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Hole and Corner
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Luxury interior textiles
What do you see as the main challenges for sustainability within the textile and home furnishing sector?
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I feel that there are a number of challenges but in brief the incessant want for ‘new’ is what forces companies to keep making product and therefore creates more wasted textiles. It’s changing this short-term-gratification-at-any cost mindset that poses a huge challenge.
Furthermore, the industry demands certain rigid specifications for fabrics, which means man-made fibre is used more and more. Many of these are petroleum based, as are the dyes, and so therefore not biodegrade. The ‘Zara’ or high-street effect has influenced our industry – translated as fast and cheap. And cheap means man-made at any cost to the environment.
Even if natural fibre is used, for example, cotton, it requires many pesticides and therefore gallons of water to clean the fibre and the discarded water then pollutes rivers.
There are so many challenges but I feel it all starts with expectations of the designers and educating consumers.
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Linen makes the most sense to me as it’s a natural fibre that takes little water, does not require as many pesticides during the growing of the flax and it lasts longer than cotton. It is also very strong and can in many cases be used in its 100% form for upholstery, so no man-made fibres are involved.
There is always the question of the source of fibres and ethical treatment of those involved. Bamboo makes beautiful soft fabrics but requires harsh chemicals in the manufacture, which has been considered detrimental to the workers’ health. So, if the budget allows, linen it is.
What does ‘making good’ mean to you?
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Linen being such a strong fibre does cost more than cotton or polyester, but it will outlast both, it ages beautifully and does little damage to the environment. This really is a perfect example of something that improves with time. One of my favourite fabrics is our robust stonewashed linen called Buffalo.
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