Glossary
Abaca - Abaca is a species of banana plant. Abaca's large leaves and stems are harvested for its fiber, and used in making clothing and textile goods. A sustainable alternative to cotton.
Alpaca (Organic) - Free range roaming, pasture rotation, distribution of the Alpaca’s manure as fertilizer, fed no hormones, no chemical dipping for ticks and parasites, no chemicals ingredients are permitted on the land or animals. Finer than cashmere, smoother than silk, softer than cotton, stronger than mohair, warmer than goose down and synthetic fabrics, and breathes better than thermal knits. The fibers do not have lanolin or other oils. Luxuriously soft on your skin. Hypoallergenic and naturally fire resistant and dust mite resistant.
Alpaca (Undyed) - The Natural Alpaca fiber comes in the whitest white, to the most intense black, including around twenty brown and gray tones. Therefore, undyed color combinations are very plentiful. By using undyed Natural Alpaca a step is made to decrease the amount of chemical runoff into the world’s water tables.
Angora - The hair of the Angora goat or the Angora rabbit. The clipped fiber from a living animal is also known as Angora mohair. Scoured mohair appears smooth and white. It varies in fineness and is highly resilient, very strong and has high luster. Its value is determined by its luster and not its softness. The Angora rabbit is indigenous to Asia Minor and Turkey. It is often blended and mixed with wool to lower the price of the finished. Angora rabbit hair is long, very fine, light weight, extremely warm and fluffy. It has a tendency to shed and mat with time. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, any apparel containing Angora rabbit hair must be labeled as "Angora rabbit hair" on the garment.
Bamboo - A natural, renewable resource that can be made into fabrics. Bamboo’s natural growth habits allow it to reproduce in abundance without the use of fertilizers and without the need for pesticides. Bamboo fabric is biodegradable.
Cotton (Organic) - growing methods rather than toxic synthetic fertilizers, soil additives or defoliants. It is also free of formaldehyde finishes. Organic Cotton wears well and is extremely breathable, unlike synthetics that pill, emit static electricity, prematurely age, and trap perspiration. Cotton is commonly portrayed as natural, yet conventional cotton is Cotton grown without any harmful pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers using biologically based and sustainable growing methods such as crop rotation rather than with highly synthetic and destructive fertilizers. Organic cotton is grown using biologically based cultivated in a highly toxic process, which contaminates groundwater and ultimately drinking water and poisons the food chain. While it takes approximately one pound of chemicals to grow three pounds of conventional cotton, organic cotton is grown chemical free.
Cottagora - An extremely soft and environmentally sound material made from a combination of Angora rabbit hair and organic cotton. Unlike traditional Angora, cottagora can be machine washed and dried. It is also the warmest natural fiber available and more durable than any other elite wool. This is because the Angora rabbit itself has three to four times as many hairs per weight unit as sheep's wool. Cottagora is also a breathable fabric, allowing the body to maintain its natural temperature. It is ideal for travel, as it is both versatile and wrinkle free.
Eco Wool - Sheared from free range roaming sheep that have not been subjected to toxic flea dipping, and have not been treated with chemicals, dyes, or bleaches. Eco wool comes in natural tones of white, grey and black.
Natural Fibers - A fiber obtained from a plant, animal, or mineral. The natural fibers may be classified by their origin as cellulosic (from plants), protein (from animals), and mineral.
Organic Clothing - Clothing that is made from materials that are raised or grown without the use of chemicals in the form of pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals.
Dyes (Fiber Reactive) - The molecules of fiber reactive dyes actually react and bond to the fiber molecules. These dyes are the best quality and most ecologically sound synthetic dyes available. They contain no heavy metals or other known toxic substances. The colors are brighter, richer, and exhibit superior colorfast properties. Very little residual dye comes out in the waste water. Significantly more costly than using conventional direct dyes but the quality and ecological benefits are far superior.
Dyes (Low Impact) - Dyes that are more environmentally friendly than conventional dyes because they contain no metals, low salt, AZO & dioxazines compound free. Low impact dyes require significantly less water for the dyeing process so there is much less polluted runoff than from the conventional dye process. Organic cotton and most other fabrics can be successfully colored with all natural or fiber-reactive low impact dyes. They are the highest quality, most ecologically friendly dyes available, producing colors that are both richer and brighter than conventional dyeing practices. These dyes reduce water and electricity consumption and discharge 60% less toxic runoff into the waste stream. They promote healthy ecosystems by using fewer resources and less energy while providentially allowing greater adherence of the dye to the garment.
Dyes (Natural) - Pigments are derived from organic materials such as vegetables, berries, bugs, clay, indigo, and other plant extracts to dye fabric. The weakness of natural dyes has been that many natural dyes are not color-fast and wash out of the garments quickly. Clay dyes are some of the best in retaining their color across repeated washings.
Eco Fashion - The term has been coined to refer to fashionable and stylish clothing that has been manufactured using environmentally- friendly processes under Free Trade conditions. Eco fashion clothing can use recycled clothing and even recycled materials such as eco-fleeced produced from recycled plastic soda bottles. Eco fashion is not necessarily made from organic fibers and is not necessarily healthy for people with chemical sensitivities.
Eco-fleece - A nubby, soft fabric made from recycled soda bottles. Every time you purchase something from eco-fleece you are contributing to saving another piece of the earth, which would otherwise be used as landfill. Of course, you are also wearing plastic from old soda bottles.
Eco Wool – Sheared from free range roaming sheep that have not been subjected to toxic flea dipping, and have not been treated with chemicals, dyes, or bleaches. Eco wool comes in natural tones of white, grey and black.
Fairtrade – the Fairtrade Mark is an independent, consumer label administered by the UK's Fairtrade Foundation and its international partners. If produce carries the Fairtrade Mark, it means the producer’s been inspected, certified and operates to international environmental and social standards. In return, the producer is guaranteed a fair price for their produce. The price includes extra money to invest in community projects such as schools.
Hemp - crop is naturally resistant to insects and pests and therefore can be grown free of chemical pesticides. The fabric produced is long lasting and biodegradable.
Hemp is a bast fiber that was probably used first in Asia. The fiber is dark tan or brown and is difficult to bleach, but it can be dyed bright and dark colours. Hemp is a very durable fiber that holds its shape. Hemp cultivation does not exhaust, but rather continuously fertilizes the soil by shedding its leaves throughout its growing period. In this way, it actually returns nutrients to the soil, helping to reduce the energy demand on the Earth. It is also naturally UV resistant and dries quickly.
Natural Fibers - Materials that grow in nature such as cotton, flax, hemp, alpaca, wool and silk. Processing natural fibers into organic clothing is done with as few chemicals and harmful impact on the environment as possible.
Recycled – old clothes or scraps of materials that are turned into new items. Many ethical designers create new clothes from recycled ones or use industry remnants and off-cuts. Hand-me-downs and second hand/charity shop clothes all count as recycled too.
Soy Soybean fiber has the advantage of being a renewable natural resource and a by-product of food manufacturing. Soybean fabric (often referred to as vegetable cashmere) is biodegradable.
Sustainable – producing clothes in a way that’s less damaging to the environment. For example, cotton farmers can reduce the amount of pesticides they use, by using natural methods of controlling the insects that damage their crops. Sustainability also includes a social aspect. For example, small co-operatives can employ people from local communities, helping to prevent migration to cities to find work.
Vintage – fashionable second-hand clothing from yesteryear, be it a 1960s dress or 1970s chunky platform shoes.
