Materials

This page gives an overview of how we source our materials for our collections and why we use these fabrics. Wherever possible we strive to use highest quality materials that will have the least impact on our natural environment. Full descriptions of the materials used for each garment can be found in the product descriptions of each item in our online shop.

Fabrics Straight From The Mill

Linen

We use a mix of linen and organic linen (GOTS certified) sourced from Belgian firm Libeco as it’s a beautiful, comfortable and light material that is naturally sustainable.

  • Linen is made from flax, 80% of which is grown in fields in Northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Flax is one of the most sustainable raw materials in the world. During growth, the flax plant receives no additional irrigation; rainwater is sufficient.

  • Fewer pesticides and fertilizers are used with flax. The fibres are separated from the stem during a natural process called dew retting.

  • There is also very little waste. Every part of a flax plant is used:

    • The linseed is used for the next flax season, as well as to feed people and animals. Linseed oil is also very nutritious and is also found in soap, paint and cosmetics.

    • The shives are processed into animal bedding or chipboards. The long fibres, and the highest-quality short fibres, are used for textiles. The other short fibres find their use in the insulation or paper industry.

Organic Cotton

  • We use organic cotton (GOTS certified) sourced from Spanish firm Sidogras for its comfort, versatility and organic credentials.

  • Cotton is a natural fibre that grows as a protective case around the seeds of cotton plants. It is then spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile.

  • Organic cotton does not use pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and genetically modified organisms that are used in the growth of conventional cotton.

  • Organic cotton also uses far less water than conventional cotton and is mainly rain-fed rather than irrigated.

Tencel

We use Tencel sourced from Spanish firm Sidogras as it is light, silky smooth to the touch and has better environmental credentials than most conventional fabrics.

  • Tencel is actually Lyocell fibres produced under the brand name Tencel.

  • These fibres are made by dissolving wood pulp and using a special drying process called spinning.

  • Tencel requires less water, energy and dyeing than conventional cotton and is biodegradable as it’s a plant-derived fibre.

  • Tencel lyocell differs from most other fabrics made from wood fibre as it replaces the traditional chemically intensive viscose process with a close-looped solvent method meaning no harmful solvent is dumped into the ecosystem.

Silk

We use silk (SERI.CO certified) woven in Italy that has been sourced from China for its delicate texture, shimmering appearance, and beautiful patterns.

  • Silk is made from the pupating lava of Silkworms. Silk is a renewable resource, can biodegrade, and uses less water, chemicals, and energy than many other fibres. However, it is not vegetarian as it involves the death of the lava before it becomes a moth.

  • Due to confidentiality agreements in place, Teseo do not give us details on the supplier of the raw silk, although they have assured us that this supplier is GOTS certified and adheres to the strictest ethical standards.

  • The silk we use is SERI.CO certified.

Bamboo/Silk Mix

For our Spring/Summer 2023 collection, we’ve been able to use a printed fabric that Delphine designed herself, made from a mix of bamboo and silk. This has been printed in the UK by firm Forest Digital, who sourced the fabric from China.

  • Bamboo is typically a very sustainable material so long as it’s not mixed with rayon or other materials that rely on chemicals and heavy water usage. The fabric we’ve used is mixed with silk, a naturally renewable resource that uses less water, chemicals and energy than many other fibres.

  • Bamboo grows rapidly, needs very little water, fertilizer or pesticides and absorbs up to five times more carbon dioxide than similar plants. It’s also naturally regenerating.

Polyester

We have occasionally used polyester in our collections for its durability and its bright colours which are hard to replicate with other materials. In our Spring/Summer 2023 collection, we’ve used recycled polyester from Italian firm Seriko and in our Autumn/Winter 2022 Collection we used a special hand-crafted silk/polyester mixed fabric from Italian family-run mill Carlo Pozzi. Since we have made the decision to only use upcycled poly from deadstock. See our upcycled fabric section below.

  • Polyester fibres are formed from a chemical reaction between an acid and alcohol. Given that coal and petroleum are also used in the process, Polyester is not a particularly environmentally friendly fabric. However, it is very durable, and assuming these items are kept well, they will last for a long time.

  • As we move to the future, we will be looking to phase out our use of non-recycled polyester in favour of fabrics that are kinder to our natural environment.

Upcycled Fabrics

Not all the fabrics that we use are bought straight from mills. Some of it we purchase from deadstock platforms, which specialise in selling material that other companies had no more use for. In addition, some of the fabric we’ve used in our early collections is leftover material passed onto Delphine from family and friends to prevent waste. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the latter we’ve been unable to identify the exact composition of certain materials used.

Upcycled Wool

We use wool that has been sourced from deadstock platform Fabric House, for its durability, warmth and natural properties.

  • Wool is a fantastic material, particularly for the cooler months due to its warmth, but also its beautiful aesthetic.

  • Because it’s a natural fibre, it breaks down harmlessly.

  • The natural oils in the wool also mean that the final product retains antibacterial properties, protecting the fibres against soiling and meaning you can wear them for longer without washing, cutting down on water consumption.

Upcycled Cotton

We use upcylced cotton that has been sourced from deadstock platform Fabric House, for its comfort, versatility and its upcycled nature.

  • Cotton is a natural fibre that grows as a protective case around the seeds of cotton plants. It is then spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft, breathable textile.

  • Making cotton, especially non-organic cotton can require a lot of water. That’s why we only choose organic cotton or cotton that would otherwise go to waste.

Upcycled Linen Wool Mix

We use a linen-wool that has been sourced from deadstock platform Fabric House, that combines the benefits of both wool and linen.

  • Wool is a fantastic material, particularly for the cooler months due to its warmth, but also its beautiful aesthetic. As it’s a natural fibre it also breaks down harmlessly.

  • Linen is a wonderfully light and comfortable material which is made from one of the most sustainable raw materials there is; Flax.

  • Additionally, this material is upcycled, and as a result would have otherwise gone to waste.

Upcycled Cupro

We use cupro that has been sourced from deadstock platform Fabric House, for its shiny appearance, soft feel and its upcycled nature.

  • Cupro is made from recycled Cotton that would have otherwise been thrown away and is chemically processed to produce a smooth fabric.

  • Since it is soft, smooth and does not contain any animal by-products, cupro is a vegetarian and vegan alternative to silk.