TENCEL® fabric
I take great pride in my selection of fabric for Sanctuary Innerwear.
I've researched sustainable fabrics thoroughly, and as a result, have committed to using ONLY certified sustainable Lenzing TENCEL® for all my garments (and most of my own clothes as well).
I purchase Lenzing Tencel from Swatchon. Swatchon is a distributor, and verifies, through the certification number 318206638, that the fibres that make up 96% of my fabric are made by Lenzing AG, Austria. This company prides itself in manufacturing a fibre from FSC certified eucalyptus wood in a closed loop system where 99.5% of the effluent amine oxide NMMO is recycled into its process. Their accreditations are all listed here and include Oeko-tex Standard 100, European Ecolabel and USDA Certified Biobased. More about my fabric can be found in here and this blog post.
I purchase only this fabric, in white, and dye it myself in very small batches. I grow madder, woad, and weld, and forage walnut, goldenrod, pomegranate, and rhubarb. I maintain a chemical-free regenerative garden. I do not use toxic mordants and have transitioned to a naturally reduced, US organically grown indigo vat. I dispose of my dye bath directly onto my garden, making the growing/dyeing process cyclic. More about my garden and my Targets for nature can be found here.
I cut each garment individually, thereby reducing waste and making the best use of each mm of my fabric. I re-purpose the scraps to make undies in a Holiday Initiative called Wear One, Share One in conjunction with Kawartha Lakes Women's Shelter. You can find more about this on my Facebook and instagram feed.
I use cardboard and paper labeling and packaging, often repurposing my household materials, except for the spray and soap.
My product is made by myself, and my experience as a sewist is given here. As with everything I make for myself or for customers, the quality is far superior than anything purchased. I create garments which generate an experience and include sensorial aspects and emotional factors. They are made to have a long and useable life. My guarantee covers my commitment to high standards of production.
At the end of its lifespan, each Sanctuary Innerwear garment is compostable since it is 96% cellulose. This is verified here.
I pride myself in abiding by slow fashion principles and being open, transparent and honest about my materials and practices.
My goal is to help build deep and long-lasting change towards sustainability in the fashion sector.
I've researched sustainable fabrics thoroughly, and as a result, have committed to using ONLY certified sustainable Lenzing TENCEL® for all my garments (and most of my own clothes as well).
I purchase Lenzing Tencel from Swatchon. Swatchon is a distributor, and verifies, through the certification number 318206638, that the fibres that make up 96% of my fabric are made by Lenzing AG, Austria. This company prides itself in manufacturing a fibre from FSC certified eucalyptus wood in a closed loop system where 99.5% of the effluent amine oxide NMMO is recycled into its process. Their accreditations are all listed here and include Oeko-tex Standard 100, European Ecolabel and USDA Certified Biobased. More about my fabric can be found in here and this blog post.
I purchase only this fabric, in white, and dye it myself in very small batches. I grow madder, woad, and weld, and forage walnut, goldenrod, pomegranate, and rhubarb. I maintain a chemical-free regenerative garden. I do not use toxic mordants and have transitioned to a naturally reduced, US organically grown indigo vat. I dispose of my dye bath directly onto my garden, making the growing/dyeing process cyclic. More about my garden and my Targets for nature can be found here.
I cut each garment individually, thereby reducing waste and making the best use of each mm of my fabric. I re-purpose the scraps to make undies in a Holiday Initiative called Wear One, Share One in conjunction with Kawartha Lakes Women's Shelter. You can find more about this on my Facebook and instagram feed.
I use cardboard and paper labeling and packaging, often repurposing my household materials, except for the spray and soap.
My product is made by myself, and my experience as a sewist is given here. As with everything I make for myself or for customers, the quality is far superior than anything purchased. I create garments which generate an experience and include sensorial aspects and emotional factors. They are made to have a long and useable life. My guarantee covers my commitment to high standards of production.
At the end of its lifespan, each Sanctuary Innerwear garment is compostable since it is 96% cellulose. This is verified here.
I pride myself in abiding by slow fashion principles and being open, transparent and honest about my materials and practices.
My goal is to help build deep and long-lasting change towards sustainability in the fashion sector.
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What is sustainability?
Sustainability means making important use of plants, animals and minerals in such a way as to promote, not limit, their growth. My use of materials and processes prove that all beings can flourish.
What are the drivers of the brand Sanctuary Innerwear?
nature
handwork
health
luxury
What is a “natural” fibre?
Fibres produced by plants, animals or geological processes.
What are some examples? Cotton, hemp, linen, wool, bamboo
What is a manufactured fibre?
