Why we focus on Natural Fibre Fabrics

Have you looked at the composition label of the clothes in your wardrobe lately? Could you name the fabric of your favourite garment? The world of fabrics can be a bewildering one and we believe as mindful consumers, it is important to have some basic knowledge about different fabric types, their pros and cons and their environmental impact.

It is our vision here at CIMELIA to use natural fibre fabrics from reputable sources whenever possible and to keep working and improving on all sustainability aspects in the supply chain. For more on how we approach sustainability in our business, read our corresponding blog post here.

There are many reasons to choose clothing made from quality natural fibre fabrics  - here are our top three:

• Longevity

An emphasis on high-quality natural fabrics in combination with excellent workmanship ensures a prolonged life-cycle of our pieces and imbues them with a heirloom quality that is worthy to be passed on to the next generation. Better quality also equals a better long-term investment, both for the consumer and the environment. By buying fewer pieces made from finest natural fabric and with a timeless, minimal design, you are choosing longevity, reducing land-fill and saying no to the trend machine of fast fashion.

• Comfort

Most natural fibre fabrics have fantastic inherent qualities in terms of wear. Linen, for example, is not only amazingly durable but also softens beautifully over time. What is more, linen is comfortable in all seasons - breathable and cool in summer, layerable and insulating in the colder months. Oh, and did you know that linen’s inherent antibacterial properties help keep it relatively free of odour? Or take silk: despite it’s delicate appearance it is an incredibly strong fibre and also naturally hypoallergenic. Pretty magical, right?

• Craftsmanship

The relentless demand of fast fashion means that many artisan communities and traditional craftsmanship are threatened with extinction. Needless to say, it is vital to keep local creative design and skills alive, not only to keep century old heritage thriving for the next generation but also to support local businesses and thus contributing to self-sustaining communities and economies. The people beyond the products matter!

Natural fibre clothing is not the perfect or only solution for more sustainability in the clothing industry. No matter what we choose to wear, there will always be some drawbacks. However, using less fossil fuel based materials is definitely a step in the right direction in reducing our dependence on non-renewable resources. Let’s keep taking those small steps together!