BAMBOO:
Bamboo is a strong, easy to grow plant that requires no chemicals or irrigation, and is an excellent renewable resource. As a fabric, it has natural anti-bacterial properties, and wicks moisture to keep you cool and dry. It dries faster than cotton and has natural UV protection. Bamboo tends to become heavy when wet, so we recommend washing on the delicate cycle with similar garments. For best results, dry on a low to medium heat until almost dry, then hang until completely dry. Iron only if necessary and only on a low to medium setting.
FAIR TRADE:
Fair Trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach to empowering developing country producers and promoting sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods. It focuses on trade, specifically, exports from developing countries to developed countries.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) Certification:
The aim of the standard is to define requirements to ensure organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labeling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer.
HEMP:
Hemp is a natural fiber that can be grown organically with minimal pest problems. Because of Hemp's inherent natural properties, it can be grown without the use of herbicides, fungicides or pesticides. Hemp is also a natural weed suppressor due to its fast growing canopy. The bark of the hemp stalk contains fibers which are extremely long, naturally soft, and rich in cellulose. Hemp fiber is stronger and more absorbent and insulative than cotton fiber, which makes Hemp fabric extremely durable and washable that becomes softer with washing and wear.
LYOCELL:
Lyocell is produced from cellulose, the main material in plant cells, and constitutes a new-ish fiber for clothing, hygiene, medical and technical applications. The production process for Lyocell is extremely environmentally friendly – the fiber has all the advantages of a natural material and is 100% bio-degradable. Wood is the most significant replenishable raw material, and if forestry work is conducted with care, wood offers the advantages of low water consumption and space that can be put to optimum use compared to other natural substances. This means that cellulose can be extracted with a high content and minimum use of extraction agents. Lyocell is marketed in the United States under the trademarked brand name Tencel.
OEKO-TEX:
A global ecological certification process, which tests fibers, threads and components to ensure that each product is healthy for the individual, healthy for those who produce it, and healthy for the environment. The Oeko-Tex label is not only a recognized benchmark for the consumer, but also serves as an additional quality assurance tool for the manufacturer. Its concept has become established as a safety standard throughout the textile manufacturing chain and enables checks to be made for any harmful substances at each stage in the production process.
ORGANIC COTTON:
Organic cotton is grown without pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers of any kind. In contrast to cotton production methods which require 25% of the world’s insecticides and more than 10% of the world’s pesticides. These widely used pesticides contain cancer causing chemicals. In addition, the process of spraying the cotton crop is not precise. In fact, only 25% of the pesticide spray hits the targeted plants; the rest drifts for miles landing in other crop fields, residential areas and water masses. In contrast, organic cotton production methods replenish and maintain soil fertility and build biologically diverse agriculture. Organic cotton’s natural purity make it softer, hypoallergenic and breathable.
SKAL CERTIFICATION:
Founded in the Netherlands in 1985 as an international inspection organization that monitors, inspects and certifies organic production methods worldwide.
SOY:
Soy is incredibly soft and is as silky as cashmere. Soy fabric combines comfort, quality and fashion with the added benefit of being produced with minimal environmental impact. Soy is as easy to care for as any cotton garment. Soy should be washed on the delicate cycle with similar soft garments. Hang or lay flat to dry. The dryer is not recommended as it will deteriorate the fabric and cause wear to the garment in general. If needed, iron with no steam.
TENCEL:
Tencel (lyocell) is the Trademark name for Lyocell in the United States. Tencel’s soft feel, easy care and ‘environmentally-friendly’ claims have developed a loyal following as it is the answer for modern consumers who want the comfort and luxury of a natural fiber with the practicality of a man-made one. It is durable, comfortable to wear, resistant to wrinkles, easy to clean and is very soft to the touch. Tencel is made of cellulose and starts as wood pulp. As it is not particularly easy to dissolve a tree, a solvent was developed that can be recovered from the process. The closed loop solvent spinning process (more than 99.9% recovery) and the use of wood from managed forests leads to the ‘minimal environmental impact’ claims. We recommend washing your garment on the delicate cycle with similar soft and like-colored items or by hand. Please do not use bleach. Hang to dry.
VEGAN:
A lifesyle that seeks to exclude animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.
WATER BASED SCREEN PRINTS:
Traditional screen prints that are placed on fabric are liquid plastics that contain PVC and Phalates. Recent studies have shown that these ingredients can be harmful to the environment and human health. Water based inks used in screen printing contain no PVS or Phalates.
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GREEN NEWS, LINKS & READS:
“The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy” by Pietra Rivoli, PhD., Associate Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Business, where she specializes in international business, finance, and social issues in business.
PT Says: “This thought provoking book recites the life story of a typical $6.00 T-shirt, beginning at a West Texas cotton field, to a factory in China, then on to a used clothing market in Africa, with many twists and turns in-between. You will come away with a new appreciation of how powerful the cotton industry is and the importance of going organic!”
E - The Environmental Magazine or E Magazine is a bi-monthly publication that will quickly get you up to speed on everything environmental. www.emagazine.com.
Green America (formerly: Co-op America) is a 501(c)(3) national organization, operating with the core belief that we can create an economy that works for people and the planet. www.coopamerica.org.
Natural Resources Defense Council NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.2 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals. www.nrdc.org.
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