Organic Cotton

From the seed preparation which is natural and untreated with pesticides, to soil conservation and harvesting, the farming of organic cotton ensures the land and the people working it, are healthier and happier. Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically insensitive as classified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

How durable is organic cotton?

It is not exposed to the fibre weakening chemicals that conventional cotton endures therefore, it should outlast a regular cotton item.

Details to take note of:

• Machine wash or follow content label information.

Hang to dry or Air Cycle – no heat in machine

• Organic cotton should not be dried on high heat as it risks shrinkage of up to 4%. Conventional cotton is usually treated with chemicals to reduce shrinkage.

Lyocell

Lyocell is a sustainable fiber, regenerated from wood cellulose. It uses a closed loop system of production that has a minimal impact on the environment. Lyocell is wrinkle resistant, simulates silk, suede or leather to touch, and is biodegradable.

Lyocell helps regulate body temperature and has inherent anti-bacterial properties which allows garments to stay odour-free for longer and allows for multiple wears before each wash.

Lyocell fabric is extremely soft, anti-static and anti-bacterial. When blended with other fibers, it increases their tenacity and durability. In addition, it is biodegradable and requires less dye than cotton.

Details to take note of:

• Delicate fabrics may be hand-washed in cold water with a gentle detergent or machine washed on the gentle cycle. Drip dry. Tencel will shrink about 3% with the first washing and will resist shrinking from then on.
• If line dried, you can briefly toss in the dryer with a damp towel to soften the fabric.
• If you need to touch up the clothing with an iron, only use medium heat as you may scorch it.

Flax and Flax blends

Flax fibre is extracted from the skin of the stem of the flax plant. Its long fibres, ranging from 45 to 140 centimetres long, make it easy to spin and weave. When it is spun into yarn, it is sometimes blended with other staple fibres. Fabrics that are comprised of 100 per cent flax fibres or yarns are known as linen. Where flax is used with other fibres, the percentage of each is usually stated.

Benefits

• A highly absorbent and breathable fiber, flax keeps the wearer cool and comfortable.
• Flax is an extremely strong fiber which makes for a durable fabric that has easy care.
• A resilient plant, flax does not require many fertilisers or pesticides.
• Requires significantly less water to cultivate than cotton, with a majority of the water consumption in its lifecycle coming from washing the garment.
• Flax presents a lower toxic risk for aquatic systems that cotton.

Details to take note of:

• Flax is as easy as cotton in terms of its care. Unlike cotton however, Flax becomes more and more absorbent and softer with every wash. It is much more durable with multiple washings. Wash flax in cold water on the gentle cycle, or hand wash with a mild detergent.
• To dry your garment, you can machine (tumble dry) or hang to dry. If using a dryer, remove the garment while it is still slightly damp to avoid the fabric from becoming stiff. Hang to dry for the last drying process.
• If you do love a crisp garment, iron when still slightly damp. Use a medium/hot iron on the steam setting. It should be ironed on the reverse side.

Wool

Wool fabrics have built-in climate control. Wool is a natural insulator and keeps the body warm in winter and is naturally breathable to keep the body cool in summer. Wool garments are excellent for winter clothing. The scales on the surface of the fiber and the crimp in the fiber create little pockets of air that serve as insulation barriers and give the garment greater warmth. Lightweight wool of sheer construction can be comfortable for summer wear in suitable garment styling because of its thermostatic quality.

Details to take note of:

For wool sweaters

• The wool fabric adheres dirt and sometimes requires a thorough cleaning. Care should be taken while laundering as the fiber is softened by moisture and heat which results in shrinking and felting of the fabrics washed.
• Wool fabrics temporarily lose about 25 percent of their strength when wet. Thus wool fabrics should never be pulled or wrung while wet. They should be lifted and squeezed.
• Please lie flat on a surface with an absorbent layer underneath for drying.

For wool coats

How do I care for my wool coat?

We do not recommend using dry-cleaners however, when it comes to wool coats, it may be the best option. If you are prepared to attempt a hand washing or machine washing of your wool coat at home, here is an article on the SELF blog. I have personally washed my own wool coats with success but if you are nervous, dry clean only.

Hemp and Hemp blends

Hemp is a wonderfully durable and long lasting textile that was first woven over 10,000 years ago. It is very breathable and has UV resistance and anti-microbial characteristics. It resembles linen and is usually mixed with other fibres to soften and give it draping characteristics. It is an excellent crop for farmers too! Needing far less water than cotton, almost no chemicals and much higher yields on less land, hemp has once again found its place in the textile landscape. In addition it blocks out weeds as it grows and can improve soil quality. Once having been banned from North American fields due to it being associated with cannabis and also being too competitive a crop for cotton farmers.

Care Instructions

How do I care for my Hemp garment?

• The more you wash fabric made from linen or hemp, the softer and more luminous it becomes. We love freshly washed linen and hemp because they have a naturally clean fragrance, which gives a sense of well being.
• The hemp fibres are very strong but washing in cold to warm water will ensure they stay beautiful. No hot water.
• Never use bleach.
• Hang to dry or lie flat.
• If you need to iron your garment, use medium heat so as not to burn the threads.