NATURAL FABRICS
At Sitting Pretty we source all our fabric and yarns locally.
We only use natural fibres, and do our best with what we have available. As a small brand, we don’t have the capital to buy the massive minimum requirements to buy ‘organic cotton’ which is often in excess of 5000 meters. If we did, we would be sitting on reams of one type fabric for 7 years which does not make financial sense or sense in terms of evolving our brand and the styles we offer.
Access to organic/ sustainable fibres is very limited locally, manufacturers of these fabrics really only cater for the larger brands, and most of these brands are using synthetic fibres.
We only use natural fabrics, and strive to find the most eco-friendly that are available. The fabric we use has no polyester, acrylic or any synthetic content— all of which are forms of plastic — currently they constitute 60 percent of the material that makes up our clothes worldwide.
These fibres contribute to ocean plastic pollution in a subtle but pervasive way: These synthetics, along with synthetic-natural blends, leach into the environment through the wash cycle. Estimates vary, but it’s possible that a single load of laundry could release hundreds of thousands of fibres from our clothes into the water supply. These tiny fibres, less than 5 millimetres in length, can eventually reach the ocean. They add to the micro-plastic pollution that’s accumulating in the food chain and being ingested by all sorts of marine wildlife, and even us. Most of the plastic that’s in the ocean, in terms of number of pieces, is not in the form of whole products like cups or straws, but instead broken-down shreds of plastic. This pervades the entire food chain and the effects are disastrous.
A paper in Environmental Science and Technology estimated that “a population of 100,000 people would produce approximately 1.02 kilograms of fibres each day.” That’s 359 Kg per year of individual plastic shards. Shocking right? Feel like you want to do something about it? Make a conscious choice, join us and commit to not buying synthetic
fibres.
For more information on the fabrics that we use and of your particular garment , we have listed them below. For information on care of these fabrics please see our care guide here.
COTTON
Cotton is a naturally soft material that feels comfortable against the skin. A highly durable and natural fibre of the cotton plant. It is both soft and cool and creates a breathable fabric.
It is absorbent, hypoallergenic, non-toxic, and has excellent wicking properties. It is biodegradable. We do not currently make use of organic cotton in our garments because it is not easily accessible in South Africa at the small quantities we need. The minimum order quantity of organic cotton is about 5000m.
Our knitwear is made with OEKO-TEX® Organic Cotton, class I Annex 4 which is certified on the basis requirements with the goal to protect consumer health. It is also tested in numerous substance classes that are relevant to the environment and of course for the use of GMO.
TENCEL
A natural, man-made fibre, also referred to as lyocell. It is made from wood pulp from sustainable tree plantations.
The production process is based on closed loop spinning that recovers or decomposes all solvents and emissions. It has 50% greater moisture absorbency than cotton. Tencel has been budded as the fabric of the future. It has a luxurious lustre and a drape that mimics silk or rayon. It is biodegradable. It’s an absolute win!
RAYON
100% Rayon is made from wood pulp cellulose and put through a chemical process, creating a man-made, natural fibre.
Rayon has a silk-like aesthetic with a superb drape. It is soft, smooth, cool and comfortable. It can absorb water and sweat, so it’s perfect to wear in summers, also as a substitute for cotton as it does not insulate heat. Rayon is a biodegradable fibre.
LINEN
Linen is made from the fibres of a flax plant. It has a much lower environmental impact than cotton, as it requires no pesticides and little water. It is durable, highly absorbent and breathable.
It dries faster than cotton and has the tendency to crinkle. It regulates body temperature, so keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. It is biodegradable.
HEMP
An environmental super fibre. Hemp fabric comes from the plant with the same name. It is one of the fastest growing plants and it doesn't need much water, energy, pesticide, or fertilizers. The plant is very good for soil and can be grown for many years in the same place without exhausting it. It is an extremely high yield crop that produces more fibre per meter than cotton and flax. This is why hemp is considered to be eco-friendly. It has very similar properties to linen, and is the only fibre that wears in, not out!
Plus it’s completely biodegradable.
BAMBOO
Bamboo is a sustainable crop. It is essentially a fast-growing grass, requires no fertiliser and self-regenerates from its own roots, so it doesn’t need to be replanted. It requires far less water than cotton. Bamboo fibre has various micro-gaps, which make it softer than cotton and increase its moisture absorption. It is antibacterial and highly absorbent. Powerfully insulating and soft. It has a natural repellent for odours and is biodegradable.
WOOL
Our wool suppliers production facilities are certified Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).
The RWS protocol guarantees the complete traceability of raw materials and supply chain, It certifies that wool comes from farms with a progressive approach to managing their land, and from sheep that have been treated responsibly. The protection of soil health, biodiversity and native species, as well as the responsible treatment of the animals that have to be free from all deprivation, are essential.
GOTS guarantees complete traceability, all the material must come from certified organic farms. In addition, the protocol severely limits the use of chemicals potentially harmful for the environment or the health, from the harvesting to the subsequent manufacturing phases. Finally, the protocol provides for verification of compliance with corporate ethics in terms of social guarantees, labour protection and equity, also under the salary profile, on the workplace.
LINEN/RAYON BLEND
Rayon blended with linen creates a substantially softer fabric with more fluid drape and a subtle sheen from the rayon. As it wears it gets softer and more textured. It crinkles less than 100% linen. With wash and wear it gets softer and more textured. It is a beautiful, breathable fabric and it’s biodegradable.
LEATHER
Our shoes and handbags are made with full grain aniline cow hide. Our leather is sourced locally (99%). The leather used is a by-product of the meat-industry.
For this reason you will find natural markings on the leather. Cows are not farmed specifically for their leather. The leather we choose is of the highest quality, but because of its natural nature every single scratch or tick mark can be seen. It is biodegradable.