ABOUT ECO-FABRICS
What is ‘eco’?
The title of eco is given to fabrics created using natural fibres. Natural fibres can be plant or animal based and consist of biodegradable components.
Some common examples of natural fibres are:
LINEN
Made of biodegradable, natural fibres with no chemicals.
Features: lightweight, breathable, however, wrinkles easily.
Negative: High water use to create.
Linen is made from flax, and is one of the best fabrics out there and has been for ages. It is strong, breezy, anti-bacterial, and oh-so gentle to your skin and the planet. Linen uses basically no water and emits the carbon as cotton per pound of fibre.
COTTON
Organic: biodegradable, natural fibres with no chemicals.
Non-organic: biodegradable, natural fibres, that require pesticides that contain chemicals.
Features: Breathable, soft, wicks away sweat.
Negative: High water use to create.
Organic cotton genetically modified seeds and restricts the use of many chemicals—uses water and land but it helps sustain the land it is grown on through crop rotations, and natural ways of controlling pesticides, is grown without harmful chemicals and is considered environmentally sustainable.
Recycled cotton is repurposed from either pre-or post-consumer cotton waste that would otherwise be wasted and go to landfill. It allows us to have that soft cotton feel without the environmental impact that comes from virgin cotton.
HEMP
Made of biodegradable, natural fibres with no chemicals, and less water to create than cotton or linen.
Features: lightweight, breathable.
Negative: May need to be imported depending on the Country.
Hemp fabric is a type of textile that is made using fibres from the stalks of the Cannabis sativa plant. This plant has been recognized as a source of extraordinarily tensile and durable textile fibres for millennia, but the psychoactive qualities of Cannabis sativa have recently made it harder for farmers to produce this immensely beneficial crop.
RAYON
Also known as viscose: a man-made cellulose (wood pulp) fibre. Made of biodegradable, natural origin fibres, less water is used than cotton.
Features: lightweight, breathable.
Negative: Processed with chemicals, higher shrink value.
Rayon is a regenerated cellulose fibre that is made from natural sources of cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. It has the same molecular structure as cellulose.
SILK
Made of biodegradable, natural fibres with no chemicals, less water used than cotton or linens.
Features: lightweight, luxurious, smooth.
Negative: Uses silk worms unless it’s vegan silk.
Silk is a natural fiber known for its luster, shine, strength, and durability, and it has a long trading history across the world.
VISCOSE
Viscose is a type of rayon. Originally known as artificial silk, in the late 19th century, the term “rayon” came into effect in 1924. The name “viscose” is derived from the way this fibre is manufactured; a viscous organic liquid used to make both rayon and cellophane. Viscose is the generalised term for a regenerated manufactured fibre, made from cellulose, obtained by the viscose process.
BAMBOO
Made from the pulp of bamboo grass fibre.
Features: Absorbent, durable, and suited to sensitive skin.
Negative: High shrinkage.
Bamboo fabric is a natural textile made from the pulp of bamboo grass, the bamboo fibre is then made by pulping the bamboo grass until it separates into thin threads of fibre, which is then spun and dyed for weaving into cloth.
TENCEL
Made of biodegradable, natural fibres with no chemicals.
Features: lightweight, breathable, however, wrinkles easily.
Negative: High water use to create.
TENCEL TM is manufactured from Eucalyptus trees, which grow fast and thick on low-grade land. It takes just half an acre to grow enough trees for one ton of TENCEL TM fibre. Cotton needs at least five times as much land—plus, it must be good quality farmland. TENCEL TM production is done without the use of pesticides or insecticides.
LYOCELL
Made from wood pulp, it is biodegradable.
Features: Absorbent, strong, resistant to sunlight.
Negative: Susceptible to mildew.
Lyocell is manufactured from wood pulp in an environmentally friendly closed-loop process. The fabric is biodegradable, recyclable, and naturally wrinkle-free. It is soft, drapes well, and can be washed, dyed, and even woven to mimic the qualities of silk, suede, leather, moleskin, or wool.
MODAL
Made from tree pulp as a semi-synthetic and cellulose.
Features: Water absorbent, breathable, durable.
Negative: low heat retention, colour may fade.
Modal is a variety of rayon fabric made exclusively from the renewable fibre of the beech tree. It’s soft and smooth with a moderate to a high sheen. Also known as “artificial silk”, it is soft, drapes well, and dyes easily.
ECONYL - RECYLED NYLON
Made from synthetic waste such as industrial plastic and ocean nets then recycled into regenerated nylon yarn without crude oil.
Features: Suitable to stretch, regenerates material from waste.
Negative: Requires care when washing. Does not decompose.
Vita ECONYL by Carvico: our sustainable techno-fabric, made of ECONYL® regenerated Nylon that turns waste problems into fashion and interior solutions. Vita is versatile, hyper-resistant, thin, elegant, stretch, soft and breathable: a unique mix of muscular compression and comfort. Thanks to its innovative construction, it is twice as resistant to chlorine and suntan creams and oils than competitors’ fabrics.
Recycled Nylon has the same benefits as recycled polyester: It diverts waste from landfills and its production uses much fewer resources than virgin nylon (including water, energy and fossil fuel) Vita PL by Carvico: our high-performance, sustainable techno-fabric made of polyester. Made of 100% recycled polyester from pre and post-consumer materials, it is perfect for transfer printing. Available in several captivating neon colours boasting excellent colour fastness values, Vita PL is ideal for the creation of swimwear items that are expected to be resistant to chlorine, suntan creams and oils and for long-lasting sportswear.
What to consider?
Conscious production is considering the life of a product. Making conscious decisions throughout the development of garments, with consideration to the environment and decomposability. Responsibly designed to accommodate long-term wear and recycle-ability.
