Overview of the different materials for children's textiles

In baby & children's clothing, as well as in the textile industry and fashion world, a distinction is made between natural fibres and chemical fibres in the materials. Natural fibres have their origin in nature and chemical fibres are industrially produced.

Natural fibres are divided into plant and animal fibres according to their origin. These are also called natural fibres, they are organic or inorganic. Natural plant fibres are fibres obtained from stems, seeds and stalks. Fibres of animal origin are mainly obtained from the hair or fur of animals. An exception is silk, which is obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm.

Man-made fibres are industrially produced, formerly also called synthetic fibres. A distinction is made here between fibres of natural origin and those of synthetic origin. Fibres of synthetic origin are made from the raw material petroleum. The raw material for man-made fibres of natural origin is cellulose - which is obtained from the wood of coniferous or deciduous trees such as eucalyptus, bamboo, pine, beech or the seed of the cotton plant.

You can find more details under the individual tabs.

Materials for children's clothing of natural & plant origin

Cotton

Cotton is a natural fibre and is obtained from the seed hair of the cotton plant. A few days after the plant has flowered, the fruit capsule produces cellulose - longer, but also shorter hairs, which are spun into yarn after harvesting. Due to its good wearing properties, such as its robustness and tear resistance, cotton is very popular, especially for children's clothing. 
Properties of cotton:

  • abrasion resistant
  • absorbent
  • skin-friendly
  • heat resistant
  • durable
  • easy-care
  • hard-wearing

Organic-Cotton

Fortunately, organic cotton has recently become more and more popular among manufacturers of children's clothing. Consumers like you and many of our other customers also value sustainability. Your children and we would like to thank you for preferring to buy an item made of organic cotton, even if it may cost a few cents more. Because organic cotton is grown organically or ecologically, better conditions are created for the harvesters and farmers. The main and crucial difference between organic cotton and conventional cotton is that the seeds of conventional cotton are genetically modified and chemically treated. When planting organic cotton, the use of environmentally harmful pesticides and artificial/synthetic fertilisers is prohibited. This means that the environment is sustainably protected, and so is your child. In addition, organic cotton has the same positive properties as cotton.

Bamboo

Bamboo viscose is a semi-synthetic fibre. Bamboo fibres are produced in two different ways, mechanically and chemically. Primarily, bamboo fabric is produced by chemical processes, with the viscose process being the more preferred. In this process, bamboo leaves and shoots are processed in a chemical process until they become viscose yarn.
Due to its rapid growth rate and its versatility, bamboo is also called the material of the future. Due to its biodiversity, it can thrive in different climatic zones on more than 70% of the earth's surface. Because of its immensely fast growth, it is one of the fastest renewable resources on earth. Its versatility is evident in its use as food, as a building material, as a viscose fibre in the textile industry and its use for objects in various crafts. Bamboo is also food for giant pandas, which are threatened with extinction. 

Clothing made of bamboo has the following positive wearing properties:

  • comfortable, breathable, moisture-wicking, dries quickly, regulates heat and is anti-static.

Bamboo contains a natural biological agent, called "KUN" in Japan, which has an antibacterial effect even after several chemical processing steps. This natural active ingredient prevents bacteria from settling on textiles, for example, and thus also prevents bad odours caused by perspiration. Bamboo is also hypoallergenic by nature. The only disadvantage of bamboo viscose is the use of chemicals in the production of the fibre.

Viskose

Can it be a little shinier? This glossy effect is achieved by using viscose. The basic material is wood or cellulose. By adding chemicals, a semi-synthetic fibre is created that is often used in textile processing if the end product is to be shiny. Viscose is also called artificial silk because of its shiny fibre.
The positive properties of viscose are that the fabric is flowing, very light and soft. It is also highly absorbent, breathable and has a cooling effect.
On the downside, there is the aforementioned use of chemicals. But also that the articles tend to crease or wrinkle more quickly and have hardly any elasticity. There is also a higher probability that the garment will shrink a little during the washing process, depending on the percentage of the material.

