Fabric used by Grizzly Wears Clothing

This article will be added to over time as the range of clothing and fabric we use to make them expands. I will include a few fabrics and why we choose not to use them despite seeming good.

Fabric is not all created equally and I try to maintain a balanced view, find real benefits and drawbacks and use them appropriately with minimal impact.

Bamboo Fabric

Bamboo fabric has a number of great characteristics. It is almost too good to be true. Unconventionally, I’ll start with the negatives:

  • Bamboo Viscose requires chemical processing
  • Bamboo Fabric isn’t fast drying

Raw Bamboo fibres have to be broken down chemically to enable them to be turned into a fabric. This is not ideal. Thankfully, there is an alternative. Lyocell Bamboo removes the chemicals, replacing them with a mechanical process. I am moving towards Bamboo produced this way to lessen the environmental issue.

The only attribute of Bamboo that is not great for sportswear is the drying time. For this reason we are looking towards blending it with Cotton to provide a more balanced set of properties. Lastly here are the positives, Bamboo is:

  • Stronger than steel.
  • Softer than silk.
  • Retains heat like wool.
  • Wicks like a sponge.
  • Temperature regulating.
  • Resistant to odours.

In conclusion, with a little help, nature engineered a fabric that is great for a wide range of applications !

Cotton

Cotton is the benchmark sustainable fabric, it is readily available. Manufacturers already have fantastic accreditations for ethical and sustainable production. Being the fastest drying natural fabric, cotton makes comfortable clothing for a wide use of applications.

This material really needs no introduction. I would be surprised if anybody reading this doesn’t own anything made from Cotton. Remaining in fashion after 7000 years !

Positive features of cotton are that it grows as a natural fibre making it easy to turn into fabric. Conversely cotton does require pesticides and fertilisers. In addition to this it consumes a lot of water and land.

Recycled Polyester (rPET)

By using 100% Recycled Polyester we create products which can be recycled when they reach the end of their usable life. Importantly we prevent waste going directly to landfill. Additionally waste can be sourced from domestic or industrial use. Lastly, for the reasons of contributing to a circular lifecycle we try not to blend polyester with other fabrics.

When Polyester is blended with other fabric, it becomes harder to recycle. Furthermore, additional processing may or may not be possible or available.

Polyester does have some environmental benefits. It is a plastic made from oil. However it requires no land or water to be grown. By using recycled polyester over virgin polyester the energy required for production is reduced by 79%

Fabric Lifecycle

At this time there are provisional agreements in place with a number of other businesses to enable recycling of clothing when returned. If Clothing is in a usable condition, we will pass it on to charities to be given to people in need. Importantly, polyester can be recycled into a raw material for use in other products or more clothing.

Be sure to check out my blog to see how we use different fabrics.