Materials
Made from carefully considered materials, our wardrobe treasures are designed to last. We have a strong focus on sourcing high quality materials and always strive to source materials in a more sustainable way. Delve deeper into our selection of materials below.
PIÑATEX®
Piñatex® is an innovative natural textile made from pineapple leaf fibers. The leaves are a byproduct of existing agriculture, turned into a wonderful non-woven material.
VEGEA™
Vegea™ is an innovative vegan material partly made from the by-products of winemaking. Discarded grape skins, stalks, and seeds are turned into a beautiful alternative to leather.
Since 2020 all of our cotton has been sustainably sourced, which for us means either organic, sourced through Better Cotton, in-conversion cotton och recycled. As we continue to grow so will our use of recycled cotton.
ORGANIC COTTON
Organic cotton is sourced from non-genetically modified plants, which are then cultivated and harvested without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. It also enhances the fertility and biodiversity of the soil it’s grown in.
BETTER COTTON
Some of our cotton is sourced through Better Cotton. Their mission is to help communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. Better Cotton is sourced via a system of mass balance where the cotton is not kept separate from other types of cotton on its journey from field to product.
Better Cotton works to train farmers to produce cotton in a way that cares for the environment through processes that minimise the harmful impacts of fertilizers and pesticides.
Read more about it here.
IN-CONVERSION COTTON
In-conversion cotton comes from farms that are following a three-year program to convert their crop from conventional to organic – sustaining the health of soils, ecosystems and people.
With the growing demand for organic cotton, it’s important to support farmers that are willing to transition and increase transparency from field to finished product. In-conversion cotton farmers follow the same strict requirements included in the organic certification.
RECYCLED COTTON
Recycled cotton offers two major benefits: it reduces the need for virgin material, and it reduces waste that otherwise might have gone to landfill. Recycled cotton can either come from waste and cut-offs created during production, or from clothes gathered via garment collecting initiatives.
All virgin down and feathers used by & Other Stories must either come from a recycled source or be certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). We never source down or feathers from exotic birds such as ostrich, and we use an 80% down/20% feather combination in our padding.
RDS – Responsible Down Standard
Since 2015 we only accept virgin down from farms that are certified according to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). The RDS aims to ensure that down and feathers come from animals that have not been subjected to any unnecessary harm. Any removal of down and feathers from live birds (live plucking) is prohibited, along with force-feeding of the animals.
More info on RDS Down & Feathers:
Responsible Down (RDS) | Textile Exchange
Recycled Down & Feathers
Recycled down & feather is sourced from, for example, old blankets, pillows, and cushions.
The recycled down & feather we use is certified by a third party and the padding composition must have 100% recycled down/feathers in order for us to make an on-product claim.
Using recycled down & feathers is always our first option, but please note that there are market restrictions for using recycled down & feathers – and in restricted markets we use RDS certified down.
Made from the stalks of the hemp plant, hemp is a durable and strong bast fiber. It requires small amounts of water, usually no pesticides, and actually benefits the soil it grows in.
As a fabric, hemp is strong and breathes well. It softens with each wash and doesn’t lose its shape. It also absorbs dye easily and retains the color well.
Woven from the flax crop, linen is a natural, durable fiber that becomes softer and more lustrous with use and laundering. A fine, well-used piece of linen may have almost the same feel and appearance as silk.
Due to its high moisture-wicking properties, linen dries almost instantly since the fibre itself cannot hold air or heat. As a result, linen fabrics tend to be breathable and cool to the touch. Linen is additionally a bit more rigid than other fabrics which prevents it from clinging to the body. It also doesn’t produce lint.
Linen can grow in cool and rainy climates with poor quality soil and requires very little water, so fewer fertilizers and pesticides are used compared to crops like cotton. It is additionally a very productive crop, yielding a far greater amount of fibers than cotton cropping.
Known for its luster and luxurious feel, silk is a natural, durable fiber sourced from the cocoons spun by silkworms. Thanks to its temperature regulating properties, this fabric allows you to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
MULBERRY SILK
With its pure white color and refined texture, mulberry silk is widely regarded as one of the finest. Produced by the Bombyx mori silkworms who feed on mulberry trees, this silk makes up about 90% of the global silk production.
TUSSAH SILK
Spun by the Tussah silkworm, this wild silk possesses a natural golden tone and a rich texture. This type is mainly used in its natural form since it’s difficult to dye.
RECYCLED SILK
The recycled silk we use is made from cutting waste in production. It has the same great qualities as conventional silk.
Choosing recycled silk is a way of saving natural resources. It also reduces what would end up in landfills.
