using recycled polystyrene plastic from shorelines for new Adidas

Fabrics + Colors

We all should be thankful for the fact that we are clothed with variety of fabrics of our very own choices. 

I like to observe and grew my appreciation when it comes to selection of fabrics and how color played a distinctive role to live up certain belief and culture.

To make a clear statement about this; take how white colors fabric has played and accustomed to the subject of holiness and religion.  

Major believers in muslim and christianity faith wearing white clothing to symbolize as an act of devotion and reverances towards their deity.

Whereas bright orange colors is majorly seen among buddhism and hinduism as a fiery statement to the one who they served.

Color also speaks and bring a loud statements about moods and style in a person; the same way how colors can be used to uplift energy and inspiration whenever it gets cloudy in some area in your life.

So.... 

How color is added into fabric life?!

There are two categories on how most fabric are colored or dyed.  Is either by using natural type of dyes that can be found in flowers; plants; roots and insects OR synthetic dyes that is created on chemical based like mercury; chromium and copper; that without applying corrective measures can bring toxic affecting our skin.

Since I am narrowing it down my love for fabric with sustainability fixed in mind; natural dyes has been my inclined interest when it comes to coloring your fabrics.

I think the awakening way how to visualize the effect of natural dyes on fabric is by watching this video.  It is quite inspiring especially on how they making an effort collecting those wasted flowers.

Eco India: The artisans recycling flower wastes from Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple into natural dyes                           

date: Nov 17th 2019

Natural Dye made of Floral Waste

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLw3TDbfl2YpMSJrPZi0Ipd-WmgcZOVEwu

Cotton & Certified Organic Cotton

Cotton is not only soft in texture, but this delicate fluffy material provides comfort; it

accommodates to feel right and comfy adapting to your climate/temperature of your surroundings.

As a matter of fact we should have be thankful for low cost to acquire cotton as our daily usable fabrics for most of our textiles need; from shirts; clothing's; classic denim wear and home decor.

100% Cotton Blue Jeans; (Lee; Levi's; Lois; Wrangler; are the few blue jeans brands that has been around as early as 1800)

Not long after it's inception; the cotton grew to be the must materials for most household: beddings; towels; curtains and upholstery to be supplied for hotels industry and sold widely in the stores.

Certified Organic Cotton

While cotton is known for its comfort qualities not many are aware of the differences when it comes to Organic Cotton.

So, what is... Certified Organic Cotton

India and China are still major countries that cultivate cotton for exports; yet they are not the best cultivator when it comes to 100% ethical cotton farming and the practice of sustainability.  

Since cotton cultivation used a lot of water; and by not using organic fertilizer and eliminating ZERO chemicals has caused depletions in the soil.  

Which is damaging to our environment in the long run. Also; what's lacking are farmers are not properly being educated enough on what kind of fertilizations that can be used and by doing so 100% cotton can be certified as organic!

Yet today in USA; part of organic farming slowly comes to full implementation, the actual facts can be found out in these following links through their sites:

US Department of Agriculture

https://www.usda.gov/topics/organic

European Union

https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/farming/organic-farming_en

American Supima Association

https://supima.com/

Textile Organic Certifications:

https://www.global-standard.org/

https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/apply-here/standard-100-by-oeko-tex

Cotton Harvest in America

In America, cotton begin to be very important type of textiles as early as 5500 BC.

Cotton then grow to be high in production due to its softness and comfort against human skin and is proven to be comfortable against any climate around the world.

From the field harvest to textile production:

After separating the cotton fibres from the seeds; this fluffy fibres collected is called as a boll; nowadays this part of the process has been replaced by using machine that is invented by Eli Whitney in the year 1794; which expedite the cotton fibres separation process after the seeds come into full maturity.

Harvest typically begins in the Spring; when cotton seeds are planted in the field.  In most field; planting seeds can be done by automated seeding plant by 10/more rows along the field.

Seedlings is then typically emerged within approximately in 7 days and cotton bolls begin to start blooming into full maturity within 55 to 75 days before harvest.

After seeds separation; these bales are further being extracted from remaining contaminants by a machine that able to process up to 60 raw cotton bales (about 500 lbs) per hour then this bales is further refined, cleaned and produce pure cotton fibres that is ready to be spunned.

The bales are then taken to textile production facilities where raw cotton is spunned into a long strand of fibres; then are spunned into cotton yarn where the actual cotton as a textile being produced.  

