OEcotextiles

Indulgent yet responsible fabrics

What is Sensuede?

O Ecotextiles (and Two Sisters Ecotextiles)

Sensuede is, according to its website, an elegant, supple, high performance textile made with recycled fibers. But Sensuede is not a fabric we’d be excited about selling, and let us tell you why:  Sensuade is just a brand name for a polyester microfiber.  Ultrasuede was the first of its type.  But all microfibers are made in …

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Hemp vs. Linen

O Ecotextiles (and Two Sisters Ecotextiles)

We are often asked for 100% hemp fabric in lieu of linen fabrics. We offer hemp and adore it, but it may not be the best eco choice. Make no mistake – we love hemp, we sell hemp fabrics and we think the re-introduction of hemp as a crop would be a boon for American …

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To polyester or not to polyester

O Ecotextiles (and Two Sisters Ecotextiles)

Give our retail website, Two Sisters Ecotextiles, a look and let us know what you think. We are pondering about whether to sell polyester fabrics – largely because people are insisting on it. And there is a lot of polyester being produced: But, when (or if) we sell polyester fabric or blends, we have determined …

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Textile certifications

O Ecotextiles (and Two Sisters Ecotextiles)

Don’t forget to take a look at our new retail website (Two Sisters Ecotextiles) and let us know what you think.  We’re still working out some kinks so your input is really appreciated. In the textile industry, there are two third party certifications which are transparent and to which we certify our fabrics: the Global …

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Our previous blog post we talked about fabric – how to determine the quality of the fabric you’re considering for your new sofa.  But the most important consideration merits a blog all its own, and that is the safety of the fabrics you’ve chosen.  We define “safe” as a fabric that has been processed with …

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  One thing that most people care about is how the cushions feel to them – do you like to sink down into the cushions or you like a denser, more supportive cushion? Either way, the cushions are important. Before plastics, our grandparents filled cushions with feathers, horsehair, wool or cotton batting – even straw …

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Global Recycle Standard update

O Ecotextiles (and Two Sisters Ecotextiles)

Textile Exchange, which administers the new Global Recycle Standard, has introduced what it says is a “minor but important” change in GRS version 2.1, according to the April/May 2012 issue of Ecotextile News.  (If you’re wondering what the Global Recycle Standard is all about, please see our blog post on the subject:  click here .) The …

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LEED and human health

O Ecotextiles (and Two Sisters Ecotextiles)

Does living or working in a LEED certified space mean that you are safe from building contaminants – or does it promote a false sense of security? A study published by the nonprofit,  Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI),  in May 2010, emphatically claims that you are not safe.  The lead author of the study, …

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Global Recycle Standard

O Ecotextiles (and Two Sisters Ecotextiles)

It looks like the plastic bottle is here to stay, despite publicity about bisphenol A  and other chemicals that may leach into liquids inside the bottle.   Plastic bottles (the kind that had been used for some kind of consumer product) are the feedstock for what is known as “post-consumer recycled polyester”. Even though plastic recycling appears …

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Global Organic Textile Standard

O Ecotextiles (and Two Sisters Ecotextiles)

In the 1980’s, producers of eco-friendly textiles generally worked under the umbrella of  organic food associations.  However, they found that the food association was impractical for textile producers because  although the growing and harvesting of food and fiber crops were similar, the processing of fibers in preparation to make fabric varied widely.  The organic food …

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