Ecouterre

COCONA\ˈkōˈkōnˈä\
n 1 a:Trademarked name for a lightweight, breathable fiber derived from coconut-husk waste discarded by the food-service industry. b: Reduced to charcoal, combined with recycled polyester, and spun to maximize its surface area for warmth retention and moisture wicking. c: Said to resist odors better than traditional polyester fill. 2: Used in Nau’s insular jacket, a …

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SORONA\ˈsȯrˈōnˈä\

n 1 a: Sorona, DuPont’s trade name for poly(trimethylene terephthalate), is an extruded fiber that serves as a alternative to nylon 6 in apparel (swimwear, activewear, outerwear) and automotive, commercial, and residential carpeting. b. Contains 37 percent renewable agricultural feedstocks, in this case corn sugar. c. Said to use 30 percent less energy and release 64 percent fewer greenhouse gas …

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ZEUGMA \ˈzo͞ogmə\

n 1 a: A 95 percent organic-cotton textile that mimics the qualities of petroleum-based technical fabrics without synthetic chemicals or additives. b: Wicks away moisture, dries quickly, resists pilling, and stays colorfast but with the breathability of cotton, making it an apt choice for workout clothes and other activewear. c: Made with a …

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CHIENGORA \chē-ˈen-ˈgȯr-ə\
n. 1 a: A portmanteau of “chien” (French for dog) and “angora.” b: A soft, spun yarn—said to be up to 80 percent warmer than wool—made from the naturally shed undercoat of canines with hair typically longer than two inches. c: Current production methods are mostly limited to a low-volume, hand-crafted technique similar to traditional carding and spinning wool. c: Uses for the yarn include sweaters, and …

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A linen-cupro shirtdress from Donna Karan
CUPRO \¦k(y)üˈprō\
n. 1 a: A regenerated cellulose fiber derived from cotton linter (the ultrafine, silky fibers that stick to the seeds of the cotton plant after it’s been ginned) that has been dissolved in a solution of ammonia and copper oxide. b: It is similar to rayon, but breathes and regulates body temperature like cotton. c: Often used as a silk substitute, cupro is …

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Photos from Timberland’s Bionic Canvas collection
BIONIC YARN \bī-ˈä-nik ˈyärn\
n 1 a: A highly durable fiber composed of organic cotton wrapped around a core of recycled PET, a plastic commonly used for the production of soda bottles. b: Return Textiles Corporation—rapper Pharrell Williams is a key investor—produces spools of Bionic Yarn, which can be woven into a tough, …

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TENCEL C \ˈten ˈsil ˈsē\
n. 1 a: A fabric by Lenzing that combines Tencel (a trademarked name for lyocell) and chitosan, a naturally replenishable biopolymer derived from shells of mollusks. b: Purports to offer cosmetic benefits by hydrating and renewing cells, resulting in healthier, less wrinkled, and faster-healing skin. c: Naturally inhibits bacterial growth, accepts dyes, and is …

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Photo by Galen Frysinger
TAPA \ tah-pah \
n 1 a: Natural paper-like eco-textile from the South Pacific created from beating the inner bark of a mulberry tree. b: Paper-like in texture, the fabric is colored with natural dyes and painted with tribal designs and then used as decorations, wall-hangings, and even wedding and ceremonial costumes. c: Native cultures in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, …

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CRAILAR \ ˈkrā lär \
n. 1 a: Organically certified fiber derived from natural bast fibers (such as hemp and flax), which are responsibly treated with an “enzymatic bath” and then spun into soft, white fibers similar to organic cotton. b: Touted as the next affordable and sustainable stand-in for conventional cotton, with the added bonus of tensile strength for use in textile, industrial, energy, medical, …

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Photo by Aurora Silk Yarns

AHIMSA \ə-hĭm’sä’ \
n. 1 a: A Sanskrit term meaning to do no harm—literally translated as “the avoidance of violence”—or in the context of silk-fiber production, the ethical treatment of mulberry-eating silkworms. b: In lieu of boiling the silk cocoon to prematurely release strands of filament-like fiber, Ahimsa silk is extracted …