Hanf

The structure of hemp fibres is comparable to that of cotton fibres. Both consist largely of cellulose and hemicellulose. Hemp, however, refers to plants whose fibres have a certain length and a natural sheen. The long fibres are strong, practically indestructible and immensely tear-resistant.
Compared to cotton fibre, hemp fibre can absorb three times more moisture and still dries three times faster than cotton. Another plus point of hemp fibres is their dirt-repelling property, which means that less energy is used when washing. An important aspect of hemp fabric is that it kills bacteria, making it antibacterial. Hemp is also a fast-growing plant that, unlike cotton, hardly uses any water. With the hemp plant, the use of herbicides, pesticides, synthetic fertilisers or GMO seeds can be dispensed with. One disadvantage is that industrial cultivation of hemp is illegal in many parts of the world, as the plant is still far too associated with marijuana.

Modal

Modal is produced on the basis of cellulose and is called regenerated fibre. This is obtained from beech wood. It is a viscose fibre that is structure-modified. In its production, only the composition of the spinning bath is different.
The production of Modal uses less water and energy than cotton. The advantages of this modal fibre are that it has many positive wearing properties, as well as being long lasting and easy to care for.
Positive properties are:

  • it has good breathability 
  • it is silky soft
  • supple
  • very elastic
  • hard-wearing
  • absorbent
  • boil-proof
  • has a higher strength
  • easy to iron
  • hardly forms creases and is cooling.

The disadvantage of the fibre is that it hardly warms and is not suitable for textiles in the winter season.

Linens

Linen is obtained from the long stalks of the tender flax plant in a lengthy processing procedure. When the flax has reached a height of at least one metre and the seed pod is yellow, the plant is pulled out of the ground with the root. The stalks are then stored in rows in the field for a few more days, after which the fibres are dried and the seed removed. In terms of sustainability, linen is at the forefront and scores not only in cultivation, but also in its longevity and recyclability. 
Linen is a very airy and light fabric, and is also very robust. Another positive property is the natural creasing effect, which is caused by the low stretch of the fibre.

Latex

Latex is a natural and renewable material, it is extracted from the rubber tree. One of the advantages of latex is that it is biodegradable and no plants or animals need to be killed for its production. The trees are not cut down to produce latex, so production is sustainable and carbon-negative. In its raw form, natural rubber is very elastic and soft. Under the influence of light and oxygen, the molecules break down, which leads to the fragility of the material. It is therefore important to vulcanise raw rubber, as this is the only way to make the material durable.

Frequently asked questions about plant materials of natural origin

  • Cotton is very robust
  • It can absorb moisture well
  • is soft and pleasant on the skin
  • Has a high wearing comfort

  • Unfortunately, cotton does not release moisture well, which is why pure cotton is unsuitable for sportswear, as bacteria or germs would quickly feel at home and destroy the garment.
  • If the fibre is washed too often, it will lose its colour and fade.
  • Products with a high cotton content wrinkle quickly

  • since organic cotton is grown organically or ecologically, better conditions are created for the harvesters and farmers
  • No environmentally harmful pesticides or artificial/ synthetic fertilisers are used.
  • The environment is sustainably protected, and so is your child.
  • the other advantages of organic cotton are the same as for "normal" cotton
  • organic cotton is robust
  • it can absorb moisture well
  • is soft and pleasant on the skin
  • has a high wearing comfort

  • Organic cotton also absorbs moisture poorly, so pure organic cotton is not suitable for use in sportswear, as bacteria or germs would quickly take hold and destroy the garment.
  • if the fibre is washed too often, it can lose its vibrant colour and fade
  • Products with a high organic cotton content also wrinkle quickly

First of all, follow the manufacturer's instructions on the laundry label. We recommend washing clothes for babies/newborns separately, as there may be allergenic substances in or on your clothes. We also recommend that you always avoid using fabric softener, as this can irritate your little one's skin and prevent possible allergic reactions. Another recommendation is to use a sensitive fabric softener, especially if the clothes can only be washed at 40°. Hygiene rinse agents remove 99% of the bacteria even at very low temperatures. For children's clothes, use a detergent labelled "Sensitive".

  • elastic
  • very robust
  • more durable than cotton
  • can absorb moisture well
  • does not crease as quickly
  • is soft and pleasant on the skin
  • has a high wearing comfort
  • durable
  • is preferred by allergy sufferers

  • it hardly warms and is not for winter season textiles