RECYCLED POLYESTER
Conventional polyester is one of the most commonly used artificial fibers for clothes and is made from crude oil. It’s non-renewable, carbon-intensive, and takes over 200 years to decompose. That’s why we’re moving towards recycled polyester and away from conventional, virgin polyester. Recycled polyester is often produced from used PET bottles and other polyester waste, which helps to reduce the amount of plastic waste in landfills.
RECYCLED POLYAMIDE/NYLON
Polyamide is another popular oil-based fiber, often used to make underwear and tights, but also outerwear. Polyamide also goes under the trademark name Nylon. Nylon was originally developed in the mid-1930s as an alternative to silk stockings.
We source our recycled polyamide from materials like old fishing nets and carpets. We also utilize leftover waste from production - a way of saving natural resources and reducing waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.
The viscose family (man-made cellulosic fibers) have many sustainable options to choose from. They are often marketed under a trademark, which may not always reflect that they are sustainable. We’ve therefore put together a short explanation of the sustainable viscose options that we use most frequently.
CUPRO
Cupro is a regenerated cellulose fiber, made from cotton linter (the fuzz around the cottonseed). The cotton linter is discarded as waste from cotton fiber production. Cupro fabrics breathe like cotton, drape beautifully, and look and feel like silk.
LENZING™ ECOVERO™
This branded viscose fiber is derived from sustainable wood and pulp from certified and controlled sources. It is certified with the internationally recognized EU Ecolabel, meeting high environmental standards throughout its whole life cycle. Ecovero™ fabrics are typically soft, breathable and lightweight.
NAIA™
Naia™ is made from pine and eucalyptus, derived from sustainably managed forests and plantations to ensure no deforestation. Naia™ offers a brilliant color impact with a luxurious luster, all produced in a closed-loop process. The yarn transforms into soft fabrics with high comfort that are easy to care for.
TENCEL™ LYOCELL
Tencel™ Lyocell fibers are known for their natural comfort and environmentally responsible closed-loop production process. The wood is sourced from responsible forestry FSC and the fibers deliver quality, performance, and versatility. Unique physical properties lead to their high tenacity profile, efficient moisture management and gentleness to skin.
TENCEL™ MODAL
The Tencel™ Modal fibers are extracted from naturally grown beech wood by an environmentally responsible integrated pulp-to-fiber process, which is self-sufficient in energy and recovers co-products from component parts of the wood. This flexible fiber is renowned for its exceptional softness.
Sourced from animals such as goats and sheep, wool is a natural and renewable fiber with many benefits. It’s also highly breathable due to its ability to absorb and evaporate moisture. In contrast to synthetics, wool is an active fiber that reacts to changes in body temperature, helping you stay warm when the weather is cold and cool when the weather is hot. Wool fibers additionally have natural self-cleaning properties, as well as a natural protective outer layer that prevents stains from being absorbed.
& Other Stories does not accept wool from farms that practice mulesing.
RWS – Responsible Wool Standard
The goals of the Responsible Wool Standard are to provide the industry with a tool to recognize the best practices of farmers; ensuring that wool comes from farms that have a:
• progressive approach to managing their land
• practice holistic respect for animal welfare of the sheep
• respect the Five Freedoms of animal welfare
RWS wool is just as high quality as regular wool. The RWS also applies to Merino Wool, which is softer than regular wool and comes from a unique species of sheep: The Merino sheep.
More info on RWS Wool:
Responsible Wool (RWS) | Textile Exchange
RMS – Responsible Mohair Standard
The mohair fibers are long, fine, and lustrous and take dye exceptionally well. All mohair used by & Other Stories must come from farms certified to the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) that addresses the welfare of goats and the land they graze on. It ensures that the mohair comes from farms that have:
• progressive approach to managing their land
• practice holistic respect for animal welfare of the goats
• respect the Five Freedoms of animal welfare
More info on RMS Mohair:
Responsible Mohair (RMS) | Textile Exchange
GCS - Good Cashmere Standard
Cashmere is a high-quality, luxurious material. Delicate and lightweight yet with strong and super soft fibers.
The Good Cashmere Standard® by AbTF (GCS) is an Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) initiative. Its objective is to promote animal welfare in cashmere production, social criteria for small and large-scale herders, and to protect the environment and promote biodiversity. All & Other Stories’ cashmere must come from farms certified to the Good Cashmere Standard or from certified recycled sources.
More info on GCS Cashmere:
The Good Cashmere Standard
RECYCLED WOOL
By recycling wool we save raw materials, conserve water, and reduce what ends up in landfills. Recycled wool is ideal for heavier, outdoor garments. It comes from the waste or cut-offs created during production, or from clothes gathered via our garment collecting initiative. Our recycled wool is certified by a third party, i.e. GRS (Global Recycled Standard).
To make an on-product claim, at least 50% of the composition needs to contain recycled wool.