Fabrics.

Image of ABNY fabric to represent the Fabrics page on alliblairnewyork.com.

The fashion industry is responsible for over a third of the microplastics found in the ocean.

We don’t want to be part of that problem and have committed to only using certified organic and recycled fabrics, made of natural fabrics.

Since day one, we have pledged that:

100% of our fabrics are made of natural fibers only

100% fabrics are certified, organic or recycled.

100% of our textile suppliers have signed our supplier Code of Conduct.

We have done extensive research into the impact of each fabric and chosen a group of core fabrication that will form the foundation of our brand, season after season. Here’s some information on ABNY’s go-to fabrics. 

Our fabrics.

ORGANIC SILK

RESILK

ORGANIC COTTON

RECYCLED COTTON

NATURAL LINEN

RECYCLED WOOL

Organic Silk

Almost 100% of the virgin silk fabrics in our collections are organic. The only exception is our silk blended canvas that is made of 51% non-organic silk.

Why organic? Organic silk is grown from the “Mulberry” tree. It is differentiated from traditional silk yarn because of the dynamic cultivation method and the feeding of the silk worms with mulberry leaves grown organically. No pesticides or insecticides are used in the cultivation, ensuring the purity of the fiber and the health of the farmers.

This is particularly important to us because pesticides are responsible for killing organisms that keep our soils healthy; they have already caused the deterioration of a third of the world’s soil; and are often linked to causing cancer to farmers with direct exposure.

Organic silk is also weaved, printed and finished without the use of any chemical substances according to strict environmental and toxicological criteria. Silk decomposes effortlessly and is naturally compostable. It's also great for recycling.

Resilk

We proudly carry a one-of-a-kind, 100% upcycled silk fabric, called Resilk. Our supplier Mantero’s idea was to use the waste generated by the silk production process and second-class fabrics and transform it into this innovative new material.

Using a certified, transparent and traceable, Mantero and its partner Ectec© met the most stringent eco-sustainability requirements, after three years of commitment and multiple trials.

Excess fabrics were cut and shredded into silk flakes that are then spun again into this regenerated yarn. The result is a pure silk yarn certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS).

RESILK® is available in a wide range of weaves. These include incredibly light and enveloping fabrics to a yarn-dyed jacquard version, dyed stoles, screen-printed and digital printed fabrics, all with an extraordinary touch.

Organic Cotton

All the virgin cotton fabrics in our collections are organic. 

This is a fabric that has become synonymous with sustainability, because organic cotton farmers work to produce a fibre that sustains the health of their fields, the water supply, and air quality. Instead of genetically modified types, farming operations use all-natural seeds. No pesticides or insecticides are used in the cultivation process. The conventional cotton crop is thought to account for 5% of global pesticide use and 14% of global insecticide consumption, with 1-3 percent of agricultural workers suffering from acute pesticide poisoning each year and at least 1 million requiring hospitalization. The Higg Materials Sustainability Index calculates that organically grown cotton has roughly half the environmental impact of conventionally grown cotton

Water scarcity has been identified by the World Economic Forum as a major global risk to society over the next decade, and conventional cotton production isn't helping. Organic cotton has a substantially lower water footprint for several reasons: Hazardous chemicals cannot run off into waterways, resulting in cleaner rivers, lakes, and drinking water. 

Rain-fed areas are where the majority of organic cotton is farmed. Farmers rely on rain to water their crops instead of taking water from the ground, which can have a severe influence on community water supplies. Organic farming produces healthy soils that act like sponges, soaking up water during floods and retaining it longer during droughts. 

Organic cotton is more expensive to manufacture given that it uses non-GMO seeds, and requires more labor intensive operations. It’s why organic cotton accounted for no more than one percent of the global cotton harvest in 2021 - but ABNY is committing to always choosing the sustainable path and supporting organic cotton farmers. 

This material is also highly desirable because it decomposes effortlessly and is naturally compostable. Organic cotton is also weaved, dyed or printed and finished without the use of any chemical substances according to strict environmental and toxicological criteria.

Recycled Cotton

Our denim is made of 65% recycled cotton and 35% virgin cotton. This is the only fabric in our collection that is partly made of conventional cotton. This unique fabric created by our denim suppliers Berto, is part of their Pianeta Collection and is certified by the Global Recycle Standard (GRS). 

Pianeta Denim is made of 65% regenerated cotton yarn from Berto’s production waste, pre-reduced indigo dyeing, and eco-finishing.

The impact of this fabric is far lower than traditional denim with 70% less water consumption, 85% less chemical consumption and 60% less CO2 emissions.

765,000 Liters of water can be saved per ton of cotton recycled when using this fabric to design denim pieces.  

Natural Linen

Currently we have two fabrics that are blended with linen in our collection. This is one of the least harmful natural fibers, so incorporating it into our designs is crucial. Linen is a natural fiber which stems from the flax plant. Flax may thrive in poor soil that isn't used for agriculture. It can also help to restore polluted soil in some circumstances.

Flax plants have a high carbon absorption rate. It is possible to use the entire flax plant.

Flaxseed oil, flaxseed and linseed oil are all products of the flax plant, nothing else has to go to waste when it's harvested to make linen.

60% less water is required to grow flax (the plant linen fibres stem from) compared to cotton, and only 6.4 liters of water are needed to produce a linen shirt—compared to 2,700 liters for a non-organic cotton shirt.

Recycled Wool

100% of the wool fabrics in our collection are recycled. 

Wool, unlike cotton, is made from the fleece of animals like sheep and goats. It's a fantastic material with numerous significant features that contribute to its great quality. One of its many benefits, for example, is that it absorbs moisture and draws it into its fibers. The fundamental benefit of wool is that it is fully natural, as long as no chemicals such as synthetic dyes or preservatives are applied during the manufacturing process. Sheep and goats, whose hair is used to make this valuable fiber, can also contribute to the fight against climate change.

Their presence in pastures aids in the stabilization of the soil's nutritional balance as well as its ability to absorb water.

Wool is a naturally long-lasting fiber. It’s 100 percent biodegradable, as well as reusable and recyclable, meaning wool clothes can be kept in circulation for 20 to 30 years.

Virgin wool already has a low carbon footprint, however, recycled wool saves 11 KG of CO2 per kilo produced compared to virgin wool. As well, 500 liters of water are saved per kilo of recycled wool compared to virgin wool (Sustain Your Style).

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