Natural fibers
The materials of our products
Our products are made from various types of natural fibers, some well-known, others more unique, and some very rare and valuable. On this page we wanted to tell you the story of each fiber we use in our products, their properties and characteristics, to let you know the authentic beauty of wearing a garment made with materials that nature itself offers us. We wanted to add an information page on our website about the products we use, both to explain the reason for the our sustainable choice, but above all to make known the quality and high potential of these materials to those who still don't know their story.
Plant-based fibers
Hemp
Hemp fiber (Cannabis sativa) is a
natural, ecological and very resistant textile fibre, known for its excellent properties and a thousand-year history of use. The use of hemp has
very ancient roots, dating back at least 10,000 years, with origins in the early agricultural societies of Central Asia. From there, it spread throughout the world, becoming one of the most important textile fibers before the advent of cotton and synthetic fibers.
In the past, hemp was considered a "green gold" for its versatility and resistance. It had many uses, including textiles for the production of workwear, sheets, tablecloths, and household linen, passed down from generation to generation. It was also widely used in the mercantile sector for the production of ropes, sails, and ship ropes, thanks to its great resistance to wear.
In Italy the cultivation and processing of hemp were fundamental economic activities until the post-World War II period, before the industrialization of other fibers drastically reduced its production. Hemp is an extremely versatile fabric, offering numerous advantages, and is considered one of the most popular natural fibers. resistant to wear and tearGarments made from hemp can last for many years and accompany us for a good part of our lives. Its hollow fiber acts as a natural insulator ensuring a thermoregulation continues to make the garment close to the skin, cool in summer and warmer in winter.
It is naturally hypoallergenic and does not conduct static electricity, so it does not attract dust. It is also resistant to mites, mold, fungi, and bacteria, making it ideal for sensitive skin. Effectively absorbs body moisture, ensuring high breathabilityGrowing hemp requires very little water compared to other crops like cotton, does not require pesticides or herbicides, and its deep roots enrich the soil with nitrogen, improving its fertility. Hemp is therefore one of the fibers with the highest performance and lowest production costs; it is a resistant plant with a thousand qualities.
Linen
Linen fiber is one of the oldest, prized for its strength, breathability, and thermoregulatory properties. Historically used by the Egyptians for clothing and mummification, from the Romans for the home and clothing, and in the Middle Ages for linen, where it became a fine fabric symbol of social status, today it is appreciated for summer garments, linens and accessories, thanks to its freshness, durability and elegance.
Highly breathable, it quickly absorbs and releases moisture, maintaining the dry and fresh skin, typical behavior of natural fibers in general. It does not irritate the skin, on the contrary, it soothes and prevents bacterial growth. Also suitable for sensitive skin, it has a natural shine and a distinctive, elegant and refined textureIt is a material that can be washed at high temperatures, but it tends to crease compared to hemp, which has the opposite behavior: it stretches during washing, and then returns to its original shape during drying, in fact it does not require ironing.
Linen thread is obtained from plant stems (Linum usitatissimum), not from a specific part, but from within the stem, after a long process that begins with the uprooting (not cutting) of the entire plant to obtain the maximum length of fibre, followed by retting, scutching (to separate the woody part), combing and finally spinning (twisting the fibres) to create the thread.
Organic Cotton
The cotton plant (genus Gossypium) is a natural, vegetal and hypoallergenic fibre, grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers, making it softer, more breathable, and more sustainable than conventional cotton. Its origins are ancient, with uses dating back thousands of years. It is a tropical and subtropical shrub. It is believed to have been cultivated, spun, and woven independently in various regions, including Egypt as early as 3,000 years ago.
Cotton has always been used for the production of clothing and linen. The fiber arrived in Europe around 800 AD thanks to Arab merchants. Over the centuries, it became one of the most widespread textile fibers in the world, appreciated for its versatility and comfort.
