Modal/Lenpur

Source: Wood pulp
Feels Like: Silk or cashmere

Characteristics:
• Pill resistant
• Color fast
• Shrink resistant
• Thermal regulating
• Fade resistant

Performance Features:
• Antimicrobial
• U.V. resistant

Pro: The fabric is highly resistant to hard-water deposits (lime), helping it retain its softness after repeated washings.
Con: Like cotton, it often requires ironing after each washing like cotton.

Trivia: Very similar to rayon. Often blended with other fabrics such as cotton, spandex and Lycra.

Organic Cotton

Source: Cotton plants grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides
Feels Like: Standard cotton

Characteristics:
• Biodegradable
• Hypoallergenic
• Machine washable and dryable
• Soft hand

Performance Features:
• Easily absorbs moisture
Pro: A shirt made from organic cotton saves a third of a pound of synthetic fertilizers and farm chemicals.
Con: Organic cotton garments are sometimes offered in limited colors because traditional dyes are made from chemicals that must be avoided.

Trivia: Farms and their machinery must be chemical free for three years before being allowed to call their cotton organic.

Bamboo

Source: Bamboo pulp
Feels Like: Combination
of cashmere and silk

Characteristics:
• Breathable
• Color fast
• Hypoallergenic
• Soft hand
• Thermal regulating

Performance Features:
• Antimicrobial
• Water wicking
• U.V. resistant

Pro: Bamboo grows exceptionally fast, and can be grown without pesticides and with virtually no impact on the surrounding environment.
Con: Bamboo loses 60% of its strength when wet, so it may not be suitable for industrial uniforms and washings.

Trivia: Each plant regenerates on its own with no replanting needed and can reach full maturity in four years.

Hemp

Source: Stems of plants
Feels Like: Linen

Characteristics:
• Softens with each washing
• Three times stronger than cotton
• Withstands water better
than most fabrics

Performance Features:
• Antimicrobial
• U.V. resistant

Pro: Linen is very environmentally friendly; it doesn’t require any pesticides to grow and can be grown in dense clusters of up to 300 plants per square yard.
Con: Linen wrinkles easily and is somewhat scratchy, so it’s usually blended with other fabrics to give it a softer hand.

Trivia Hemp is a weed in the same genus as marijuana but doesn’t contain the same narcotic chemical. The association has damaged its reputation as a major cash crop in the past.

Ingeo

Source: Made from corn
Feels Like: Cotton

Characteristics:
• Breathable
• Anti-pill
• Hypoallergenic
• Color fast
• Shrink resistant

Performance Features:
• Antibacterial
• Water wicking
• Odor resistant
• Soil release
• Stain resistant
• U.V. resistant
• Wrinkle free

Pro: Ingeo uses 68% less energy to produce than synthetic fabrics, such as polyester.
Con: Increased use of corn for fabric, along with ethanol fuel, could have an adverse affect on corn prices.

Trivia: Ingeo actually becomes 10% stronger after 10 washings and 20% stronger after 50.

Soy

Source: Tofu manufacturing waste
Feels Like: Cashmere

Characteristics:
• Durable like cotton
• Soft hand
• Very light fabric

Performance Features:
• Antibacterial
• Water wicking
• U.V. resistant

Pro: Soy is a cheaper alternative to cashmere, which is made from the fine hair collected from a goat’s underside.
Con: Not as strong as cotton or hemp

Trivia: Soy fabric is made from protein fiber containing many amino acids. It’s the only protein-based botanical fiber.