Hemp
Hemp is a cellulose fiber first used by the Chinese an estimated 5,000 years ago, which has only recently gained new popularity in North America. The great Renaissance painters first painted on hemp – canvas actually comes from the word “cannabis”.
Hemp has played an important role in American history as well. In the early 1600’s hemp was considered such a vital resource that laws were passed ordering farmers to grow it. Before 1850, ships were rigged with hemp because of its high resistance to rot and mildew.
Hemp is an environmentally friendly fiber and researchers in the US and abroad are interested in its ability to compliment farmers crop rotations and become a part of their Integrated Pest Management systems. Hemp is considered a high-yield crop and produces more fiber per square foot that either cotton or flax. Hemp’s cultivation cycle can be as short as hundred days.
Hemp increases strength, durability, and absorbency in fabrics, making it ideal for garments meant to last. Hemp Makes It Better.
Organic Cotton
Cotton’s exact age is unknown. Scientists have found cotton cloth in caves that is at least 7,000 years old. This natural fiber makes the most popular fabrics in the world.
Cotton is now being grown more sustainably in different varieties and organically around the world.
Tencel
TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers have gained a commendable reputation for their environmentally responsible closed loop production process, which transforms wood pulp into cellulosic fibers with high resource efficiency and low environmental impact. This solvent-spinning process recycles process water and reuses the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%.
TENCEL™ Lyocell fiber's unique physical properties lead to their great strength, efficient moisture absorption and gentleness to skin.
Recycled PET
Polyester fibers are re-used to make fabrics. Polyethylene terephthalate (or simply PET) is the most common polyester used for fiber purposes. This is the polymer used for making soft drink bottles. Recycled PET saves raw materials, as well as reducing energy needs.
Recycled PET is both strong and soft. REPREVE recycled polyester is made right here in the Carolinas.
Bamboo
Bamboo holds the title of the Guinness World Records fastest growing plant with shoots growing as much as 35 inches in a 24-hour period. When bamboo shoots emerge from the ground in the spring they reach full size in just a few months.
Bamboo viscose has a natural ability to breath and wick moisture away due to its porous nature and, since it is a cellulose fiber, it can biodegrade in normal soil conditions.
Cupro
Cupro is technically from cotton, but is a different output from the traditional cotton ginning process, giving the resulting fabric a different hand than typical cotton. The fiber itself is derived from cotton linter, which is the very fine, soft material that sticks to the cottonseeds and is left behind after the cotton has been ginned. Usually, these fibers are discarded, however, they are now recycled for the production of this surprisingly beautiful textile.
Recycled Cotton
Recycled Cotton is cotton that is recycled from post-industrial, post-consumer, or repurposed sources. This cotton is essentially saved from the landfill.