Water + Chemicals

The fashion and textiles industry is not only estimated to be the second most water-intensive industry in the world, but a major polluter of water at all stages of the value chain, from the agricultural runoff from crop growing fields, to the dying process releasing toxic chemicals and the washing of clothes releasing microplastics.

These are some scary statistics, and we're acutely aware of our responsibility to do as much as we can to ensure the fabrics we sell are not only completely safe for use by our community, but have as minimal impact on water and pollution as possible. Across the fabrics we mill directly, we look for a series of specific certifications that relate to water and chemicals, these include GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and OEKO-TEX Standard 100.

GOTS Organic

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is the international gold standard in organic textile certification, and we’re proud to say that our exclusive Organic Cotton and Organic Linen ranges are both GOTS certified by the independent auditing body Control Union [1146287]. Not only does GOTS ensure total organic fibre content, but it also covers a raft of other critical environmental criteria including:

— Use of GOTS approved colourants and auxiliaries in wet-processing only
— Processing units must demonstrate environment management, including wastewater treatment
— Technical quality parameters for colour fastness and shrinkage for finished goods required
— Restrictions on additional fibre materials
— Environmentally hazardous substances prohibited in chemical inputs
— Evaluation of toxicity and biodegradability for chemical inputs

For further reading, browse the full list of key features of the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) here.

OEKO-TEX Standard 100

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification has become one of the most widely known textile certifications and ensures that finished textiles have been tested for harmful substances in human ecological terms. OEKO-TEX has globally standardised testing criteria and follows rigid independent testing.

To attain OEKO-TEX Standard 100® certification, fabrics must be tested and confirmed to be free from harmful levels of more than 100 chemicals that known to be unsafe for people. These include banned toxic or allergic substances such as azo colourants, formaldehyde, pentachlorophenol, cadmium and nickel, to name a few. Textiles also need to be colourfast and deemed safe for any emission of VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) and are also required to have a skin friendly pH level.

Sustainable Laundering Tips

It's often easy to overlook the impact our own garment laundering at home can have on the environment and the health of our loved ones! Below are a few tips to help reduce the environmental impact of your laundry routine at home, as well as save you money and keep those handmade clothes lasting longer.

— Wash your clothes as little as possible, to help them last as long as possible! To help keep them fresh between washes, air them out and use gentle steam to revitalise.
— Pick an eco-friendly detergent and use it sparingly, avoiding optical brighteners, dyes, perfumes, bleach, or softening agents.
— Try to use cold water where possible to help your garments retain their colours for longer, plus you'll save in energy usage from not requiring water to be heated.
— Capture the microfibres, using a guppy bag or micro plastic filter.
— Air dry your clothes where possible to help lengthen their life and save in energy usage too!