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Photo by The Purl Bee
O-WOOL \ō wu̇l \

n. 1 a: U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic wool yarn and fabric by The Vermont Organic Fiber Company. b: Requires certified-organic livestock feed and forage; the prohibition of synthetic hormones, genetic engineering, and …

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Photo by Cork Boutique
CORK \ˈkȯrk\
n. 1 a: An impermeable, buoyant, fire-resistant material that is stripped from the bark of the cork oak every nine years. (The tree has an average life expectancy of 200 years.) b: Used in flooring, upholstery, clothing, accessories, and, of course, wine stoppers. c: A strong case for the conservation of cork oak landscapes, which support remarkable levels of forest biodiversity, including endangered species such …

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Photo by deapeajay
S.CAFE \ˈes ka-ˈfā\
n. 1 a: A fabric that Singtex Industries in Taiwan knits or weaves using waste coffee grounds. (A single cup of coffee can yield two shirts.) b: Said to dry quickly, protect against UV rays, and neutralize odors. c: Meets Swiss Bluesign standards for sustainable fabrics.

+ S.Cafe

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Photo by Thomas Roche

SeaCell \ˈsē ˈsel\
n. 1 a: A variant of lyocell, SeaCell is made by combining cellulose with a small percentage of seaweed. b: Boasts a litany of health claims, including stress reduction, detoxification, the exchange of minerals and vitamins between fiber and skin, and a “complete sense of well-being.” c: The subject of controversy when the New York Times reported that the lab tests …

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Photo by Mark Aldane Tumang

PIÑA FIBER \ pēn-yə fī-bər\
n. 1 a: Long, fine, lustrous fibers obtained from the leaves of pineapple plants. (The plants are typically cultivated in Hawaii, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and the West Indies.) b: Resilient, strong fibers often used for sheer, silky fabrics, ropes, twine, and paper. c: Piña …

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Photo by Chad Miller

LENPUR \ˈlen-ˈpər\

n. 1 a: A fiber made from the pulp of sustainably cultivated white fir wood. b: Has an exceptionally soft weave that feels similar to cashmere. c: Used in clothing, underwear, socks, and home accessories, Lenpur is said to have thermoregulatory, odor-eliminating, and absorbent properties.

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Photo by Yarmee on Etsy

TENCEL \ˈten ˈsil\
n. 1 a: The trademarked brand name for lyocell, a natural cellulosic fiber with excellent moisture absorption and an exceptionally silky hand. b: A dyeable, wrinkle-resistant material that can be blended with a variety of other fibers, including cotton, rayon, polyester, silk, hemp, linen, and wool. c: Fabricated using a closed-loop process that doesn’t require bleach, although some manufacturers may use chemical processes, enzyme baths, and …

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MILKOFIL \ˈmilk-ˈō-ˈfil\
n. 1 a: A silk-like fabric by made from casein, the white, odorless protein from which cheese is made. Made by Maclodio Filati, Milkofil is said to have naturally antibacterial properties and perhaps even boost circulation. It does, however, take about 100 pounds of skim milk to make 3 pounds of milk fiber, a likely reason why it isn’t more widespread. b: Can be blended with other …

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Photo by Moral Fervor

INGEO \ˈin-ˌjē-ō\
n. 1 a: A manmade fiber by Natureworks (a subsidiary of Cargill Dow) derived from fermented cornstarches, rather than petroleum. Applications range from bio-plastics for packaging, electronics, casings, and films, as well as spun or filament fibers for apparel, home textiles, and nonwovens. b: May or may not contain genetically modified corn.

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Photo by ES Salmon Leather

SALMON LEATHER \ˈsa-mən ˈle-thər\
n. 1 a: A dyeable textile made from salmon skin—a byproduct of the fish processing industry that usually gets tossed into the landfill—using chemicals that are less toxic than those for tanning mammal hides because fish scales are easier to remove from skin than hair. (Note: no new salmon is killed expressly for its …

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Photo by Barneys New York/Earth Pledge FutureFashion

BANANA FABRIC \ bə-ˈna-nə ˈfa-brik\

n 1 a: A Southeast Asian cloth derived from the cast-off stems and leaves of the banana tree. b: The coarse outer layer is commonly used for woven tablecloths, cushions, seating, and curtains, while …

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