In the past, all cotton was "organic" in the sense that modern synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers did not exist. The widespread use of these substances in conventional agriculture only began with the "Green Revolution" of the 20th century. The concept of ""organic cotton" as a certified niche product It was therefore born in modern times, as a conscious response to the environmental and health impacts of conventional agriculture.
This material has numerous properties, its characteristics are closely linked to its cultivation method, which preserves the fiber purity and eliminates residual chemicals. It is also a hypoallergenic and skin-safe material, being free of toxic chemical residues, it is ideal for sensitive skin and children, reducing the risk of skin irritation and allergies. Organic cotton fibers tend to be softer and remain softer over time, as they are not weakened by exposure to harsh chemicals. It is a highly breathable material, absorbs moisture, keeping the skin dry. We must not confuse it with the classic cotton we find everywhere nowadays. Traditional cotton garments often always contain a percentage of elastane, acrylic, or polyester. Natural fibers give us 100% of their properties and effects only when pure. Yarns mixed with synthetic fibers cancel out the benefits of natural fibers, causing bad odors, excessive sweating due to lack of breathability and skin irritation.
Furthermore, the organic cultivation of this plant, supports biodiversity, soil health and preserves local water resources, avoiding contamination from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
Animal fibres
Silk
Silk is a high-quality natural protein fiber, known for its luster, softness, lightness and strength, derived from silkworm cocoons. Discovered in China thousands of years ago It spread throughout the world as a symbol of luxury, once used for royal robes and furnishing fabrics, and now in medicine, fashion, and technology, thanks to its thermoregulating and hygroscopic properties. It spread along the Silk Road, arriving in Europe in the Middle Ages, where it became a luxury good for nobles and the wealthy.
Requires a complex extraction from the cocoon (often heat-treated) and spinning, making the raw material very expensive to begin with. Historically used for clothing, vestments, furnishing fabrics, sewing threads, and even dietary supplements in the Far East.
Silk is a extremely soft, smooth, light and pleasant material on the skinIt has a characteristic brilliance, more or less intense depending on the processing and is strong and tear-resistant, resulting in being very elastic. It has insulating properties and thermoregulating properties that make it particularly versatile. It absorbs a lot of moisture (up to 30% of its weight) without feeling damp.
Virgin Wool
Virgin wool is a very high quality natural textile fibre, obtained from first shearing of an animal (usually sheep) or from wool that has never been previously used or industrially processed. This purity determines its exceptional properties and characteristics. Wool is one of the oldest textile fibers used by humanity. It is obtained primarily from sheep fleece, but also from goats (merino, mohair), rabbits (angora), and camelids. The practice of shearing has ancient origins, dating back thousands of years to the Near East, where sheep were domesticated not only for their meat and milk, but also for their wool.
In ancient times, it was the predominant fiber in many cultures, particularly in Europe and Asia, before the advent of cheap cotton and synthetic fibers. Its processing, which included shearing, washing, carding, spinning and weaving, it was a widespread domestic or artisan activityThe distinction between "virgin" wool and recycled wool became particularly relevant with industrialization, when mechanical processes allowed the "regeneration" of old fabrics, leading to the need for clear labeling to indicate the superior quality of untreated material. The use of the "Pure Virgin Wool" mark (Woolmark) was introduced to guarantee consumers that they were purchasing a product made exclusively from non-recycled, sheared wool.
Wool has the wonderful property of being a exceptional thermal insulatorThanks to its crimped structure, the fiber traps air, creating an insulating barrier that protects against both cold and heat, helping regulate body temperature. It is highly breathable and has the remarkable ability to absorb moisture while remaining dry.
Being often the the first fleece has longer and more intact fibres, resulting in a softer finish and less likely to itch than other wools, especially Merino wool. The fiber is naturally waterproof and elastic, allowing garments to retain their shape over time and resist creasing. Wool's complex structure makes it difficult for odor-causing bacteria to grow.
