One of the most precious textile fibers which is of animal origin, is a result of the impressive synergy between nature and human. The procedure to the final silk fabric is distinguished by many stages: sericulture, irrigation and spinning, dyeing, finish. Such a long process of maturation is followed by the silkworm, passing through the stages of silkworm, to a larval, chrysalis, to be transformed into a butterfly. In Soufli, in Northern Greece, is the only city in Greece and Europe that produces silk, from where we get our raw materials, thus offering a fine material that stands out for its noble qualities and its luxurious feel.
Artificial fiber of plant origin. Following the structure of cotton, viscose was the first technical textile fiber created in France in the late 18th century by the tree wood pulp. At the beginning of their genesis they called her “Artificial silk” as it displayed a remarkable gloss, smooth texture and appearance similar to the precious silk. The design creations that choose viscose, they follow the body’s features, have a sculpture, cast result, while giving a unique sense of coolness and comfort, a sense of refreshing freedom.
ALPACA
Alpaca fiber comes from the fleece of the animal bearing the same name. Alpacas are mainly bred in the Peruvian Andes. Alpacas are much more eco-friendly than cashmere goats, because they cut the grass they eat instead of pulling it out, which allows for the grass to keep growing. Additionally, Alpacas have soft padding under their feet, which is more gentle for the soil than goat or sheep hooves.
They need very little water and food to survive and produce enough wool for 4 or 5 sweaters per year while a goat needs 4 years to produce just one cashmere sweater.
Finally, buying alpaca supports indigenous communities in Peru who often live under the poverty line.
Lyocell (Tencel®)
Lyocell is a manufacturing process of rayon which is much more eco-friendly than its relatives modal and viscose. Lyocell is made in a closed-loop system that recycles almost all of the chemicals used. “Lyocell” is the generic name of the manufacturing process and fiber. Tencel® is the brand name of the lyocell commercialized by the company Lenzing AG. Tencel® is made from eucalyptus from PEFC certified forests. Eucalyptus trees grow quickly without the use of pesticides, fertilizers or irrigation.
Just like rayon and viscose, lyocell is 100% biodegradable.
Ioncell-F is another rayon developed by Aalto University in Finland, similar to Lyocell but considered to be even more sustainable.
CUPRO
Cupro is an artificial cellulose fiber made from Linter Cotton (or Cotton wastes). In order to obtain the ready to weave yarn, the extracted cellulose is soaked in a bath of a chemical solution called «cuprammonium », hence the Cupro Name.
All the process is made in closed-loop. The large quantities of water and chemicals used in the production of Cupro are therefore constantly reused until they are completely exhausted. The chemicals used are free of toxic or dangerous compounds for health and the environment.
Cupro is also biodegradable, so it considers a good eco-friendly alternative to viscose.
RAYON, VISCOSE, MODAL
Rayon is a fiber from regenerated cellulose, generally derived from wood pulp. Rayon is usually made from eucalyptus trees, but any plant can be used (such as bamboo, soy, cotton, etc).
Viscose, modal, lyocell and bamboo are different types of rayon.
The other substantial environmental concerns arising from rayon production is the massive deforestation involved.
Viscose(also called Artificial Silk or Art Silk) is the most common type of rayon.
Modal, another type of rayon using beech trees with a similar process to viscose. The company Lenzing, selling modal under Lenzing Modal® only uses trees from sustainably harvested forests (PEFC certified) and employs an eco-friendly bleaching method. However modal is produced by many other manufacturers who don’t necessarily use sustainable processes.
Cuprois a rayon fiber from cotton wastes, which is a sustainable aspect. But it still undergoes a chemical process to be transformed, leading to negative consequences for the environment.
