WHAT MAKES A FABRIC 'SUSTAINABLE'?
The term 'Sustainable' is thrown around everywhere these days.
So what makes a fabric sustainable?
At A KIND CLOTH, we realise it is incredibly difficult to determine what makes a fabric 'sustainable'. We know there is no such thing as a perfect fabric, so how do we determine what makes one fabric more sustainable than another?
Processing is what matters
For us, we look at the Processing of the fabric; from fibre to fabric. To produce a fabric from a fibre requires a lot of work which can involve a lot of harsh chemicals, and heavy consumption of water. This not only affects the environment but also to the workers.
Natural fibres are not automatically classed as sustainable
Although natural fibres are biodegradable, they are not always deemed sustainable. Conventional cotton for example is incredibly water intensive to grow using many pesticides and herbicides. The farming of cotton is generally grown in areas where water is scarce, rendering the land infertile. To add to that, cotton requires many chemicals to process. This is most definitely not sustainable. Bamboo is sometimes referred to as a sustainable fabric as it is a fast growing tree. However, to get it from fibre to fabric, it requires incredibly harsh chemicals. But, if you look at Bamboo Linen, the manufacturing process here is mechanical processing, the same as linen production, which would then make it a much more sustainable fabric.
Kinder to the environment and to the planet's people
In brief, essentially what makes a fabric sustainable is the impact of the product on our planet and each other.
Take a look at our selection of Sustainable Dressmaking Fabrics here at A KIND CLOTH.