Ecological Textiles commits to ethical production. For example, all cotton and Tencel fabrics are produced by a trusted production partner in Turkey. The brand has long worked with this supplier and therefore has a close relationship with them. As a result, Ecological Textiles trusts that production takes place in safe working conditions and with the pay of fair wages.
The organic cotton products have the GOTS certificate (Global Organic Textile Standard). This certificate not only checks the use of chemicals in the production process, but also the working conditions in the factories in Turkey and India. Other materials with the GOTS certificate are also checked for this, such as the organic wool from South America.
Part of the collection is produced in Europe. So you can be sure that these products are made in ethical and fair conditions. This is for instance the case for the woven woollen fabrics and a large part of the hemp products.
Finally, there are also products in Ecological Textiles’ collection that are produced in China. Some of the hemp in the collection is grown and produced in China. The silk fabrics are also sourced from China.
Ecological Textiles uses a variety of materials in their products, but only natural materials. The most sustainable materials in the collection include organic cotton and organic wool. As mentioned, these materials have the GOTS certificate which proves that no chemicals are used in the production process. This also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms and imposes water-saving measures.
Ecological Textiles also has Tencel products in their collection. Tencel is a type of viscose made by the company Lenzing. This material is made in a closed-loop production process so that no chemicals can be released. Moreover, Tencel has FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification to show that the necessary wood pulp comes from sustainable forestry.
Hemp and linen are other natural materials used by Ecological Textiles. They are partly grown in Europe and in China. Less chemical pesticides and insecticides are needed to produce these materials. Ecological Textiles uses both conventional linen and organic linen. Conventional cotton is also unfortunately still used in the collection.
Finally, Ecological Textiles also has animal materials in their collection such as silk and wool. Some of the silk is the so-called peace silk, for which silk worms are not killed. Sustainable wool from special Icelandic sheep can also be found in the Ecological Textiles collection.
Because Ecological Textiles uses only natural materials, the brand is more circular. In addition, the brand also uses many mono-materials, meaning a fabric is made of only one material. Products made of 100% linen, for example, are easy to recycle. Clothing or fabrics made from a mix of synthetic and natural materials are much more difficult to recycle.
Moreover, products made of 100% organic materials are even biodegradable! Thus, they leave no waste in nature.
Ecological Textiles unfortunately does not have a short supply chain. The brand uses materials from Iceland, South America, China and India. The products themselves are produced in China, Turkey and Europe. So the distance a product travels to get to Europe varies greatly for each product.
As mentioned, Ecological Textiles also uses animal materials in their collection. The brand does take steps to minimise animal suffering in the process. Therefore, the brand uses only mulesing-free wool. Mulesing is an animal-unfriendly practice in which skin is cut away from the sheep’s backside without anaesthetic. This is done to avoid infecting the animal with parasites.
In addition, much of the wool in the collection is certified organic. The wool comes from Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria, among others.
Ecological Textiles also has some unique products in their collection made from Icelandic sheep’s wool. The sheep live freely in the wild in Iceland in summer, cared for by small-scale sheep farmers. The preventive administration of antibiotics or treatment with chemical agents (e.g. against parasites) does not or hardly happen. Mulesing or unnecessary dehorning of the sheep also does not occur.
The silk used in Ecological Textiles products is partly GOTS-certified organic silk, and partly peace silk. This is silk for which the cocoons are collected only after the caterpillars have hatched. This way, the caterpillars are not killed to produce the silk.
Ecological Textiles has a wide range of sustainable textiles, in many colours and types. Moreover, you can also find sewing supplies such as yarns, ribbons, nonwovens and natural dyes.
Timeless or trend-sensitive, colourful or minimalist, the style is up to you. Your designs will definitely be slow fashion! When you make your own clothes, you put time, love and attention into them. This also gives you a closer bond with the garment. Plus, of course, you can easily repair it when needed!
Ecological Textiles is working on their transparency. The brand does not disclose producers, but does share with each product the country where it was made, where the materials come from and the certificates the material has.
Since 2005, Ecological Textiles has offered a wide range of fabrics, yarns and dyes. All products are sustainably produced, made with natural materials and most are even organic! In short, this Dutch brand is a dream for hobbyists and designers with a heart for sustainability.
Looking for the perfect fabric for your sewing project? Then be sure to take a look at Ecological Textiles! This Dutch brand makes textiles from natural materials, completely plastic-free.
