Materials and Certification Guide
Materials guide
The world of fibers, yarns, and sustainable textiles can be confusing, and there are many voices online screaming all kinds of things, some true and some not. Consumers and the environment lose when confusion reigns, so let's keep it simple.
Everything we make starts with a selection of materials, which we choose according to a comprehensive set of criteria designed to reduce harm. We weigh decisions like use of natural vs synthetic, consider processing, fiber origin, durability, and impact. Here are two examples of how this works in practice:
Example A. For our long sleeve seamless top, we specifically chose to work with yarns recycled from tires, which are better than bottles for several reasons (microplastic shedding, circularity, durability/strength, prevention of tire incineration). We could have simply chosen any fabric and not asked questions, but going the extra mile resulted in a far superior product that is extremely sustainable. We think it might actually be the most sustainable top for equestrians on the planet.
Example B. We chose a mill for the recycled fabric in our breech located near Milan, Italy. Although it cost extra to ship this fabric to the factory for production, what resulted is a breech that meets EU Reach Directive requirements, which means it is free from harmful carcinogenic/endocrine disrupting substances that can sometimes be found in fabrics. For an item that is worn as close to the skin as a breech, this is very important. Plus, the fabric is gorgeous.
Certifications guide
We will always list certifications in the product description. Here are the certifications that you will find in our lines and what they mean, in simple terms.
- Oeko-Tex Standard 100: this is a gold standard certification for harmful substances. If you see this certification in one of our products, the fabric in this product is free of over 1,000 harmful substances.
- Recycled Claim Standard (RCS): developed by the Textile Exchange, this standard ensures that recycled content is maintained throughout the chain of custody – from feedstock to final product.
- Global Recycled Standard (GRS): this Textile Exchange standard takes the RCS and amplifies it. To meet this standard, facilities in the supply chain must also meet fair labor standards, manage energy use, water consumption, wastewater treatment, and waste management responsibly. Additionally, the chemicals used in processing GRS products must not pose unnecessary hazards to people or the environment.
*To note, if we are able to source a material from a deadstock source, we may not be able to verify certification. However, this material might otherwise be discarded, so we see deadstock use as very sustainable, as long as it comes from a trusted source