our fabrics
For over a decade we have been experimenting and refining our processes to work with the best natural fibres available. We select our materials for their durability, comfort, aesthetic properties and for the conditions in which they were produced.
What are natural fibres?
They are either plant-based textile fibers, such as cotton, linen, lyocell, ramie or hemp, or of animal origin, such as silk, wool, alpaca or cashmere. Filamentous substances are spun and then woven or knitted. You can therefore find a hemp knit t-shirt just like hemp twill pants: the yarn can be worked in a thousand ways! Textile manufacturing techniques date back to a long tradition and are the very basis of our creations: we always work our models from fabric, it is our primary inspiration.
Why natural fibres?
Obviously there is comfort; natural fibres offer good breathability and are pleasant to the skin, even for the most sensitive of skin. It is also a way to encourage self-employed textile agriculture workers who provide jobs in their rural communities. Natural fibre fabrics require far fewer chemicals than synthetic fibre fabrics (which are petroleum-based) and they are also compostable. Indeed, textiles made from natural fibres are accepted in most municipal composts. Of course, we compost them when they are too damaged to be given away or repaired! Be certain to remove the buttons and clasps before putting them in the bin.
Where do our textiles come from?
We give priority to suppliers close to our workshop. Many of our jerseys and knits are made in Canada, while some woven fabrics come from the United States. For more specialized materials, we work with Japan and some European countries (mainly Italy and northern countries). It is essential for us to ensure that the conditions of workers are fair, and the best way to be certain of this is to choose countries that have a bill of individual rights that resembles ours!
Where do the fibres come from?
The cotton and other natural fibres that our suppliers use come from the United States, France, Egypt or India. We make sure that the fibers are not from the forced labor of Uyghurs or other exploited peoples. We are constantly putting pressure on our suppliers for more transparency. On this subject, Anne-Marie discussed with the journalist Valérie Simard in this article published in La Presse on April 23, 2021.
Fibres from the forest industry such as lyocell (Tencel) have FSC certification, which guarantees that the wood does not come from a protected forest.