Why buy Organic or sustainable fashion? It’s a question I’m asked sometimes and is something I thought it would be worth reflecting on. Lovestretch has a policy to search for the best labels and we’re finding that thoughtful production almost always coincides with well thought through design. It makes the whole process easy for us and we just keep on turning up great new labels because this is a growing market. Those labels include Emami, Wellicious, EKOsense (see cardi and wrap above), Earth Couture, Asquith and Kelly Hoppen.
One of the strongest areas is that for yoga and Pilates wear. There are lots of motivated practitioners who want their clothes to reflect their own paths and for them that means finding Organic and Fairtrade products where possible. With thanks to our friends at EKOsense, here is a quick rundown of the Organic materials our brands use and how they work for you and us:
Bamboo: Bamboo fabric is great as a sustainable textile, because the bamboo plant is very quick-growing and doesn’t usually require use of pesticides and herbicides to thrive. As a result, plantations can easily be kept organic and replanted yearly to replenish stocks.
In textile form, bamboo retains many of the properties it has as a plant. Bamboo is highly water absorbent and able to take up to three times its weight in water. Clothing made of bamboo fibre is ideal for wearing next to the skin, and used in sports clothing, which is why it is used bamboo in yoga-inspired pieces.
Bamboo fabric has insulating properties and will keep you cooler in summer and warmer in winter. The versatility of bamboo fabric makes it an excellent eco alternative to cotton and great choice for clothing.
Organic cotton: Regular cotton cultivation can involve extensive use of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals that have a direct impact on health of farmers, eco-systems and soil quality. We use cotton plants that are grown without the use of any artificial fertiliers, insecticides or herbicides.
Lovestretch brands are often certified by Control Union/ Global Organic Textile Standard (CU/GOTS) and hold an Organic Exchange certificate for most items. The process is longer and takes more skill so will naturally come with a premium but the cost we feel is worth it.
Soyabean Fibre: Soyabean Protein Fibre has 16 amino acids that are healthy and nutritional to the skin, and its moisture absorption, ventilation, draping and warmth cover the superior performances of synthetic fibres.
This new sustainable fibre is exceptionally soft and can mixed with luxurious and sustainably sourced cashmere to create a truly scrumptious range of knitwear that’s both kind to your skin and the environment.
What’s more, the waste from soyabean production of the product can be used as animal feed, keeping our furry and four-legged friends happy too.
There are all kinds of reasons for buying Organically produced fabrics but it should never mean compromising on style – that’s where Lovestretch comes in. One of our greatest pleasures is seeking out the most exciting and sustainably-created fashion out there.