ABOUT THE FABRICS
We like to look good while doing good too. We love a good sustainable fabric that is made with a lower environmental impact, feels amazing, and helps us all tread a little more lightly in this world.
We are committed to being part of a generation of brands that seeks to incorporate sustainability in all aspects of the brand as core, rather than a nice-to-have. Each stage of the supply chain is carefully considered by SOL’s founder, Lois Tien, and her team. When sourcing our signature fabric Lenzing EcoVero™, for example, we elect to purchase from licensed local manufacturers to minimise the fashion miles. “Sourcing and manufacturing locally allows us to shorten the transit and lower our carbon footprint,” Tien explains.
Learn more about our favourite materials at SOL below, starting with a sustainable viscose that’s being described as a vegan silk, to an innovative biodegradable polyester and sustainable cotton blend.
Lenzing EcoVero
Our sustainable loungewear Essentials are made with 100% Lenzing EcoVero™ fibres – a natural, environmentally-friendly fabric that was originally developed in Austria and now used by many of the world’s most recognisable sustainable fashion brands. We love it for its light-as-air texture and soft feel on the skin – it’s no wonder it’s renowned as a silk alternative.
What is Lenzing EcoVero?
Viscose is one of the most widely used materials today and EcoVero is the sustainable answer to it. Traditional viscose is made using wood pulp, but undergoes heavy processing to transform it into fibres that are spun into fabric.
Lenzing EcoVero is derived from certified and controlled wood sources and uses a closed-loop process that reduces the amount of carbon emissions and water impact by up to 50%. This incredible sustainable viscose is also anti-bacterial and thermoregulating – so it helps you stay cool or warm, and get a great night’s sleep.
Does Lenzing EcoVero shrink?
Viscose can shrink when washed in hot water or placed in the dryer – so we recommend that you always wash your SOL essentials on a cold cycle in the laundry bag provided and line dry or lay your pieces flat to dry.
Is Lenzing EcoVero breathable?
We’re huge fans of this fabric because of its natural breathability – it’s light, floaty and ultra-soft, which is exactly what we want for our all-day, everyday outfits.
How do I maintain it?
EcoVero is a natural, soft fabric, so you might notice slight wrinkles after a good night’s sleep. When you need to smooth them out, we recommend a nice shower steam.
BCI Cott on
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is the world’s largest cotton sustainability programme with the goal of meaningfully supporting cotton farming communities and safeguarding the production of cotton in a way that protects the environment. It has an extensive network of partners including farmers, fashion and lifestyle brands, suppliers, manufacturers and governments.
Its aim is to support farming communities around the world – to help them enjoy better yields, working conditions and financial security. This involves training farmers to implement more sustainable farming practices, through to supply chain management and traceability and constant evaluation. For stakeholders, the impact is felt across farming families and the community, supporting gender empowerment and redressing inequality; industrial-scale farms working with BCI help drive the momentum behind innovation and profitability that makes sustainability the norm – and this is a future we want to see.
Biodegradable Polyester
For Green Knits, we use a blend of BCI cotton and CiCLO polyester. Traditional polyester doesn’t usually align with the values of sustainability, but we think that the version made with CiCLO technology is a game-changer. We use it for its softness and durability, blended with cotton produced according to Better Cotton Initiative guidelines. The result is a beautiful yarn with a luxe feel and just the right amount of stretch and flexibility.
This innovative form of polyester is embedded with biodegradable hotspots that allow its synthetic fibres to behave like natural materials. Crucially, unlike traditional polyester, it won’t release harmful microplastics into the marine environment with each wash, and has the capacity to biodegrade at the end of its life. This is all part of our commitment to ensure our clothes don’t become pollutants and have as little environmental impact as possible.
Do SOL Green Knits shrink?
Our knitwear collection is made with a cotton blend, which can shrink when washed in hot water or placed in the dryer – so we recommend that you always wash your knitwear (in general, not just SOL's!) on a cold cycle in the laundry bag provided and lay your pieces flat to dry.
How do I maintain it?
As you should with knitwear, it is best to keep them folded and stored in a cool, dry place and refrain from hanging too often as the garment may lengthen over time.
Caring for your sustainable fabrics
Here are some of our tried-and-tested tips on how to gently care for your pieces – so you can enjoy them for even longer.
--- Because your SOL Essentials and Green Knits are made with breathable fabrics, they can be enjoyed for several wears before washing to help reduce water usage.
--- When it’s time to launder your SOL pieces, wash cold with like colours and line dry – or ideally, lay flat to dry to best retain their shape.
--- Smooth out wrinkles with a light steam – our favourite trick is to hang our clothes in the bathroom while we have a hot shower so that they get a gentle steam and we save a little water, electricity and effort!
--- Store folded in a cool, dry place.