Fibres made using science and technology.
What are some examples? lyocell, modal, polyester, nylon, rayon
Tencel is a brand of the fabric type lyocell, which is in fact a rayon because it is made using plant material.
Are natural fibres better than manufactured fibres?
It depends...
Many factors come into play at each stage: fibre, fabric, and garment.
How can a manufactured fibre be as good or better than a natural fibre?
If it is made from renewable raw materials with an organic, non-polluting process to produce a biodegradable fibre, and if the fabric made from it is dyed organically and contains no finishes. If transportation is minimized (i.e., it is made locally with well paid sewists), this is ideal.
This is the case with Sanctuary Innerwear (except for the well paid sewist!).
Sustainability means making important use of plants, animals and minerals in such a way as to promote, not limit, their growth. My use of materials and processes prove that all beings can flourish.
What are the drivers of the brand Sanctuary Innerwear?
nature
handwork
health
luxury
What is a “natural” fibre?
Fibres produced by plants, animals or geological processes.
What are some examples? Cotton, hemp, linen, wool, bamboo
What is a manufactured fibre?
Fibres made using science and technology.
What are some examples? lyocell, modal, polyester, nylon, rayon
Tencel is a brand of the fabric type lyocell, which is in fact a rayon because it is made using plant material.
Are natural fibres better than manufactured fibres?
It depends...
Many factors come into play at each stage: fibre, fabric, and garment.
How can a manufactured fibre be as good or better than a natural fibre?
If it is made from renewable raw materials with an organic, non-polluting process to produce a biodegradable fibre, and if the fabric made from it is dyed organically and contains no finishes. If transportation is minimized (i.e., it is made locally with well paid sewists), this is ideal.
This is the case with Sanctuary Innerwear (except for the well paid sewist!).
How do I know that Sanctuary Innerwear is sustainable? What proof do I have?
For the last 5 years, the non-profit Textile Exchange (textileexchange.org) has conducted a global voluntary benchmarking program called Corporate Fibre Materials Benchmark, which assembled information submitted by over 180 companies in fashion, footwear and home textile. Textile Exchange's CFMB is the largest peer-to-peer comparison initiative in the fashion, textile, and apparel industry, tracking the progress of brands, retailers, suppliers, and manufacturers towards more sustainable materials sourcing. It was developed by Textile Exchange to enable participating companies to:
-track and measure the uptake and impact of their raw materials
-report on the strategic approach for raw materials against an industry-recognizes framework, and
-support the industry in reaching the Climate+ target of a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas from raw materials production by 2030.
(chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://textileexchange.org/app/uploads/2024/10/Materials-Benchmark-Communication-Kit-2024.pdf)
This year, seven Canadian companies have benchmarked and are leading our charge toward “nature positive, no regrets” textile sourcing.
Sanctuary Innerwear is one of them.
Because of my exclusive use of Lenzing TENCEL fabric and plants as dyes, as well as a firm commitment to local production, Sanctuary Innerwear has been awarded a Level 3 “Scaling” on the Material Change Index. This designation acknowledges "emerging leadership" in sustainability. I’m proud of my commitments and efforts toward doing things right.
For the last 5 years, the non-profit Textile Exchange (textileexchange.org) has conducted a global voluntary benchmarking program called Corporate Fibre Materials Benchmark, which assembled information submitted by over 180 companies in fashion, footwear and home textile. Textile Exchange's CFMB is the largest peer-to-peer comparison initiative in the fashion, textile, and apparel industry, tracking the progress of brands, retailers, suppliers, and manufacturers towards more sustainable materials sourcing. It was developed by Textile Exchange to enable participating companies to:
-track and measure the uptake and impact of their raw materials
-report on the strategic approach for raw materials against an industry-recognizes framework, and
-support the industry in reaching the Climate+ target of a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas from raw materials production by 2030.
(chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://textileexchange.org/app/uploads/2024/10/Materials-Benchmark-Communication-Kit-2024.pdf)
This year, seven Canadian companies have benchmarked and are leading our charge toward “nature positive, no regrets” textile sourcing.
Sanctuary Innerwear is one of them.
Because of my exclusive use of Lenzing TENCEL fabric and plants as dyes, as well as a firm commitment to local production, Sanctuary Innerwear has been awarded a Level 3 “Scaling” on the Material Change Index. This designation acknowledges "emerging leadership" in sustainability. I’m proud of my commitments and efforts toward doing things right.
Learn more about my accomplishments here.
View the full Insight Report here.
View an article I wrote about it here.
View the full Insight Report here.
View an article I wrote about it here.
