rPET stands for recycled polyethylene terephthalate or recycled PET. PET is a strong, durable and recyclable material that is normally used for soda bottles, water bottles and food jars.

The fabric of rPET is produced by collecting, sorting and recycling PET, then refining the material into flakes that can be turned into new products. Most of the PET will come from industrial plastic waste, as well as post-consumer water bottles from landfills, productions and even the ocean. Even though rPET is a recycled material, the raw materials are taken from another supply chain of bottles, which makes rPET a step on the way towards a brighter future. Also, recent studies looks into the shredding of microplastics from rPET fabrics as well, which makes the fabric even worse – this subject may be handled by new innovative washing machines with specific filters removing as much microplastics as possible.

Lyocell is a plant-based fiber, processed with advanced synthetic substances, making it a semi-synthetic fiber. The making of Lyocell starts with harvesting wood, which often comes from eucalyptus trees or bamboo. Eucalyptus and Bamboo are very durable and fast growing plants, which makes it better for the environment for use as it is easier to plant and harvest within a short period of time without creating too much impact on the environment.

The wood is broken down into tiny pieces and then chemicals are added to dissolve it into a wood pulp. The result is a liquid and sticky raw cellulose. This liquid mixture is heated and broken into small pieces and after being filtered, the cellulose goes through a spinning process that turns it into bright, long and thin fibers. These fibers are washed, dried and lubricated, until they’re ready to be spun into a yarn and woven into the final Lyocell fabric.

Lyocell is a very soft and heavy fabric, which you see in our signature Gordito Tees, where it is mixed with wool. This makes it the perfect t-shirt with high breathability and transport of liquids, that will keep your skin dry and soft in all weather.

Cork fabric, also known as cork skin or cork leather, is a high quality, natural fabric produced from thin cork shavings obtained directly from the bark of the cork oak tree. One cork tree will keep production usable cork for more than 200 years if treated correctly, which makes the fabric extremely responsible in terms of production of raw materials. Much of the production is hand crafted. These thin cork sheets are laminated to a fabric support backing using a specialized proprietary technique.

The durability of the cork fabric is remarkable. In terms of durability, cork fabric wears similarly to leather which is another reason this cork fabric is often called Cork Leather. The main difference between cork leather and regular leather is cork leather can get wet – actually it can be washed using hot water in a washing machine. Cork fabric is durable as leather and as versatile as fabric. This material is environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic, water resistant and stain resistant as well as easily cleaned and long lasting.

Recycled polyamid, otherwise known by its patented name Econyl, this synthetic alternative is making its way into the products of many sustainable fashion brands. Unlike traditional nylon made from virgin fossil fuels, Econyl is made from nylon that already exists in waste products – as fishing nets from landfill and oceans, as well as from industrial waste, polyamid carpets, tights etc.

Recycled polyamid has the same benefits as recycled polyester: It diverts waste from landfills and its production uses much fewer resources than virgin polyamid, including water, energy and fossil fuel.

Supima cotton is a superior type of cotton grown in the USA. It represents less than 1% of cotton grown in the world. What makes Supima unique to other cottons is the extra-long staple fiber that gives the cotton its premium properties: Strength, softness and color retention.

Supima cotton is farmed using state-of-the-art technology and processes. From GPS navigation used on tractors to plant and harvest the cotton, to satellite technology and soil monitors, Supima farmers ensure they are growing the best quality cotton in the world with as little impact on the environment as possible.

Products made with Supima cotton ensure that you are buying a premium product that will last for years to come. With its indulgently soft touch, natural resilency and rich deep color, Supima cotton is a luxury fiber that improves the quality and life of your product.

EcoVero™ is a more sustainable viscose made using sustainable wood from controlled sources: FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) certified in Europe, instead of bamboo or eucalyptus, which is commonly used in normal viscose production and which is not controlled in terms of deforestation. EcoVero is natural and renewable. Due to the raw material source coming from wood pulp, the material is biodegradable and have 50% lower emissions and water impact than generic Viscose.

Wool is a type of fabric derived from the hairs of various animals. There are a variety of distinct types of wool that producers derive from animals, but it primarily comes from sheep. To make wool, hairs of the animals are harvested and afterwards spun into yarn.

Wool is known for its durability and thermally insulating properties; depending on the type of hair that producers use to make wool, this fabric may benefit from the natural insulative effects that keep the animal that produced the hair warm throughout the winter.

Since wool is a natural textile, it is inherently non-impactful on the environment. As long as wool-producing animals are allowed to live free, happy lives and they aren’t crowded or subjected to inhumane practices, it’s possible to produce wool sustainably. As with fur it is always important to keep in mind that only happy and well-fed animals will produce the best wool and fur, which makes the life conditions for these animals the most important to the farmer.

Silk is the strongest natural textile in the world. Despite its immense tensile strength, silk is generally prized for other reasons, such as its softness. Comprised of a natural protein fiber, silk mainly consists of fibroin, which is a protein that certain types of insect larvae secrete to make cocoons. Most of the world’s silk is derived from Bombyx mori larvae, which are worms that only live on mulberry trees.

The texture of silk is soft with a flattering sheen. It is one of the most absorbent fabrics and its flexibility makes it perfect for garments. Being a breathable material, air can pass through it and leads to feeling cooler. Between the benefits, silk is hypoallergenic by keeping away bacteria, dust mites and moulds.

In recent years a lot of research have been done about silk and the production of silk, since it comes from animals. Generic silk is only produced by hand where the larvae’s are boiled to release the silk in their cocoons. As this is an inhuman production, we are already searching for many new innovative silks that has less impact on the animal kingdom.

Linen is a natural fiber which stems from the flax plant, where hemp comes from the stems of the Hemp plants. It uses considerably fewer resources than cotton or polyester, such as water, energy, pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers. Flax can grow in poor soil which is not used for food production. In some cases, it can even rehabilitate polluted soil. Flax plants also have a high rate of carbon absorption. For these reasons, linen is considered to be a sustainable material, even when it is not organically grown.

Garments made of linen are desirable in hot and humid climates. Unlike cotton, which tends to retain moisture for a significant period of time, linen dries quickly, which helps reduce heat retention in overly warm conditions.