Our materials
We believe in natural and plant based materials
Natural Materials
All our fabrics are made of natural or cellulose based fibres.
Free from Plastic
We do not use synthetic fibres such as polyester in our fabrics. This means no microplastic fibres are released from the fabric when you wash your clothes.
Made to last
Single-fiber fabrics are easier to recycle than blended fabrics. That’s why, wherever possible, we choose fabrics made from a single type of fibre.
Cotton
Cotton is a versatile, natural fiber distinguished by its pleasant softness and high breathability. We primarily use cotton from certified organic farming. This approach avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetic engineering. Instead, cotton cultivation is based on crop rotation, natural fertilizers, and biological pest control, and is characterized by significantly lower water consumption.
hemp
Hemp is an extremely robust natural fiber that grows quickly and requires few resources. The fiber is characterized by its strength, durability, and antibacterial properties. Visually and haptically, it is very similar to linen, but it does not stretch as much when worn. Furthermore, it has a significantly lower water consumption than cotton and is considered the only plant-based fiber that possesses the same odor- and moisture-absorbing properties as animal fibers (e.g., silk or wool).
Modal / Tencel
Modal and Tencel are modern cellulose fibers made from wood. They are characterized by their exceptional softness, high breathability, and good moisture absorption. Compared to cotton, these fibers require less water and fewer chemicals to produce. Thanks to their flowing and soft texture, these fabrics are excellently suited for blouses, skirts, or dresses.
peace silk
Silk, obtained from silkworm cocoons, captivates with its luxurious sheen, softness, and excellent temperature regulation. It is lightweight, strong, and hypoallergenic. The silk we use is known as peace silk, as the caterpillars are not boiled as in the conventional process, but are allowed to leave the cocoons before the silk is processed. This gives it a rather atypical, rough texture, while the material properties remain the same as those of conventional silk.
alpaca wool
Wool, in our case exclusively from alpacas, is characterized by its warming properties, natural elasticity, and moisture regulation. Due to their long fibers, alpaca wool is also less prone to pilling than, for example, merino wool. The alpacas live freely in their natural habitat, the Peruvian Andes. They have been an integral part of the ecosystem there for thousands of years and are gently shorn only every 2 years. Fun fact: The term baby alpaca wool, which you will find very frequently with us, does not refer to the age of the animals at all, but rather to the particularly soft undercoat of adult alpacas.
WHAT DOES COTTON of certified organic origin MEAN IN OUR CASE?
GOTS certificate
The majority of our partners work with GOTS-certified yarns. The GOTS certificate is of great importance to us, as it is very difficult to trace the origin and cultivation methods once the cotton has been spun into yarn.
By using GOTS-certified yarns, we can ensure that cotton farmers receive fair prices and that no environmentally harmful chemicals are used. A particular challenge currently remains in providing smaller weaving mills with access to certified yarn, as they often cannot manage the high minimum order quantities. We are therefore particularly proud that some of our partners have been able to reach these minimum quantities through our collaboration and thus switch to GOTS-certified cotton.
Kala Cotton - India's own cotton
Some of our very small partner weaving mills rely not on GOTS-certified cotton, but on so-called Kala cotton from Western India—one of the few genetically pure cotton varieties that still exist today. Kala cotton is rain-fed, extremely drought-resistant, and grown using traditional techniques without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. The yarn is hand-spun, treated only with potato or rice starch, and then hand-woven.
As you can imagine, it is difficult to keep such a complex process alive and to market it. However, local stakeholders in cotton cultivation and weaver initiatives are advocating for the fiber and its traditional processing method. We are big proponents of this technique and are therefore very proud to be able to support it.
More beautiful with each passing year...
»Just like wine, every natural fiber and fabric softens over time, through the influence of moisture, heat and other natural factors. Because cotton yarns are starched to make them easier to work with, fresh cotton fabrics are always a little stiffer than older ones. With each wash, the starch gradually dissolves, opening up the cotton fibers and giving the overall feel smoother.
Kala cotton fabrics soften relatively quickly because they are not industrially starched. They are only treated with potato or rice starch and the starch dissolves after one or two washes.«
- Sidhant, our fabric supplier and designer of the label SEDHANTIK
