ImagesMagUK_May_2021

46 images MAY 2021 PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE KB yarn and shredding clips of leftover fabric are collected and sorted into colours, then re-processed into new cotton yarn. The colour separation is key, as the yarn then doesn’t need to be re-dyed. This saves the water, chemicals and energy required by the dyeing process. The regeneration process recycles on average 0.22kg of cotton waste and 19 plastic bottles per Écologie sweater. It also saves 20,000 litres of water, 2.7kg of dyes and chemicals, and more than 11kg of C02 emissions. Recycled polyester Polyester is one of the most popular fabrics worldwide, yet polyester production is commonly regarded as an especially energy-hungry process, requiring the use of large quantities of water, fossil fuels, and chemicals. Recycled polyester fabric addresses this problem: it uses PET (polyethylene terephthalate) as its raw material, which is the same material used in clear plastic water bottles. To produce recycled polyester, plastic bottles are crushed, cleaned and reduced to polyester chips, ready to be spun into yarn for knitting. This process reduces the amount of plastic consigned to landfill, protects against soil contamination and air and water pollution, and saves 53% of the energy used to manufacture virgin polyester. S ustainable labels have been cropping up everywhere, in both the retail and imprintable textile industries, over recent years, driven by a growing environmental awareness and demand for eco- friendly products. However, according to sustainable apparel brand Écologie by AWDis, mixed messaging and a lack of transparency can result in products that are not always as environmentally friendly as they at first appear. In an effort to assist decorators to cut through the confusion, Écologie has created the following guide to different fabrications to help you decipher what’s what when selecting your sustainable garments and accessories. Organic cotton Cotton is a natural fibre harvested from the Gossypium plant. Choosing organic cotton supports a production process that eliminates the use of toxic chemical fertilisers, pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMO). The process aims to preserve a healthy environment for farmers and improve the biodiversity of the soil. Organic cotton farming is reported to use 88%* less water and 62% less energy compared to conventional cotton farming. Regenerated cotton Factories producing cotton fabrics generate waste material. Traditionally, this has been consigned to landfill. With regenerated cotton, however, the excess Do you know your organic cotton from your regenerated cotton, or the difference between recycled polyester and viscose? Get up to speed on in-demand eco-friendly and sustainable fabrics with Écologie by AWDis Eco viscose Eco viscose is a man-made natural fibre derived from cellulose extracted from sustainably sourced wood pulp. This pulp is then dissolved, spun and dried ready for knitting using a 100% chlorine- free process. Écologie uses Lenzing’s EcoVero fibre, an eco-friendly viscose that’s said to have the lowest environmental impact in the industry. The closed loop process used to manufacture EcoVero fibre ensures that all water and chemicals are collected and re-used, resulting in zero waste. Moreover, Lenzing has a completely transparent supply chain and EcoVero branded fibres are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), reinforcing Écologie’s commitment to low carbon neutrality alongside the brand’s tree planting programme in partnership with Carbon Footprint. Peta and plastic All Écologie by AWDis garments are manufactured only in factories that are Gots, RCS, Sedex, BSCI or Oeko-Tex certified, and all are Peta accredited vegan, never air freighted and, as of 2020, shipped with zero plastic packaging. www.ecologiebyawdis.com * The 2019 Soil Association report Thirsty for Fashion reports that a life cycle analysis found organic cotton reduces water consumption by as much as 91% compared to conventionally grown cotton. Sustainable Fabrics 101 www.images-magazine.com Écologie by AWDis swing tags illustrating the range of sustainable fabrics the brand uses for its garments Écologie’s new EA004 and EA004F Ambaro Recycled Sports Ts are an ideal alternative to traditional polyester sports Ts, offering the same level of wrinkle- resistance, and being easy to clean, quick drying and durable with a soft hand-feel