OUR FABRICS AND HOW TO CARE FOR THEM

DESCRIPTION OF LINEN

The earliest written history of linen is on 4,000-year-old Grecian tablets, which recorded a strong linen textile industry. The natural fibers of linen also made it the fabric of choice in the mummification of kings in ancient Egypt, and is so strong and long-lasting that mummies found recently still had perfectly intact linen wrappings. It has been used as both a heavy-duty utility fabric and a fine luxury fabric.

Linen is made from the flax plant and is two to three times as strong as silk or cotton. The long fibers of the flax plant have a natural vegetable wax coating, which creates a subtle sheen when woven together in a textile. The flax plant's fiber is naturally strong, soft and light; linen fabric made from these fibers is breathable and durable. . Its natural off-white color tolerates dyes well and retains its color without fading. It wrinkles easily but can be pressed flat with a hot iron.

100% white linen used is the lightest fabric in the linen range.

100% natural linen has a beautiful natural colour and will still shrink between 2.5-3% but tends to move back into shape because of the weave even though it has been prepared in the weaving process. All the garments in the range have considered this quality and have been designed accordingly. When the fabric is dyed in different colours, it shrinks in the dyeing process because it is exposed to high temperatures in the dye bath.

Taking care of your linen garment

Linen should be washed on a gentle cold machine cycle at 30 degrees. Harsh detergents can damage and weaken fibers and it is important to read manufacturers information and choose a gentle detergent.  Do not mix colours because linen absorb colour very well. Do not use bleach because it will colour your garment and weaken the fibers. Line dry in the shade to prevent the sun from bleaching dyed colours. Do not tumble dry because fibers can shrink. Iron garment when damp. Linen is dry cleanable. Taking care of your garment will ensure a long wearing life. 

DESCRIPTION OF RAMIE

Ramie is a flowering plant and part of the Nettle family native to Eastern Asia. Ramie is one of the oldest textile fibres. It was used in mummy cloths in Egypt during the period 5000 - 3000 BC, for its resistance to bacteria, insect attacks, rot and mildew and has been grown in China for many centuries. This premium plant fibre used for textiles comes from the inner bark of the vegetative stalks and not the woody stem of the outer bark. 

Ramie is extremely absorbent and therefore comfortable to wear, especially during warm weather. Ramie has natural stain resisting ability with ease of stain/soil removal similar to that of linen and dyes easily, keeps its shape and does not shrink.

 Ramie is costly to process because there is a need to de-gum the fibre prior to processing and the intensive labour, harvesting and decortication also adds to the manufacturing costs.

The main producers of ramie today are China, Brazil, Philippines, India, South Korea and Thailand. Only a small percentage of the ramie produced is available on the international market. Japan, Germany, France and the UK are the main importers.

Unlike flax, ramie is a perennial and grows as a shrub up to 1.2 meters tall. The ramie fibre is white and lustrous and looks like silk. Ramie is one of the strongest natural fibres and it is even strong when wet. Like linen it will break if folded repeatedly in the same place. 

Taking care of your ramie garment

Ramie should be washed on a gentle cold machine cycle at 30 degrees. Harsh detergents can damage and weaken fibers and it is important to read manufacturers information and choose a gentle detergent.  Do not mix colours because ramie absorb colour very well. Do not use bleach because it will colour your garment and weaken the fibers. Line dry in the shade to prevent the sun from bleaching dyed colours. Taking care of your garment will ensure a long wearing life. 

 

DESCRIPTION OF COTTON

Cotton is a natural fiber that comes from the seedpod of the cotton plant and is most often spun into thread and used to make a soft breathable textile. Some authorities claim that it was as early as 12,000 BC that the Egyptians had used cotton but the earliest written reference is to Indian cotton. Cotton in India has been grown for more than 3,000 years.

The 100% cotton lawn used in the range is a plain weave with a fine high thread count which makes it a breathable fabric for summer 

The 100% cotton poplin is a plain weave with a very tight thread count which makes the fabric feel crunchy, sometimes described as cracking poplin.

Taking care of your cotton garment

Cottons should be cold machine washed on a 30 degree gentle cycle. Wash colours separately and do not use bleach but select a detergent that is gentle. Always read manufacturer’s instructions for ingredients. Do not tumble dry or dry clean. Cotton is durable and taking care of your garment will ensure a long life.