Sustainable Materials

GCSE Exam revision 2011

ORGANIC COTTON

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Organic cotton is grown without the use of commercial pesticides and fertilizers and are likely to be free from chlorine bleaches and synthetic dyes.

Characteristics of Cotton

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Aesthetics - vary depending on the applied treatments, but generally cotton fabric has a pleasant matte luster, a soft drape and a smooth hand.

Comfort

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Very comfortable to wear due to their soft hand and other characteristics. Cotton fabrics have excellent absorbing capabilities. Cotton garments absorb perspiration, thus keeping the person more comfortable.

Appearance Retention

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Cotton wrinkles very easily. However, there are many cotton garments on the market that have been treated with wrinkle resistant finishes. These finishes reduce the need to iron cotton clothes. Care

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Cotton products can typically be machine washed and dried. Cotton fabrics can be bleached but too much bleaching could weaken the fibers. Acids harm cotton fabrics. Sunlight does harm cotton by causing it to oxidize and turn yellow. Fabrics that are 100% cotton do shrink if they have not been treated with a shrinkage-resistant finish.

New Technology

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TRANSPOR Cotton 2000 has been designed to take moisture away from the skin and allow it to evaporate in the air in seconds. The garment dries on the inside near the skin first instead of drying on the outside first.

HEMP

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Hemp is naturally one of the most ecologically friendly fabrics and also the oldest. Hemp fiber is one of the strongest and most durable natural textile fibers. Not only is it strong, but it also holds its shape having one of the lowest percent elongation of any natural fiber. Hemp has the best ratio of heat capacity of all fibers giving it superior insulation properties. As a fabric, hemp provides all the warmth and softness of other natural textiles but with a superior durability seldom found in other materials. Natural organic hemp fiber ‘breathes’ and is biodegradable. Hemp blended with other fibers easily incorporate the desirable qualities of both textiles. When combined with the natural strength of hemp, the soft elasticity of cotton or the smooth texture of silk create a whole new genre of fashion design.

BAMBOO

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Bamboo is the latest plant material to hit the eco-friendly fabrics market. It is described as hypoallergenic, absorbent, fast-drying and naturally anti-bacterial and comes from a very fast-growing plant.

Bam Bamboo Clothing is a UK manufacturer specialising in bamboo clothing but increasingly other clothing suppliers are stocking bamboo fabric goods.

BAMBOO FABRIC

         Bamboo fabric is a natural textile made from the pulp of the bamboo grass.

Bamboo fabric has been growing in popularity because it has many unique properties and is more sustainable than most textile fibers.

Bamboo fabric is light and strong, has excellent wicking properties, and is to some extent antibacterial. Bamboo fiber resembles fibers. cotton in its unspun form, a puffball of light, airy Many companies use extensive bleaching processes to turn bamboo fiber white, although companies producing organic bamboo fabric leave the bamboo fiber unbleached.

To make bamboo fiber, bamboo is heavily pulped until it separates into thin component threads of fiber, which can be spun and dyed for weaving into cloth.

Bamboo fabric is very soft and can be worn directly next to the skin. Many people who experience allergic reactions to other natural fibers, such as wool or hemp , do not complain of this issue with bamboo. The fiber is naturally smooth and round without chemical meaning that there are no sharp spurs to irritate the skin.

treatment,

LINEN

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Strength:

Linen is a durable fibre, as is two-three times as strong as cotton. It is second in strength to silk.

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Resilience:

Resilience refers to the extent to which a fabric can be deformed by crushing or compressing it, and finally returning it to its original condition. Linen is quite stiff and wrinkles easily.

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Absorbency:

Absorbency refers to the extent to which moisture can penetrate into a fibre. The fibre absorbs moisture and dries more quickly. It is excellent for manufacturing towels and handkerchiefs.

ORGANIC WOOL

       Has a fine texture and is very soft Organic wool is a living, breathing fibre with natural stretch and elasticity, composed of the same protein that makes up the outer protective layer of your skin; it works in total harmony with your body's own protection mechanism. Organic wool is not only better for our bodies, it is better for our environment. Organic wool ensures we are not exposed to toxic chemicals such as pesticides, formaldehyde, polyester, foams, dioxins and other additives used in conventional wool processing. Organic wool can usually be used by individuals that experience allergic reactions to conventional wool. Organic wool breathes more naturally than synthetic fibres.

Because of its unique natural thermal properties, organic wool regulates body temperature by ensuring the body gets to a comfortable sleeping temperature more quickly - and stays there longer. Wool wicks away body moisture during the night and statistically provides a better heart rate. Another major benefit of this great natural fibre is that it is a natural flame retardant fibre

RECYCLED POLYESTER

    Recycled Polyester is a polyester that has been manufactured by using previously used polyester items. In the clothing world, recycled polyester clothes can be created from used clothes.

Polyester fibers made from recycled plastic containers are often referred to as recycled polyester too.

A company called Patagonia has become quite famous for it’s recycled polyester clothes. They have been able to create polyester garments using previously worn garments.

They also started the world’s first garment recycling program - which enables customers to bring their used clothing back for recycling.   

Is Recycled Polyester Eco-Friendly?

Recycled polyester is not always eco-friendly polyester depends on the recycling process, and the original polyester itself. Polyester is still a synthetic fabric, so it’s not going to be as organic as plant fibers such as hemp, bamboo, ramie etc.

. The “eco-friendliness” of recycled Traditional polyester has potential health hazards and environmental issues that make it a lot less eco-friendly than it could be. A relatively new brand of polyester called Eco Intelligent® Polyester (launched in 2001) aims to overcome the health hazards and environmental issues inherent in traditional polyester.