About Our Materials

Organic Cotton

Organic agriculture protects the health of people and the planet by reducing the overall exposure to toxic chemicals such as synthetic pesticides that can end up in the ground, air, water and food supplies. These pesticides are associated with a range of health difficulties from asthma to cancer.

Currently, non-organic cotton farming uses 25% of the world's insecticides and 10% of the world's pesticides.

The worst affected by pesticides are developing countries, where 99% of cotton production takes place. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 3 million cases of pesticide poisoning occur each year, with 20,000 unintentional deaths, largely among the rural poor in the Third World.

The damage done to people is perhaps unsurprising as pesticides are designed to inhibit the growth of organisms by impairing the biological processes necessary to life.

Bamboo

Bamboo is grown naturally without pesticides or fertilisers. It is also one of the fastest growing trees on the planet – it is said that you can almost 'watch it grow'. A bamboo plant reaches maturity in three to four years, but after only about three months it has attained its full height.

Fabric that is made from bamboo is special in many ways.

First, it has a 'wicking' effect, which means that sweat is rapidly absorbed from the skin which in turn evaporates in the air. It naturally allows your skin to breathe keeping you comfortable and dry for longer.

Second, bamboo keeps you fresh in the summer because of its naturally breathable nature, but it is also known to keep you lovely and warm in colder weather by trapping a layer of warm air between your skin and the material.

Third, bamboo has natural anti-bacterial properties and luckily these properties are retained when the plant is made into fabric.

Linen

Linen is made using the fibre from Flax plants. Flax is a natural plant, grown in temperate regions with one of the lowest levels of herbicide, pesticide and fungicide use, making the flax plant one of the most eco-friendly plants grown around the world.

The use of linen goes back thousands of years. Egyptian Mummies were wrapped in linen because it was seen as a symbol of light and purity.

Linen is perfect for hot weather, as it has a wicking effect removing perspiration from the skin.

Linen is easy to look after – it can be washed, dry-cleaned or even steamed.