Sustainable Glossary

One of the most eco-friendly and sustainable sources of fibre, bamboo grows quickly and doesn’t require any pesticides. It also grows back from the same roots after harvest, so there is no need to re-plant, or use large amounts of water.

The use of vegetable, or synthetic extracts, instead of chromium sulphate in the tanning process. This helps prevent chrome getting into the waterways, which can be harmful for animals and humans.

Expertly spun from silky fibres left behind during cotton production, cupro makes full use of the cotton plant and reduces waste.

Jeans made using this process are categorised as LOW IMPACT by Jeaonologia®. The process reduces water usage by up to 80% and eliminates up to 60% of chemicals, while boasting quality and longevity.

EUROPEAN FLAX® is the guarantee of traceability for premium linen fibre grown in Europe. A vegetal and sustainable fibre, cultivated without artificial irrigation* and GMO free.
*Guaranteed 99.9% by CELC

Sourced from forests which are managed in a responsible and sustainable way, FSC-labelled wood and paper promotes environmental, social and economic responsibility.

Considered one of the world’s most sustainable plants, hemp grows rapidly and requires minimal pesticides and little water.

A natural fibre that doesn’t rely on insecticides or pesticides, jute is completely biodegradable. The plant reaches maturity quickly – between four and six months – so it is an incredibly efficient source of renewable materials. Relying on natural rainfall (rather than extensive and energy-consumptive irrigation systems), it also enhances the fertility of the soil it grows in for future crops.

Derived from raw-wood materials from certified and controlled sources, the fibres meet high environmental standards throughout their life cycle – from extraction to production, distribution and disposal.

Produced naturally using the flax plant, linen requires only rainfall, needs little maintenance and is grown free of GMOs. We are making a conscious effort to source our linen more locally from mills across Europe. Our Baird McNutt linen is designed and finished in Ireland.

The Leather Working Group (LWG) certifies leather manufacturers based on their environmental performance, including energy and water consumption, waste management and effluent treatment.

Mango trees are fast-growing and predominantly used for their fruit. Once the trees have stopped bearing fruit, the tree becomes a by-product, which is then cut down and used to create wooden furniture and accessories, so there is little wastage of resources. This allows farmers to plant more trees and provides them with a supplementary income.

Grown using no chemicals, synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and far less water than conventional cotton, organic cotton retains the same super breathable and luxuriously soft quality.

Rattan is a strong natural fibre that grows abundantly, without any fertilisers, in the rainforests of Indonesia and Vietnam. Locals harvest it by hand, cutting the rattan lianas from the stem, and the fibres are cleaned and naturally dried in the sun. Afterwards, rattan products are hand-woven by skilled craftspeople. The colouring of kubu is a completely natural process. For grey kubu, the natural kubu is soaked in mud to achieve a brown colour, and the kubu is then boiled in water above a fire.

Recycled cashmere uses post-consumer yarns that are sorted, shredded and re-spun to create new pieces, thus reducing waste and lowering the environmental impact.

Leftover yarns from cotton production, or recycled fabric and garments, are used to create new products.

Polymers are man-made fabrics used for their durability and performance (sportswear and weatherproofing) and are not a renewable source. However, recycled polymers give waste a new use; pre-consumer and post-consumer polyamides and polyesters, such as PET bottles, create new fabrics and decrease our need for new non-renewable resources, reducing overall energy usage and CO2 emissions.

Our recycled soda-lime glass products are made from at least 30% recycled glass. Waste glass is collected, sorted and then washed to remove any impurities. Once clean, the glass is crushed and melted down to form a molten glass which can be used for manufacturing new products, making use of recycled materials.

Due to its durability and quality, wool can be easily repurposed. Pre-consumer yarns from the wool-carding process are spun into new yarn, reducing any waste and lowering the environmental impact. Recycled wool garments are sorted, shredded, and re-spun to create new cloths. Prato in Italy is renowned for its fine coatings made from recycled wools, which feature in our outerwear.

Down and feather fillings are sourced from cruelty-free suppliers who ensure a high standard of animal welfare. All down used is a by-product of the food industry.

The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) guarantees animal welfare and promotes environmental care on farms, as well as a progressive and more sustainable use of the land.

A natural material that doesn’t rely on fertilisers or pesticides, seagrass grows abundantly in Vietnam and Indonesia. The fast-growing crops are harvested twice a year by hand, dried out naturally and then woven into various shapes and sizes by skilled local artisans, ready to be made into products. Any waste is saved to provide organic compost for future crops.

Silk is a biodegradable, natural, sustainable filament made by spinning silk-worm cocoons into fibres. Its production requires minimal chemicals, water, or energy in production.

Supima cotton is a superior type of cotton grown in the United States in around 500 family owned farms. Grown with great care to preserve the health of the soil and conserve water, fibres are 35% longer than regular cotton, making it extra soft. It is also durable and creates long-lasting garments that only improve with wear.

We’re proud partners of The Good Cashmere Standard®, which works to improve the lives of goats, farmers and their environments in Inner Mongolia, where all our cashmere knitwear is produced.

Some of our cashmere accessories are made in Scotland, where the yarn has sustainable certification from a separate organisation working with cashmere farms in Outer Mongolia.

Teak root is a natural material that is incredibly durable, weather-resistant and low-maintenance. Sourced from the root of a teak tree, this wood would otherwise be discarded. Teak wood is now mainly grown on Indonesian plantations that are carefully controlled by government agencies to ensure sustainability.

Teak wood is a natural material that is incredibly durable, weather-resistant and low-maintenance. For generations, it was traditionally used as the main material for small and large buildings in Indonesia, due to its resilient qualities. As wooden buildings are being replaced with brick and mortar, there are large reserves of used teak wood being repurposed into furniture and other home accessories, eliminating the need for new resources and making the most of materials already in circulation.

Generated from renewable raw wood, traceable to and harvested from FSC-managed forests (chiefly eucalyptus), TENCEL™ lyocell is renowned for its long-lasting comfort and durability. It is manufactured in a closed-loop process that recycles 99.5% of its solvents and the remainder is compostable with the ability to revert to nature.

One of the most sustainable fibres in the textile industry, TENCEL™ modal’s base is cellulose from hardwood trees, such as birch and oak. Resources for future generations are safeguarded using renewable energy and by the recovery of process chemicals.

Water hyacinth is an aquatic plant that grows and multiplies, rapidly overgrowing whole rivers, lakes and irrigation canals in Vietnam and Indonesia. Local villagers need to remove it regularly to help protect other aquatic plants and, therefore, the plant is used as a valuable resource for crafting homeware, meaning there is no wastage.