Fibers & Materials

WHAT IS COTTON?
Cotton is a natural fiber that is obtained from the seed hairs of the cotton plant. The ginning machine separates the fiber from the seed. These are then processed or replanted. Their hulls are used for animal feed or chicken bedding. The cotton fibers are pressed into bales, spun into yarn in cotton spinning mills and processed further in factories.

ADVANTAGES

• Temperature and moisture regulating
• Soft and skin-friendly
• Easy to care for and durable
• Renewable raw material
• Breathable
• Highly absorbent
• Light in weight

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WOOL AND COTTON?
Unlike cotton, wool, also known as new wool, is obtained from sheep. The wool is washed and combed after shearing. Dark wool can be lightened by bleaching as required before being dyed to give it the desired appearance. The next stage of processing involves spinning the wool into long, thin threads. This is done using precise spinning machines that are electronically controlled. The resulting thread forms the worsted yarn, which can now be used for weaving, knitting or knotting.

ADVANTAGES

• naturally dirt-repellent
• The inside of the fiber can absorb water vapor - the surface, on the other hand, repels water and thus regulates heat
• Conducts moisture quickly
• Antistatic

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

WHAT IS CASHMERE?
Cashmere wool (or cashmere) is a very fine and soft natural fiber, which is obtained from the undercoat of the cashmere goat. Cashmere goats come in white, gray, brown or black. It belongs to the family of domestic goats. In its homeland, cashmere wool has been processed by hand into high-quality textiles since around 1000 BC. The most important producing countries are China, Mongolia, Iran and the Central Asian highlands. The highest quality cashmere comes from Inner Mongolia, which belongs to China. The goats' valuable undercoat (down) grows particularly well in the special climatic conditions.

ADVANTAGES

• Excellent thermal insulation
• repels moisture very well
• very fine fibers
• dirt and odor repellent
• high tear resistance

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. Cleaned and bleached, the cellulose is pressed into solid cellulose boards. A chemical process is then used to turn the sheets into a viscous spinning mass, again creating a continuous filament. The fiber is often mixed with cotton, wool, linen or other fibers, but can also be used as a single fiber. Even though the production process is complex, it is very worthwhile as viscose is so versatile and inexpensive.

ADVANTAGES

• Natural & soft
• Antistatic
• Silky sheen and beautiful drape
• Light resistant
• 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 light yet strong, durable and elastic fiber that is also easy to care for. Therefore, this fiber is perfect for increasing the durability of other fibers used and is particularly often used in compositions with natural fibers.

ADVANTAGES

• Very elastic, abrasion and tear resistant
• Moisture repellent
• Low creasing tendency
• Flowing drape and light in weight
• Easy to use with other fabrics

WHAT IS POLYESTER?
The oil-based synthetic fiber polyester is obtained by a melt spinning process. This produces a continuous filament which is then used for further textile production. Natural fibers such as cotton are often used with polyester so that the garment remains easy to care for. As polyester has excellent color and washing properties, garments retain their fit and color intensity.

ADVANTAGES

• Soft and skin-friendly
• Easy to care for
• Light-resistant
• Tear-resistant and retains its shape
• Lightweight yet warming
• Almost crease-resistant

WHAT IS ELASTANE?
Elastane is a chemical fiber with a stretch capacity of 500 - 700%. After stretching, it largely returns to its original state. Due to these properties, the use of elastane is obvious. It is used as a fiber where high stretchability and dimensional stability are required, i.e. in tight-fitting, stretchy garments, cuffs, socks, woolen tights and swimwear.

ADVANTAGES

• Great stretchability
• Dimensional stability
• High resilience
• Dries quickly
• Easy care

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 for furniture, toys, books, exercise books or pencils with the FSC seal comes from forests that are managed more responsibly. There are ten globally valid principles that must be adhered to by all FSC standards in the various countries. Forests and plantations that are managed according to stricter ecological and social principles, among other things, are FSC certified. This should help to ensure that the forests can be preserved in the long term.
The most important goal of the FSC is to ensure that the world's forests are used in a more environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable way. The FSC - founded in 1993 as a result of the Rio Earth Summit - is a non-governmental, non-profit organization. It brings together entrepreneurs from the timber and forestry industry, environmental associations, trade unions, representatives of civil society and indigenous peoples. All interest groups involved in the forest are recognized here on an equal footing. This concept is reflected in the organization's chamber structure: none of the three chambers can be outvoted.
The FSC strives for transparency. As a rule, certified companies are to be inspected annually on site by independent experts and the results made public.
The FSC has also existed as a non-profit association in Germany since 1997. As a national initiative, the FSC Working Group Germany 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)