
Polyester is a very strong synthetic fiber made from oil, then added chemicals
PRODUCTION
01. Through a chemical reaction at high temperatures, a monomer is made
02. The monomer is reacted with a phthalate to create a polymer
03. The polymer is extracted in long strips, which are then broken into small chips
04. The chips are then melted to a gel-like material
05. This material is then spun into a thread
06. The thread is weaved into fabric
07. The fabric is dyed and/or printed
08. The fabric is cut and sewn
PROS
Very strong fiber
It is recyclable, when made from 100 PCT. polyester
CONS
Many chemicals in the overall process
Comes from fossil fuels
Releases microplastics into the water when washed
POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED POLYESTER
Post-consumer recycled polyester is derived from recycled polyester garments.
PRODUCTION
01. The garment is melted
02. The melted material is spun into a new thread
03. The thread is weaved into a new fabric
04. The fabric is dyed and/or printed
05. The fabric is cut and sewn
PROS
It is recyclable, when made from 100 PCT. polyester
CONS
Many chemicals in the overall process
Comes from fossil fuels
Releases microplastics into the water when washed
ACRYLIC
Acrylic is made from oil, and is a plastic material. It is often used in knitwear as it can simulate wool, and is flexible when used in combination with other synthetic or natural fibers.
PRODUCTION
01. The polymer is created through a reaction technique called free radical polymerization
02. The polymer is then dissolved using a harsh chemical solvent producing a gel like material
03. This is extracted to form an acrylic fiber
04. This fiber is washed and spun into thread
05. The thread is weaved into fabric
06. The fabric is dyed and/or printed
07. The fabric is cut and sewn
PROS
When made from 100 PCT. acrylic, it is recyclable
CONS
Many chemicals in the overall process
Comes from fossil fuels
Releases microplastics into the water when washed
NYLON/POLYAMID
Nylon/Polyamid is made from coal or petroleum and is a plastic. It is a strong and lightweight material.
PRODUCTION
01. Acids are forced into reaction with heat and pressure, creating a polymer
02. The polymer is chopped up into nylon chips
03. The chips are melted
04. The melted polymer is spun into a thread
05. The thread is weaved into a fabric
06. The fabric is dyed and/or printed
07. The fabric is cut and sewn
PROS
Nylon is recyclable when made from 100 PCT. nylon
A strong fiber
CONS
Many chemicals in the overall process
Comes from fossil fuels
Releases microplastics into the water when washed
RECYCLED NYLON/POLYAMID
Recycled Nylon/Polyamid derives from other nylon products.
PRODUCTION
01. Existing nylon products are cut up into small pieces
02. The material is melted
03. The melted material is spun into a thread
04. The thread is weaved into a fabric
05. The fabric is dyed and/or printed
06. The fabric is cut and sewn
PROS
Contributes to a circular fashion industry
A strong fiber
LINEN
Linen is a natural fiber deriving from the flax plant. Flax grows quickly and is not as water consuming as cotton. Conventional linen uses pesticides in the growing of the plant. The production process starts with the harvested flax followed by adding chemicals to speed up the redding process. The material is then spun into a thread, weaved into fabric and ready to be dyed, printed, cut and sewn.
PROS
Low use of water
Yields more crops than e.g. cotton
CONS
Chemicals in the retting process
Use of pesticides
LEATHER
Leather most commonly comes from cows, goats or sheeps and has been either chemically tanned or vegetable tanned.
PROS
The skin can be a waste product from the food industry
It is a very durable material
Sustainable in the use-phase, as it requires no washing
CONS
Lack of transparency to the animals, hence difficult to ensure good animal welfare
The working conditions at and near the tanneries are often criticized because of the exposure to hazardous chemicals
Due to the use of hazardous chemicals, the environment can be harmed
The methane gas from the cows releases CO2
Uses vast amounts of land for the animal to grass