Sustainability in Fabrics and Yarns

Positive and negative aspects exist in fabric production, particularly regarding animal and plant fibers.

Silk:
- Extracted from the cocoon of the Mulberry silk moth, requires intense heat.
- High carbon and water footprint due to water usage and synthetic chemicals in Mulberry cultivation.
- Producing 1 kg of silk demands 3,000 silkworms and 104 kg of Mulberry leaves.
- Organic silk uses fewer chemicals, allowing silkworms to emerge naturally, though production is limited (less than 0.2% of total silk).
Wool:
- Obtained by shearing sheep, creating a need for extensive land use.
- Annually, 2 million tonnes are produced; 60% is used for apparel despite wool’s small market share (3%).
- Organic wool lowers production scale, focuses on animal care, and aligns with trends in organic food.
Cashmere:
- Sourced from Kashmir goats, overgrazing leads to land degradation and dust clouds.
Other Animal Fibres:
- Angora: Produced from Angora rabbits/goats.
- Mohair: Comes from Angora goats.
- Vicuna and Alpaca: Relatives of llamas, with Vicuna being wild and Alpaca domesticated.
- Yak: Large domesticated wild ox with long hair.
- Responsible production methods protect vegetation, promoting ethical animal keeping.

Animal caring practices and ethical considerations are crucial in fiber sourcing.
Fur: Involves killing animals, raising ethical concerns. Faux fur poses different environmental threats.
Leather/Skin: Derived from animal hides; involves killing. Faux leather can also be environmentally detrimental when made from petroleum.

Sourced as a by-product of the fish industry; one tonne of fish fillets yields about 40 kg of fish skin.

Cotton:
- A water-intensive crop that heavily depends on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, depleting water resources.
- Comprises 26% of global fabric production, with only 1% being organic.
Organic Cotton:
- Grown using natural pesticides and practices like companion planting and crop rotation to enhance soil nutrients.
Linen:
- Derived from flax fibers, labor-intensive to produce but recognized for strength and absorbency.
- Quality largely influenced by cultivation methods; longer fibers obtained through hand-harvesting or precise cutting techniques.
Organic Linen:
- Similar organic practices as cotton, emphasizing sustainable growth and harvesting methods.