Sustainable materials | Explanation of popular apparel trends

“Sustainable” is currently a hot topic in the fashion industry. However, many people may have a hard time imagining when they hear the term sustainable apparel.

Kapok Knot, a sustainable fashion company, provides a thorough explanation of sustainable materials and apparel.

Let's check it out!

Use sustainable materials! Check out Kapok Knot products!

~Contents of this article~

◯What is sustainable?
◯5 types of sustainable materials!
◯Sustainable materials used by Kapok Knot! !

What is sustainable?

First of all, "sustainable" means "sustainable." This word has been attracting attention in various industries in recent years. In particular, the apparel industry is said to be the second most polluting industry after the oil industry. We use sustainable materials in order to preserve the modern global environment and resources for future generations without destroying them. More and more apparel brands are focusing on fashion that can be enjoyed while protecting the earth.

5 types of sustainable materials

Now, let's take a look at what exactly sustainable materials are!

①Organic cotton

The first sustainable material is organic cotton. Many pesticides and chemical fertilizers are used to grow regular cotton. This causes the soil to become contaminated and has a greater impact on the environment. For example, using contaminated water can pose a health threat, and chemical components can kill microorganisms in the soil.
However, organic cotton refers to cotton that is grown under strict standards without using any pesticides or fertilizers. Another feature of organic cotton is that it protects water resources. It is said that 2,720 liters of water is required for irrigation to make one regular cotton T-shirt, but since organic cotton is grown mainly using rainwater, this reduction is reduced by 91%.
Furthermore, healthy soil that does not use pesticides or fertilizers has excellent water retention and absorption ability, so it recovers quickly from drought and can be grown with less water.

②Linen

Linen is a natural fiber made from a raw material called ``flux,'' which is mainly harvested in cold regions such as Belgium, France, Russia, and China. Since it becomes stronger when wet, it is less susceptible to damage even after washing and can be used for a long time. Therefore, it is attracting attention as a sustainable material . In addition, unlike other plants, the raw material, flax, can be used including the fibers, seeds, and roots, so there is no waste. It takes about four months to harvest, but the amount of CO2 absorbed during that period is said to be about four times that of forests. Furthermore, while regular cotton requires approximately 30 liters of water to make one shirt, flax is a very eco-friendly plant that grows naturally without watering as long as there is sunlight and rain.

③Recycled polyester

Recycled polyester is a fiber that can be used as cotton or thread after crushing and melting plastic waste. By using recycled polyester, we can reduce our dependence on petroleum and reduce greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing. By reusing sustainable materials, we can reduce the burden on the global environment without increasing the amount of new polyester.
Recycled polyester is a sustainable material that various apparel brands are actively incorporating into their products. Adidas and Patagonia actually sell a lot of products.

④Biodegradable fiber

Biodegradable fibers are also one of the sustainable materials. It is called a biomass material and is a plant-based fiber that is decomposed by enzymes secreted by microorganisms. The raw material for polylactic acid, which is its base, is mainly made from corn. Ordinary plastics emit large amounts of CO2 and toxic gases during production. However, the use of biodegradable fibers has the following advantages:

◎Low amount of CO2 emitted during combustion
◎Since plants are used as raw materials, they grow while absorbing CO2, which helps prevent global warming from worsening.
◎By placing it in a suitable environment, decomposition by microorganisms will progress and it can be completely decomposed into CO2 and water.

In this way, you can reduce your environmental impact by using biodegradable fibers!

⑤ ECONYL®

Source: http://www.abstractdesign.co.uk/project/phs-Econyl-Campaign

ECONYL®, released in 2011 by Italian yarn manufacturer Aquafil, is a new nylon fiber that is currently attracting attention. Ordinary nylon requires a lot of energy to extract the raw material petroleum, which causes pollution problems such as waste emissions and oil spills. However, since ECONYL® is a recycled synthetic fiber, it is a sustainable material that can not only recover waste but also eliminate the need for new oil spills, contributing to solving pollution problems.

as a feature,
◎Materials are recycled fishing lines, plastic waste, and textile waste collected from the sea
◎Material quality remains the same and can be recycled indefinitely with the same recycling cycle
can be mentioned.

Sustainable materials used by Kapok Knot!

Kapok Knot is a fashion brand born in 2019. "KAPOK", which is also included in the brand name, refers to the fruit of the plant. The cotton inside is used instead of down. It's very light and very warm, making it a great alternative to down. Kapok is attracting attention not only for its functionality but also as a sustainable material. Kapok trees are not cut down for harvesting. This makes it a very environmentally friendly material.

In addition to being a sustainable material, kapok can also contribute to animal conservation. Normal down filling is made from feathers, but Kapok knots are 100% vegetable-based. Feathers are collected by hand from live birds using a method called "live hand picking." This method involves holding the wings and neck between the legs and plucking the down from the chest and abdomen. The reality is that methods like this that ignore the lives and rights of animals are still being practiced. However, with a kapok knot coat, you can avoid using about 30 waterfowl feathers.

By purchasing Kapok Knot products, you are making a choice that is kind to the environment and animals.

Use sustainable materials! Check out Kapok Knot products!

Check the material before purchasing clothes!

Fashion enriches our lives and always makes us feel happy. However, if we don't change the way we enjoy fashion, we will become the number one pest to the global environment.

Protecting the earth, flora and fauna, and creating an environment for future children to live in. Let's firmly understand and face the current situation and start by checking sustainable materials!

Click here for information on kapok knot materials