Fibers & Materials

WHAT IS COTTON?
Cotton is a natural fiber obtained from the seed hairs of the cotton plant. The ginning machine separates the fiber from the seed. The seeds are either processed further or replanted. Their husks are used for animal feed or chicken litter. The cotton fibers, meanwhile, are compressed into bales, spun into yarn at cotton mills, and further processed in factories.

BENEFITS

• Temperature- and Moisture-Regulating
• Soft and gentle on the skin
• Easy to care for and durable
• Renewable raw material
• Breathable
• Highly absorbent
• Lightweight 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WOOL AND COTTON?
Unlike cotton, wool—also known as virgin wool—is obtained from sheep. After shearing, the wool is washed and combed. Dark wool can be lightened by bleaching as needed before being dyed to achieve the desired appearance. The next step in processing involves spinning the wool into long, thin threads. This is done using precise, electronically controlled spinning machines. The resulting thread is called worsted yarn, which can then be used for weaving, knitting, or crocheting. 

BENEFITS

• Does not absorb dirt well
• The interior of the fiber can absorb water vapor—the surface, on the other hand, repels water and thus helps regulate body temperature
• Quickly wicks away moisture
• Antistatic 

WHAT IS MERINO WOOL?
Merino wool is a particularly high-quality type of (sheared) wool. It is obtained from Merino sheep and is characterized by its exceptional fineness and softness. Merino wool has the same properties as regular wool but is significantly finer and softer, making it particularly suitable for functional underwear or sleepwear.

WHAT IS CASHMERE?
Cashmere wool (or simply cashmere) is a very fine and soft natural fiber obtained from the undercoat of the cashmere goat. The Kashmir goat breed comes in white, gray, brown, or black. It belongs to the domestic goat family. In its native region, Kashmir wool has been handcrafted into high-quality textiles since around 1000 B.C. The main producing countries are China, Mongolia, Iran, and the Central Asian highlands. The highest-quality cashmere comes from Inner Mongolia, which is part of China. Under these unique climatic conditions, the goats’ valuable undercoat (down) grows particularly well.

BENEFITS

• excellent thermal insulation
• repels moisture very well
• very fine fibers
• stain- and odor-resistant
• high tear strength

WHAT IS VISCOSE?
Viscose is a natural fiber made from natural raw materials such as eucalyptus, pine, and beech wood. These woods are chopped into pieces, and resins and other substances are boiled out. The cellulose is then purified, bleached, and pressed into solid pulp sheets. The sheets are then transformed into a viscous spinning mass through a chemical process, resulting in a continuous filament. The fiber is often blended with cotton, wool, linen, or other fibers, but it can also be used on its own. Even though the manufacturing process is complex, it’s well worth the effort, as viscose is both highly versatile and affordable.

BENEFITS

• Natural & Soft
• Antistatic
• Silky sheen and beautiful drape
• Lightfast
• Compared to natural fibers, it can absorb significantly more moisture without feeling wet
• Easy to dye

WHAT IS POLYAMIDE?
Polyamide fiber, also known as nylon, is a very lightweight yet strong, durable, and elastic fiber that is also easy to care for. As a result, this fiber is perfect for increasing the durability of other fibers used in blends and is particularly common in blends with natural fibers.

BENEFITS

• Highly elastic, abrasion- and tear-resistant
• Moisture-repellent
• Low tendency to wrinkle
• Flowing silhouette and lightweight
• Easy to use with other fabrics

WHAT IS POLYESTER?
Polyester, an oil-based synthetic fiber, is produced through a melt-spinning process. This process creates a continuous filament, which is then used in further textile manufacturing. Natural fibers such as cotton are often blended with polyester to ensure that the garment remains easy to care for. Because polyester has excellent color retention and washability, garments retain their shape and color intensity. 

BENEFITS

• Soft and gentle on the skin
• Easy to care for
• Lightfast
• Tear-resistant and dimensionally stable
• Lightweight yet warm
• Virtually wrinkle-free

WHAT IS ELASTANE?
Elastane is a synthetic fiber with an elasticity of 500–700%. After being stretched, it largely returns to its original state. Because of these properties, the use of elastane is obvious. It is used as a fiber wherever high elasticity and shape retention are desired—that is, in form-fitting, stretchy garments, cuffs, socks, wool tights, and swimwear.

BENEFITS

• High elasticity
• Dimensional Stability
• High load capacity
• Dries quickly
• Easy to care for

WHAT IS FSC-CERTIFIED WOOD?
FSC® stands for “Forest Stewardship Council®.” It is an international certification system for more sustainable forest management. The wood used in furniture, toys, books, notebooks, or pencils bearing the FSC label comes from forests that are managed more responsibly. There are ten globally applicable principles that must be adhered to by all FSC standards in different countries. FSC certifies forests and plantations that are managed according to stricter environmental and social principles, among other criteria. This is intended to help ensure that forests can be preserved in the long term.
The FSC’s primary goal is to ensure that the world’s forests are managed in a way that is simultaneously more environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable. The FSC—founded in 1993 following the Rio Earth Summit—is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization. It brings together businesses from the timber and forestry sectors, environmental organizations, labor unions, representatives of civil society, and indigenous peoples. All stakeholder groups involved in forestry are recognized as equal partners. This concept is reflected in the organization’s chamber structure: none of the three chambers can be outvoted.
The FSC strives for transparency. Certified operations are generally inspected on-site by independent auditors once a year, and the results are made public.
The FSC has also been active in Germany as a nonprofit association since 1997. As a national initiative, the FSC Arbeitsgruppe Deutschland e.V. supports the FSC International Center, based in Bonn, and is responsible for the German FSC Standard, which is based on the same ten principles that apply internationally. (Source: WWF)