What You Wear Makes A Difference
What our clothes are made of and with
What our clothes aren’t made of or with
What this means for the earth, for its people and for you
What our clothes are made of and with
- Pure, natural fibers – organic whenever possible. Made from renewable resources: Vegetable (cotton, linen, hemp, ramie); Animal (wool, specialty wools such as angora, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, yak; silk).
- No PVC or Teflon®, anywhere.
- Natural materials for buttons, like ivory palm nut, wood, horn, or mother-of-pearl
- Trims and linings are made from natural fibers, usually 100% organic cotton or 100% natural silk
- Any metals used for zippers, buckles and buttons are nickel- and chrome-free. Other materials are only used for these accessories in the rare cases when natural materials or metals are not functional enough.
- Our only exceptions: we sometimes use up to 8% of spandex (elastic) for the stretch in some lingerie and socks. All the spandex we use is covered in cotton so no synthetic touches your skin.
What our clothes aren’t made of or with
- Synthetic fibers: made from chemical substances derived from petroleum, like nylon, polyester or acrylic
- Regenerated fibers: chemically treated and re-processed fibers made from natural materials that cannot be used for textiles in their original form, like viscose, modal and acetate. Their manufacturing causes significant water and power usage.
- Azo dyes which can give off dangerous, carcinogenic and mutagenic amines
- Dyes and dye procedures that include toxic heavy metals, which are known carcinogens
- Optical brighteners, which are probable allergens
- Chemical finishes, such as moth-proofing, anti-microbial, easy-care, wrinkle-free finishes, made with synthetic resins
- Chlorine bleach, which harms the environment
Why organic fibers are better
- Grown without any synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or defoliants - more healthy for soil, water, animals and people
- Grown from seeds that have not been genetically modified
- Grown in crop rotation on land that has been farmed chemical-free for at least 3 years, leaving healthy, nutrient-rich soil
- Organic wool comes from free-roaming sheep, raised on sustainably managed farms. Sheep are not given any unnatural feed or hormones, and are not treated with pesticides or antibiotics, except in cases of extreme illness.
What this means for the earth, for its people and for you
- Less harm to the environment, because soil, water and animals are healthier
- Less harm to the people growing the fibers
- Greater support of local community structures in farming areas
- Greater independence from potentially negative world market developments when there is multi-crop farming rather than mono-crop farming
- Freedom from chemicals means toxins never touch your skin and potential allergic reactions are minimized
