Materials + Care

Our garments are currently made from imported materials. However, we are looking for domestically produced fabrics. This has been difficult to find as there are not many textile mills in the U.S. any longer. It has also been a challenge to find in the wholesale market and at a price point that works for everyone. We would also like to work with a mill in the U.S. to design and create our own textile in the future. Unfortunately, at this point the minimum is too high for us to manage. But, we have big hopes for the future! Below are our current fabrics:

 

RAYON

Rayon is one of the most versatile fabrics around and has an amazing ability to take on the properties of various fabrics such as silk, cotton, and wool as needed. It is a manmade fiber made from purified cellulose fibers which are primarily from wood pulp. However, it is not a synthetic! Synthetics are made from petroleum which rayon is not. And, since it is made from natural fibers it is biodegradable. However, although it does not use as much water and pesticides to produce as cotton, many chemicals are involved in it's production. Due to this aspect, we are looking to source more sustainable fabrics in the future.

Care: Do not machine wash as it can cause shrinkage, color bleeding, or loss of fabric crispness. Dry cleaning is recommended for best results. However, to reduce water and energy consumption another option is hand washing in cold water with a gentle detergent. Treat this as you would silk and do not wring out water or twist the fabric. Instead, place the wet fabric flat on a thick towel and roll up to absorb most of the water. Then carefully reshape and lay flat to air dry. If ironing, iron on medium low heat and always on the wrong side of the fabric. To be extra safe use a pressing cloth while ironing to protect the fabric from being scorched.

CUPRO

Cupro is also a manmade fiber made from regenerated cellulose fibers. It is made using a natural material called cotton linter which is a short downy fiber left on the cotton seed after extracting the longer fibers for cotton yarn. This means the fiber is recycled and makes use of a material that was previously discarded. It is also produced in a 'closed loop' which means the chemicals used can be extracted after the process and the water reused. This means less water is used and makes it a more sustainable option. It is also a breathable fiber and has a great drape.

Care: Normally Cupro can be machine washed on a delicate cycle and hand washing is recommended for best results. However, as our Cupro fabric is blended with Rayon do not machine wash. Treat this as you would Rayon and dry clean for best results or hand wash. If hand washing, use a mild detergent and afterwards roll up in a thick towel to remove water. Do not wring or twist the fabric. Carefully reshape on a flat surface to air dry. And, if ironing use a pressing cloth while also ironing on the wrong side of the fabric on medium low heat.

LINEN

Linen is a durable natural fiber made from flax and one of the most sustainable fabrics. Flax is resilient and can grow in poor soil, using far less water in its consumption than cotton. It can be both cool in warm weather and warm in cool weather. This fabric is also very durable and softens beautifully with age. It is completely natural and doesn’t require chemicals to be processed into a textile which means it is completely biodegradable. 

Care: Despite popular belief, Linen is machine washable and actually gets softer with each wash. It is only necessary to dry clean Linen when it is a structured garment such as a blazer or suit due to the construction. However, on normal garments wash in cold or lukewarm water on a gentle cycle with mild detergent. Do not machine wash in hot water as it has the tendency to shrink. You can also tumble dry on low heat. Remove from the dryer while damp to prevent the fabric from becoming stiff and hang or lay flat to air dry to finish the drying process.

However, air drying alone is best and also reduces energy. Of course, if you want to go above and beyond you can also hand wash as well as air dry which uses the least amount of energy and is best for the environment. If ironing, linen can be ironed on medium to high heat with steam and is best done while the item is still damp. Or if already dry use a spray bottle with water to dampen it and iron on the wrong side of the fabric.

SILK

Silk is a beautiful and luxurious fabric made from the fibers of silk worm cocoons. It is a fine and delicate yet strong fiber with a shimmering appearance that comes from the triangular prism like structure of the silk fiber. This structure allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles and produce different colors.

However, commercial production of silk is not very ethical and involves killing the silk worms while they are still in the cocoon. This is so longer strands of silk can be extracted as opposed to shorter strands if the worms were to emerge and break the cocoon. Due to this, we are in the process of trying to source Peace Silk or Ahimsa Silk. This alternative silk is made through a humane process that allows the silk worm to emerge before the fibers from the cocoon are harvested. As we search for the right source and fabric, please be patient with us. Ahimsa Silk is still not widely known or produced and proving difficult to find on a wholesale level. We appreciate your patience and understanding. 

Care: Because silk is an extremely delicate fiber we recommend dry cleaning for best results and extending the life of the garment. However, it can also be hand washed if done carefully. Wash in cold water with a gentle detergent. Never use bleach. It is best to wash one item at a time so the garment has room to move around the sink and doesn't get bunched up. Gently agitate to evenly distribute the detergent and let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Then rinse well in cold water. Ball it up to remove moisture, never wring out silk as it can weaken the fibers. Then lay it flat on a thick towel and roll up to absorb the rest of the water. Finally, reshape and lay out to air dry. 

To remove wrinkles it is best to use a steamer. However, if you don't have one you can use an iron as well. Turn the garment inside out and iron on low to medium heat. Use a pressing cloth and only iron when dry as ironing while still wet or damp can cause water stains.

TENCEL

Tencel is a cellulose material made from wood pulp using recyclable solvents. It has a transparent supply chain and is obtained from eucalyptus trees that are grown on farms. No old growth forests, genetic manipulation, irrigation, or pesticides are used. These forests and the pulp produced for Tencel have earned Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification that the products come from socially and environmentally responsible forests. The European Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification has also endorsed Tencel's farming practices as sustainable. This material eliminates the negative environmental impacts of traditional fiber processing by using new sustainable technologies. 

In addition, the cellulose or ground pulp used for Tencel is treated in a closed loop process like that of Cupro. During this process the solvents are recycled with a recovery rate of 99.5% with the tiny amount of remaining emissions decomposed in biological purification plants. Due to the nature of the material, the processing never requires bleach and this overall method of manufacturing fabric was awarded the “European Award for the Environment” by the European Union.

TENCEL® fabric carries the Oeko Tex 100 certification, an international standard developed in 1992 to certify that it contains no harmful substances. It has also been awarded the European Community Eco-label flower for products and services with reduced environmental impacts.

Care: We recommend dry cleaning for best results. However, Tencel can also be hand washed in cold water with a gentle detergent. Submerge the item in cold water and agitate to evenly distribute the detergent. Soak for up to 30 minutes. Rinse well in cold water and ball up to press out the water. Do not wring, instead roll up in a thick cotton towel to remove the rest of the water. Then reshape and lay flat to air dry.