These cotton textiles; depending on the factory; is then may be dyed in order to manufacture line of clothing; bedsheets; different kind of upholstery and famous blue jeans.

Cotton: Rich Facts about this:

What is cotton as a fabric:

Is a soft, fluffy fiber in texture almost look like pure cellulose in the appearance and spunned into a yarn; long thread and spread to be a soft; highly absorbent; breathable fabric.

Texture:

fluffy; light; soft and it's nature possessing high ability to absorb moisture i.e against sweat

Cotton Label:

• Pima Cotton
• Supima Cotton
• Egyptian Cotton

Textile Products:

dresses; t shirts; blue jeans; denimwear; undergarments; socks; towel; interior home living products; bedding curtain and upholstery; medical supplies and hotel supply

Cotton is major form of fabric used in the world. 85% of cotton clothing is manufactured by using cotton as a material.  Organic cotton is 100% safe from chemicals; synthetic compounds that might be harmful to our skin.

In America; cotton come into existence as 5500 BC; and since it is historically known for softness and adaptable to any climate; this type of fabric is globally and increasingly cultivated to be a major clothing productions.

Cashmere Introduction••• perfecting the fabric equation!

I think is a good time to bring another material type into this equation.  I have touched the empire of cotton around the world; I have expressed the magnitude of kanthaquilt to me personally and how widely they begin to spread their domination into the world of handicraft industry.

And this is truly delicate subject; is highly adored by classy women anywhere when there is a note of cashmere is labelled on any scarf•••

Yeah. I am guilty of that too 😉

So let's get into it •••

Cashmere; is fashionably known for its long lasting warmth and feminism.  It symbolize type of woman and their characters when it comes to fashion.  The materials originated by animals of goats and sheep.  The goats produce longer, smoother and straighter hair than common sheep's wool.

Finer touch of cashmere is combed from a Gobi's goat; herd by North Africa at specific season of the year is when the goat produced more hair than normal and it is combed out of it and not sheared.

A single mature male goat produced around 180 to 250 gram of hairs everytime it is combed.  These bunch of hair is then taken to the spun where it is cleaned; processed and spunned into a filament further can be knitted into a piece of cashmere fabric!

Fine selection of cashmere scarf though is not that colorful can be a thoughtful gift idea; with a touch of luxury added kind of present.  It is a lasting impression that seemed to last forever whenever it is wrapped around your neck; or shoulders.  And it is acceptable worn by males too these days.

So in short; cashmere scarf is worn by women that know how to value cashmere at its highest currency; it is luxurious; versatile and often is selected by women that fancy classical style than average fashion.

My favourite brand that carries this are still Burberry; Gucci; Louis Vuitton and few more.  But there are some fine european selections too for you to take a look at their websites:

my.burberry.com

italyincashmere.com

bemboka.com

www.paoloalbizzati.com/sp/en/scarves

Of course these are a few links that I think is quite high in versatility! you can explore more choices as well when you visit on e b a y which many of them are not in the current market anymore. It is classic; authentic and vintage.

ONE word• THREE meaning•

And TODAY I would like to touch firmly on the keyword my blog is ALL about.  

                    f  a  b  r  i  c

The first form of this word is the most common one and I believe almost above 95% of people that understand English will think of it as a piece of materials or a cloth that do not matter what type.  

I love the mechanical and technical concept of how each fabric is produced.  To me as a deep thinker fabric tells story.

Through how it was woven and sewn or knitted, how many threads counts, how tight knitted it was bounded and for what purposes; all has a meaning; purpose and reason.  

My favourite so far still 💯 chemical FREE unbleached original cotton ... .  

Take for example, the heavier set of cotton is one was manufactured by higher density of quality cotton thread count.  Is primarily used to make clothing line for newborn babies to children before adolescent.

Secondly; the word fabricated

This word is a 'verb that explaining about how something can be woven into something else! 😉

The examples are too many.  But you often hear it especially on crime scene units investigation!!! This verb being used often to describe whenever a lies being exposed; then the rest of it is history and the previous evidences that is not relevant is regarded as:::

Complete Fabrication.

And the last but not least of chemistry in this word game is ••• 

the word fabrication simply means a ... 

Process... 

Start with one thing and finish become another.  And this process is validated to be used in the context of assembly line or something similar to that nature•

I truly hope this part of my blog and my *uhmmm* >clearing throat gesture< English is being  ••• understood.

Thank You ladies and gentlemen.