Materials
We are invested in things that are meant to last and we are committed to creating high-quality clothing with the most minimal impact on the planet possible. As two-thirds of clothing's environmental impact occurs as a result of the chosen fabrics and materials, the decisions we make at the beginning of the design process are the most impactful.
In our efforts towards zero waste, collections are designed around core sustainable fabrics that are evergreen, allowing excess materials to be worked back into future seasons instead of being discarded. The fabrics we work with are chosen with intention and are replaced as better options and solutions become available in the industry.
It is no coincidence that our suppliers take the same kind of care in the production of their materials as we do with our products. We seek out partners who actively pursue measurable sustainable practices, most of whom have a long list of certifications: EPD Environmental Certification, EPD Climate Certification, ISO 14001 Certification, OEKO-TEX Certification, and comply with the EU Reach Regulations.
In translation, they use solar power or cogeneration to create energy from captured emissions, they measure the carbon footprint of each meter of fabric, and conserve, recycle, and clean water to reuse in production or return it to the environment.
Below is a list of our current fabrics and a little about the mills that create them.
Our core lingerie cotton collection is made from organic cotton milled in Spain. It is both GOTS* and OEKO-TEX 100* certified. The mill practices safe chemical management throughout its processes and produces zero wastewater by working with a water treatment facility to ensure that the water consumed during the manufacturing process is treated and filtered to remove any toxins.
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Composed of 70% organic cotton and 30% upcycled cotton mixed with wood pulp, this group of styles has the smallest footprint in our collection to date. The upcycled cotton, REFIBRA™, comes from cotton scrap waste and is knitted into new fabric. The use of upcycled cotton scraps lessens the overall ecological impact of the garments by using fewer virgin raw materials. The wood pulp comes from sustainably managed forests and the process by which everything is put together is “closed-loop” meaning more than 99% of the solvent used is recovered and reused and all of the water is recycled.
Knitted in Spain, REFIBRA™ carries the Global Recycled Standard* certification, and the fabric is OEKO-TEX 100* certified.
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The cotton used in our cotton crepe fabric is grown in Egypt, and the fabric is woven and dyed in Italy following the REACH regulations set by the European Union.
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Our cotton boxer shorts are made of organic, GOTS* certified Turkish cotton that is woven in Japan. The mill is accredited by a certification organization that has undergone production practices for organic agricultural products for over three years in Turkey’s farmland. The cotton is grown in compliance with strict usage standards for pesticides and fertilizers and AZO or formaldehyde dyes are prohibited.
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The Color By Nature collection is cut from lightweight organic Italian linen and dyed with botanical dyes.
Linen comes from the flax plant and is one of the oldest known fibers and also one of the most sustainable. Flax needs very little water to grow and emits ¼ of the carbon as cotton per pound of fiber. There is very little waste with flax as other parts of the plant, like the seeds, can be used to produce linseed oil or flax seeds for consumption.
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Our power mesh collection is made from RECONYL, a recycled nylon that generates 47% less CO2 than conventional nylon. Made from 100% pre-consumer waste, no new resources are used in the creation of this fabric. RECONYL yarn is Global Recycled Standard* approved and OEKO-TEX 100* Certified. The mill in Belgium co-generates energy from captured emissions, has a zero wastewater policy in place across its processes, and is REACH EU Chemical Compliant*.
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Compromising 50% of our swim collection, ECONYL® fabric is 100% regenerated nylon which means no new resources were used in the production of this material. Econyl is made from waste found in oceans and landfills including abandoned fishing nets, carpet fluff, and other discarded nylon waste. ECONYL® is Oeko-Tex certified which ensures that there are no hazardous chemicals used in dyeing the fabric.
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Our stretch lace fabric is made in France and is OEKO-TEX 100* Certified. The mill has a zero water waste policy ensuring that water consumed during the manufacturing process is treated and filtered to remove harmful toxins so it can be reused. They also practice safe chemical management and are REACH EU Chemical Compliant*.
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Our swim fabric made from polyamide is produced in Italy. The mill is committed to social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The factory runs on solar power and they actively measure their impact in various areas to help improve their production processes. Since 2018, they have reduced their carbon emissions by 45%, reduced water consumption by 58%, and reduced energy consumption by 47%. They are Oeko-Tex certified, REACH chemical compliant, use zero hazardous chemicals, and purify all residual water.
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The silk used in our collection is OEKO-TEX 100* certified. The silk mill, located in Korea practices safe chemical management through the use of only non-azo* and non-formaldehyde* dyes. The use of a dual filtration system removes harmful toxins so that water used in production processes can be reused.
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Glossary
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is recognized as the world’s leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. It is a textile production certification that limits the use of toxic bleaches, dyes, and other chemical inputs during the production process of textiles. It is internationally recognized as the toughest organic textile standard because it goes far beyond verifying the organic farming process to include every step of manufacturing.
To obtain the GOTS “organic” label, a product must:
- Contain at least 95% organic fiber
- Not be treated with bleach, formaldehyde, or any other toxic substances
- Be colored with nontoxic dyes
- Be produced in a mill that enforces strict social and environmental standards, treating their employees and the earth with deep respect.
The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is a voluntary product standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product. The standard applies to the full supply chain and addresses traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, chemical content, and labeling. With GRS certification, companies can communicate their commitment to truth in materials and support for a circular economy that reduces waste by using recycled materials to make new products.
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® is one of the world's best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances. It stands for customer confidence and high product safety. If a textile article carries the STANDARD 100 label, you can be certain that every component of this article, i.e. every thread, button, and other accessories, has been tested for harmful substances and that the article, therefore, is harmless for human health.
REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals. (REACH) is a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemical substances.
Azo dyes are a group of commonly used synthetic dyes that have been found to have negative effects on people's health and the environment. At Araks, we use non-azo dyes– GOTS-certified or botanical– to guarantee the quality and durability of our colors.