Alpaca Wool
Alpaca fiber is a fine, soft, silky wool and very warm, hypoallergenic (due to the absence of lanolin) and available in 22 natural colorsIt is 5 times warmer than sheep's wool, resistant and light, used for luxury winter clothing since ancient times by the Incas, who considered it "the fiber of the Gods", destined for the emperor. Native to the South American Andes (Peru, Bolivia), the alpaca is a camelid that has been raised for centuries.
There are different types of Alpaca wool:
Huacaya: The most common type, with soft, curly fleece.
SuriRarer, with long, silky and shiny fibres that fall in twisted strands, considered even more valuable.
Baby Alpaca: Not from the puppy, but the finest and softest fibre obtained from the first shearing or from the most delicate areas of the fleece
Alpaca wool has the main characteristic of being a strong thermal insulator, which allows a high level of heat to be given to the body of the person wearing a garment made with this fibre. extremely soft, silky, almost velvety, without tingling. It does not contain lanolin, making it suitable for those who are allergic to traditional wool, it is also a resistant and elastic fibre, light but very warm. hollow structure of the fiber, common to all wools and hemp, repels water, keeping the skin dry. The vast array of colors available in nature allows for the creation of garments without dyes, leaving the yarn in its natural color.
Camel Wool
Camel wool fiber is a fine fabric, soft, light, warm and shiny, known for its excellent thermoregulating and breathable properties, derived from the soft undercoat (duvet) of Bactrian camels (2-humped) from Central Asia, traditionally collected during the spring moult to produce fine garments, appreciated for its natural golden color and to be hypoallergenic and resistant.
Historically used for luxury items such as coats, scarves, sweaters and blankets, it is prized for its natural qualities and the scarcity of yarn, which increases its value. It is also a renewable and biodegradable natural resource.
It protects from extreme cold and desert heat, maintaining a constant body temperature. It is lighter and more resistant than sheep's wool, with a silky feel to the touch, absorbs body moisture, making it breathable and is a strong, elastic and resistant fabric, which does not bend easily. It is waterproof and lanolin-free, making it suitable for sensitive skin. It is rarely dyed, preferring its natural golden/brown color.
Cashmere
Cashmere fiber is a very soft, very light and super insulating fleece, obtained from the undercoat of Hircus goats in Central Asia (Tibet, Mongolia), living in very cold mountainous areas, historically used as a luxury material for very warm and breathable clothes, appreciated for its softness, fineness (14-18 microns), thermoregulation (warm in winter, cool in summer) and hygroscopicity, offering comfort, durability and a silky touch, requiring care but holding its shape for years.
He comes hand-combed during the spring, not sheared, a delicate process that provides only 100-200g of fine fiber per animal, making it rare and precious. Extremely soft, silky and velvety to the touch, more delicate than common wool, it has an extraordinary ability to retain heat, being 10 times warmer than sheep's wool, yet extremely lightLike other wools, it is a thermoregulator, as its function on the animal is to protect it from the cold while allowing the skin to breathe. It also absorbs moisture and sweat without making it feel damp, maintaining comfort. Despite the warmth it provides, it is extremely lightweight, durable, and holds its shape if properly cared for. Suitable for sensitive skin, it tends not to wrinkle, reducing the need for ironing.
Vicuna Wool
Vicuna wool is the rarest and most valuable natural fiber in the world, known for its extraordinary fineness (about 12 µm, thinner than cashmere), softness, lightness, and incredible warmth, thanks to its air-trapping structure. In ancient times, it was reserved exclusively for kings, who shorn wild animals using centuries-old rituals. Today, only 200-250 grams per animal are produced every two years. used in high fashion for luxury garments.
It comes from the vicuña, a wild camelid of the Andes. shearing still takes place with the Chakku ritual (every 2-3 years), protected by international law (CITES) after being threatened with extinction, and often processed in Italy for high fashion. The process is artisanal, often without chemical treatments to preserve its quality. The fiber of 25-35 vicuñas is needed for a single coat, justifying its extremely high prices and making it the most luxurious fabric in the world.
Tissue with a natural shine it is extremely soft and silky to the touchIt has great regulating and insulating properties, resulting in a light yet extremely warm and velvety feel.
