FABRIC
At VETTA we focus on fabrics that are beautiful but also sustainable. Textiles impact the environment in a number of different ways, so we think about the impact as a whole and try to choose fabrics that have the least negative effect on the earth. Some of the things we consider are water and pesticide usage during fiber growth, renewability of resources, energy and chemicals used during processing, disposal techniques, care requirements, fabric longevity, and biodegradability. We've chosen the following fabrics because we believe they are the most sustainable options for what we are creating.
TENCEL
Tencel is made from natural wood fibers that are sustainably harvested. It requires less water than other fabrics, and it's biodegradable. Tencel uses a closed loop system that recycles solvents, rather than releasing them into the environment. This is our favorite fabric, both for its amazing properties and overall sustainability.
LINEN
Linen is made from natural fibers (flax) and does not require pesticides or chemicals like conventional cotton does. It also gets better with time, and is biodegradable.
ORGANIC COTTON (WOVENS & SWEATERS)
Our organic cotton (in woven and yarn forms) is made overseas by our partner mills. It is GOTS certified, so it has passed strict ecological and social criteria that is backed up by independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. Organic cotton is made from natural fibers, doesn't use pesticides or chemicals, and is biodegradable. We use only GOTS certified organic cotton on all of our products, except our Tshirts, which use Supima Cotton (more information below).
SUPIMA COTTON (TSHIRTS)
Supima (short for "superior pima") is an incredibly soft yet durable material that is grown in the U.S., making up less than 1% of all cotton grown domestically. Supima cotton fibers are longer than traditional cotton fibers, which causes Supima Cotton fabric to be softer and longer lasting. We started working with Supima Cotton because, after many years of testing organic cotton tshirts, we weren't able to find an organic cotton tshirt fabric that lasted as long or maintained its quality like Supima Cotton. And since a garment's sustainability is not just about how fabric is made but also how long it lasts, we've decided to continue to use Supima until we can find or create a comparable organic alternative (which we are working on)!
RECYCLED POLYESTER
Recycled materials, like our recycled polyester, divert trash from landfills and help give our waste a new life. Recycled polyester garments have all the benefits of using virgin polyester (durability, ease of care, and design benefits), without using new resources that have harmful effects on our planet.
ECOVERO
Lenzing EcoVero is the most ecological and sustainable viscose that can be made today. It uses FSC and PEFC certified raw materials rather than wood from endangered rainforests, recycles all of the chemicals used in a closed loop process rather than releasing them into the environment, and uses 50% less energy and water consumption than conventional viscose.
LENZING MODAL PONTE
We worked with a US-based fabric mill to design our Ponte fabric from scratch. Ponte fabric typically is made of Rayon, Nylon, and Spandex. We created our own more sustainable version of ponte fabric by replacing the Rayon with Lenzing Modal, which is made from sustainably harvested Beech trees that are self-propagating and don't require artificial irrigation. We also replaced the Nylon with Econyl (regenerated Nylon that is made from Nylon waste from landfills and oceans around the world). We partnered with a fabric mill in California that has strict environmental requirements so that these fibers are handled properly.
DEADSTOCK FABRIC
In addition to designing new fabrics, we like to use deadstock fabrics, which are materials that have been leftover from other designers. By using deadstock fabrics, we can avoid creating new waste and can save existing materials from the landfill.