"Damn, what is this, it's the softest thing I've ever felt!" said a pop-up customer in late 2019. Remember pop ups, guys?! 

But seriously, that's always the first thing people notice about our main line of mens and womens clothing every time they've felt it, tried it on, or made a purchase, it's incredibly soft. And I want to tell you why. 

Our original line of mens and womens basics are made from a proprietary blend of organic cotton + Tencel, with a select few products containing 6% spandex to help keep shape over time (the Night Out Body Skirt, 2nd Street Tube Top, Barton Springs Shift Dress, and some of the Henleys).

When searching for lightweight, breathable fabrics to be functional, high-quality, and eco-friendly in the fall of 2017, Whitestar Manufacturing, who made our first designs and samples in Austin, presented this unique, new to the market blend from Kendor Textiles.

Once we touched the raw blend we were hooked, but the benefits go way beyond its softness! 

Tencel

Originating from China, Australia, Brazil, India and beyond, Tencel is a branded name (owned by its Austrian founder Lenzing AG) for Lyocell, which comes from the wood pulp of Eucalyptus trees. Tencel is made by mixing the wood pulp with N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide (an organic compound), drying it, and then dissolving it to push it through small holes to make a fiber. It has a couple distinct properties that make it particularly special! 

• Naturally moisture-wicking: Tencel is composed of nanofibrils—literally very, very small fibers—which are hydrophilic, a quality that makes the fabric better at absorbing moisture. This allows for a high absorption rate—50% more than cotton—which gives it natural breathability and a light, airy feeling. 
• Naturally wrinkle resistant: Tencel's unique moisture absorption ability makes it less prone to wrinkles.
• Naturally Odor-resistant: because Tencel is naturally resistant to bacteria forming and has a high moisture absorption rate, it's also anti-bacterial. The lack of synthetic materials in it and most of our line means odor-causing bacteria doesn't getting trapped! You can wear it over and over without it smelling bad :) 
• Easy on the skin: Incredible wicking abilities keep your skin dry while holding the moisture in the fabric. Its incredible softness and smooth surface doesn't rub or chafe either. These factors combined with its resistance to bacteria growth make Tencel a great choice for those with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema! 
• Environmentally Friendly: Lyocell’s closed loop production process means that the solvent N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide is recycled time and time again to produce new fibres and minimise harmful waste. Lenzing Group says the solvent recovery rate is 99%. Plus, the material comes from trees!

Organic Cotton

In addition to being one of the most widely grown crops in the world, growing conventional cotton is also one of the most chemical-­intensive. These chemicals have tremendous impact on the earth’s air, water, soil, and the health of people in cotton-growing areas. They are among the most toxic chemicals as classified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Here's how organic cotton is a better more environmentally friendly and sustainably made (and safer for those working with it!):

• Water: Organic cotton requires 11X LESS water to treat. Low-impact, water-based inks and/or pigments with no heavy metals are also used for color dying.
• Easy on the skin: Organic cotton is hypoallergenic.
• Durability: Organic cotton fibers are longer and stronger than conventional cotton.
• Pesticide-free: Organic cotton farmers don't use any pesticides or heavy chemicals like formaldehyde.
• Carbon Dioxide: Organic cotton emits 46% less CO2 than regular cotton.
• Work safety: Handpicking organic cotton is safe for workers because of the lack of chemicals used to treat it.
• Fair trade: 65% of fair trade cotton farmers are also certified organic.

Bruce & Olive Textile Supplier

Our current line of mens and womens basics (not including our face coverings) comes from KenDor Textiles, a world-renounced seller of eco-friendly, sustainably made textiles since 1953. Kendor takes great pride in specializing in environmentally & socially responsible knit and woven textiles and strives to ensure that partner mills adhere to multiple global standards of environmental and social compliance including the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®.

Where can I buy it!?

While we anxiously await our Spring 2021 line, you can shop our mens collection, womens collection, and face coverings!

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