OUR MATERIALS
COTTON FIBRE is harvested from cotton plants that grow in a hot, sunny climate, and which are then spun into yarn which is used to create a soft, breathable fabric. Cotton is a soft fibre, with excellent moisture-absorbing properties. This gives it many beneficial qualities as a fabric, such as:
Most of the world’s cotton is conventionally farmed, which means that the plants require a lot of water, energy and chemicals, such as pesticides, and have negative impacts on the environment and farming communities. It takes around 15,000 litres of water to grow 1 kg of cotton.
- Wear and tear resistance.
- Breathability.
- Moisture-absorbability.
- Washable and dryable at high temperatures.
- Softness for skin-kindly smoothness and comfort.
- Is even stronger when wet.
- The disadvantages of cotton are that it shrinks, creases and is not as colourfast as polyester, say.
Most of the world’s cotton is conventionally farmed, which means that the plants require a lot of water, energy and chemicals, such as pesticides, and have negative impacts on the environment and farming communities. It takes around 15,000 litres of water to grow 1 kg of cotton.
ORGANIC COTTON is farmed with care and consideration for the environment and the people who work with the fibre. Organic cotton farming has reduced negative environmental impact in that it sustains the health of the land, ecosystems and communities because it is based on natural processes rather than artificial interventions. No genetically modified crops or toxic chemicals such as pesticides or fertiliser are used in farming organic cotton. Organic cotton farming uses 71% less water, 62% less energy, and it improves the health of small-holder cotton farmers and their families by not exposing them to toxic chemicals.
To be certified as organic, the cotton fibre must be:
Learn more about organic cotton and its benefits at Aboutorganiccotton.org
To be certified as organic, the cotton fibre must be:
- Farmed without chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers.
- The field on which the cotton is grown must have been free from chemicals for at least three years.
- Cotton crops must be rotated with other crops.
- Organic cotton must be officially certified in order to be referred to as organic.
Learn more about organic cotton and its benefits at Aboutorganiccotton.org
POLYESTER is a synthetic, oil-based fibre used worldwide.
Unlike cotton, polyester does not absorb moisture. This is why sportswear is made of polyester because then moisture is wicked away from the body rather than being retained in the garment. Polyester is colour-fast, meaning that it doesn’t fade with washing as in the case of cotton garments. This is because the polyester yarn can be dyed throughout the fibre, while the dye on cotton fibre only sticks to the outside of the yarn. Polyester does not wrinkle and crease like cotton, but stays smooth and neat.
RECYCLED POLYESTER is a more sustainable alternative to conventional polyester and is based on materials such as used PET bottles, which thus helps to counteract the accumulation of plastic waste.
Unlike cotton, polyester does not absorb moisture. This is why sportswear is made of polyester because then moisture is wicked away from the body rather than being retained in the garment. Polyester is colour-fast, meaning that it doesn’t fade with washing as in the case of cotton garments. This is because the polyester yarn can be dyed throughout the fibre, while the dye on cotton fibre only sticks to the outside of the yarn. Polyester does not wrinkle and crease like cotton, but stays smooth and neat.
RECYCLED POLYESTER is a more sustainable alternative to conventional polyester and is based on materials such as used PET bottles, which thus helps to counteract the accumulation of plastic waste.
COTTON/POLYESTER BLEND FABRIC
The standard fabric in our eco-aware Klöver Blå collection is a blend of 70% organic cotton, 29% recycled polyester and 1% lycra. This blend of fibres results in a hard-wearing fabric with the best of both materials. The resulting blend is colour-fast, shrinks less and is easier to keep smooth and neat without the use of chemicals. This in turn means that the garment lasts longer and dries faster, which is both good for you as the consumer and less harmful for the environment.
The lycra gives the fabric a stretchy ease, and helps the fabric mould to the body, for enhanced flexibility as you work.
The standard fabric in our eco-aware Klöver Blå collection is a blend of 70% organic cotton, 29% recycled polyester and 1% lycra. This blend of fibres results in a hard-wearing fabric with the best of both materials. The resulting blend is colour-fast, shrinks less and is easier to keep smooth and neat without the use of chemicals. This in turn means that the garment lasts longer and dries faster, which is both good for you as the consumer and less harmful for the environment.
The lycra gives the fabric a stretchy ease, and helps the fabric mould to the body, for enhanced flexibility as you work.