What makes a nanomaterial sustainable?
Can a technically engineered fabric be more sustainable than cotton? For us, yes. In our atelier of Lada Vyvialova we sew from nano-fibre, which is truly recyclable thanks to a unique Czech nanotechnology patent and, unlike other man-made fibres, releases almost no microplastics. We have it manufactured in Vysočina and sew the finished models from it in northern Moravia.
Locally produced and sourced
So the whole cycle of our models takes place within a radius of 300 km. From threads, snaps, springs to tags and wrapping paper. Everything is produced in our country or nearby. We work with local manufacturers and support small businesses. Not only for environmental reasons, but also so that we can supervise the production of each component and, if necessary, consult and adjust it with the manufacturers to our and your satisfaction. We know who produces the materials for our clothes and under what working conditions.
And this cannot always be said of fabrics made from natural materials. Since neither cotton nor silk grows or is produced in Central Europe, we cannot control where the raw materials for the fabrics are grown. Nor under what conditions the fabrics are woven.
Ecological and ethical fabric production
All natural crops have a natural radius of origin. A natural range of air, light, water and food (in the case of silkworms). And these are all aspects that we cannot control from the Annex. Control over production and ethical working environments to countries with tropical climates is not easy to obtain and would require a lot of travel. Therefore, exported resources are questionable for us, not only because of the need to import them and leave a carbon footprint.
On the other hand, using flax, hemp or wool makes sense for us. They are plants typical of Central Europe and we can grow them in our own fields. Or we can shear them from a sheep that lives in our garden. The origin and processing can therefore take place here.
So why do we use nanomaterial?
Because nanomaterial gives us greater benefits and properties that natural materials and other materials do not offer:
- it wicks sweat away from the body,
- dries quickly, keeps the skin dry,
- regulates temperature thanks to a special fibre profile,
- it is antibacterial,
- eliminates odour,
- provides UV protection,
- has a self-cleaning lotus effect, effective against droplets,
- is dimensionally stable - it does not contain elastane and does not shrink with repeated use,
- is easy-care with no ironing requirements,
- has unlimited functionality,
- provides an eco-friendly solution that is sustainable and saves on laundry costs.
The benefits of the nanomaterial, the local production and processing and the degradability of nanotechnology are essential arguments for us to create fashion from nanomaterials. In addition, the likelihood that our models will be worn longer and the product better utilized is very important to us.
Friendly to the planet and the wallet
Even the care and washing of nanomaterials does not burden the planet as much as regular clothes. Thanks to its properties, nano clothing can be worn for much longer periods of time without the need for washing, thus reducing the consumption of water, electricity and washing powder. Since it doesn't need to be ironed, you save energy and time. For recommendations on how best to care for nanomaterials, see one of our articles.
Thanks to all these possibilities of Czech nanomaterials we decided to create sustainable design fashion this way. We don't know if this is the best approach, but it makes the most sense for us. And maybe it will for you too.