To remain committed to providing our customers with the highest quality fabrics made from natural, organic and recycled fibres woven here in the UK, we think it is crucial that our products consider all processes involved from seed to yarn. This exciting new venture will allow us to be sure that our impact on the environment is minimised and that the people responsible for the production of these plants and fibres are treated fairly, paid fairly and are not subjected to poor working conditions that could endanger themselves or others in the community. Being the first cotton weaving mill in the UK to receive certified Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) status from the Soil Association for the production of our range of 100% organic cotton fabrics – it really is a no brainer for us!
At Ian Mankin we ensure that all of our fabrics are made from natural, organic and recycled fibres and during the weaving process we add no chemicals – so the only finishing treatment given is a wash in pure Pennine water.
Good for you and good for the environment! We don’t want to waste any fabrics that our weaving team at our Lancashire cotton mill have already woven, so once we sell out of our existing stock of fabrics woven using cotton, every one of these fabrics will be replenished using organic or recycled cotton yarns!
What does it mean to be certified organic?
Quite simply, certified organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment, with systems in place to replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic pesticides and fertilisers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. You can be sure that working conditions are safe and workers’ rights are protected when choosing products with this certification. The audits carried out by the Soil Association and GOTS are very precise, and as a business we feel that this delivers us the peace of mind to guide our sourcing.
Why we chose to only source organic or recycled cotton yarns
Eliminate hazardous synthetic pesticides
If you often suffer from skin allergies or intolerances, then switching to using organic products might just work in your favour due to them having hypo-allergenic qualities, making it the perfect choice for even the most sensitive skin. This is also supported by the fact that no hazardous chemicals are used during the production and manufacturing processes.
Save precious water
Growing organic cotton uses up to 91% less water than conventionally produced cotton. According to the Soil Association switching to organic cotton can save up to 3 ½ years’ worth of drinking water for the production of one t-shirt. Considering the scarcity issues worldwide, this factor really cannot go without a thought when you’re considering your soft furnishings.
Help farming families
Due to the nature of organic farming, farmers benefit from improved health and are able to grow other crops alongside cotton. This enables the farmers that we source our organic yarns from the opportunity to grow additional crops and provides them with a more stable and accessible food supply as well as income for their families and surrounding communities.
So, what does this mean for you?
Most importantly, using organic cotton creates a fabric with proven benefits for the planet, the growers and also the people who purchase the products. It is also naturally biodegradable, providing all of our classic, timeless organic fabrics that have been used for curtains, blinds and cushions with longevity and the ability to naturally decompose once you’re are ready to throw them away.
We are continuously doing the best we can to reduce our impact on the environment, changing our cotton sourcing to organic or recycled is just one of our initiatives to achieve this.
Want to find out more about our British-made fabrics? Click here to browse our full collection.