Natural Fabrics

Linen:

Linen yarn used in our garments is produced in France and is woven in Poland. Highly absorbent and a good conductor of heat, linen fabric feels cool to the touch. It has the ability to absorb water up to 35% and it rapidly looses the humidity to the air.

Linen is the strongest of the vegetable fibers, with 2 to 3 times the strength of cotton. It is smooth, making the finished fabric lint free, and gets softer the more it is washed. It is a very durable, strong fabric, and one of the few that are stronger wet than dry. The fibers do not stretch and are resistant to damage from abrasion.

Linen is relatively easy to take care of, since it resists dirt and stains, has no pilling tendency, and can be dry cleaned, machine washed or steamed. It can withstand high temperatures. Because the linen is washed before manufacturing the garments, it has no shrinkage. Linen wrinkles very easily. Nevertheless the tendency to wrinkle is often considered part of the fabric's particular "charm", and a lot of modern linen garments are designed to be air dried on a good hanger and worn without the necessity of ironing.

Hemp:

Hemp fiber is one of the strongest and most durable of all natural textile fibers. It also holds its shape, stretching less than any other natural fiber. This prevents hemp garments from stretching out or becoming distorted with use. Hemp may be known for its durability, but its comfort and style are second to none. The more hemp is used, the softer it gets. Hemp doesn't wear out, it is also naturally resistant to mold and ultraviolet light.

Due to the porous nature of the fiber, hemp is more water absorbent, and will dye and retain its color better than any fabric including cotton. This porous nature allows hemp to "breathe", so that it is cool in warm weather. Furthermore, air which is trapped in the fibers is warmed by the body, making hemp garments naturally warm in cooler weather.

Silk:

Silk has been produced in China since around 8000 years. Silk is a natural protein fiber. It is obtained from cocoons made by the the larvae of the mulberry silkworm. The shimmering appearance of silk is due to the triangular prism-like structure of the silk fiber which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles thus producing different colors. It is one of the strongest natural fibers and has a smooth soft texture.

Silk is considered a fiber of luxury. Silk fabrics have good absorbency. Fabrics made from silk are comfortable in the summer and warm in the winter. Cultivated silk is a beautiful luxurious fiber with a smooth luxurious hand. Wild silks have a more coarse hand and texture.

Hemp-silk:

The differentiating characteristics of hemp fiber are its superior strength and durability, resistance to ultraviolet light and mold, comfort and good absorbency.

Silk's good absorbency makes it comfortable to wear in warm weather and while active. Its low conductivity keeps warm air close to the skin during cold weather.

The hemp-silk fabric is made by cross-weaving of the 2 components. This fabric combination surpasses all others in beauty and luxury. A hemp-silk blend has one side matted hemp, and the other side shiny silk. Lustrous in appearance, the hemp-silk blends are always the center of attention. Possessing a radiant sheen, this fabric is excellent for high end fashion garments. The hemp-silk fabric is strong, durable and fashionable, while at the same time being environmentally friendly.

Cotton:

Cotton fabrics are very comfortable to wear due to their softness. Cotton has excellent absorbing capabilities. It absorbs perspiration, thus keeping the person more comfortable.

Organic cotton is cotton that is grown without chemical fertilizers, insecticide or pesticide. The production of organic cotton is more expensive than the production of conventional cotton. Organic cotton is produced in organic agricultural systems that produce food and fiber according to clearly established standards. All the cotton garments that we sell have GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification.

Wool:

Wool is a fibrous protein derived from the specialized skin cells in sheep. Wool fibers are hygroscopic, meaning they readily absorb and give off moisture. Wool fabric gives warmth and attractive appearance. It is soft, yet strong and very durable. Wool can absorb moisture almost one-third of its own weight. It does not wrinkles easily and is a resistant to dirt and wear and tear.

The finest and most valuable wool is Merino. The finer the wool, the softer it is, while coarser grades are more durable and less prone to pilling. Wool fabric does not only come from sheep. A widely used cashmere sweaters are made from goats originated in Kashmir (India). Mohair wool fabric is obtained from angora goat and angora wool fabric from angora rabbit. The name angora has been derived from the place Angora (Ankara) in Turkey, where these animals originated. Alpaca wool fabric comes from the hair of alpaca animal, a member of the camel family.

Possumdown:

Possumdown is a truly luxurious yarn that manages to combine lavish softness and lightness with the hard wearing and warmth qualities that you would expect of a much thicker and heavier product. What's more, it keeps looking good year after year.

Brushtail possums were first introduced into New Zealand from Australia in 1837 to establish a fur industry. Today possums are considered the major animal pest in New Zealand with the number of possums estimated to exceed 70 million (twice the number of sheep). They spread animal diseases, damage crops and orchards, kill young trees and stunt the growth of older trees, and eat pasture. Possums are also significant predators of native birds and insects.

The idea of blending Merino wool and possum fibers was first developed in 1992. Merino Possum blend was developed as a by-product of the possum control program, making it an environmentally sound choice.

The possum fiber has a hollow core, which traps a tunnel of air that provides extra-ordinary warmth (up to 30% more than 100% wool garment). The hollow core creates a fiber lighter than most other natural fibers. By blending 40% possum fiber into the yarn, the overall weight of a garment is reduced by more than 20%. Merino Possum yarn is highly resistant to pilling. There is scientific evidence that an enzyme in the possum fiber helps combat skin conditions like eczema.

Both possum and Merino fibers have a complex structure with a water holding interior and a water repelling exterior. This type of fabric is referred to as "breathable".

Bamboo:

Bamboo fabric is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass. Bamboo fabric has been growing in popularity because it has many unique properties and is more sustainable than most textile fibers.

Bamboo is naturally organic, since it is grown without pesticides or fertilizers. It is luxuriously soft, it feels like silky cashmere. Bamboo is one of the world's fastest growing plants. It is a grass, so once cut it will regenerate quickly without the need for replanting. One of the most positive things about bamboo is that it absorbs 35% more carbon dioxide than equivalent stands of trees. Bamboo is very absorbent, the porous nature of the fiber makes it breathable and extremely comfortable against the skin. Bamboo's organic and natural properties make it non-irritating so perfect for extra sensitive skin.