Our Materials and Processes
When it comes to environmental and social standarts we are quite inflexible, we don’t take shortcuts! Starting with Premium ecological and social Certified Hemp and Blended Hemp, guaranteed by legitim organizations. Following cashmere, Hemp is identified as the second most falsified natural fibre worldwide, and the increasing occurrence of fraud certificates is an aspect that we all can be vigilant upon. Opting for environmental and social certifications are paramount aspects because they stem from regulatory agent’s expertise, external to companies. With environmental and social criteria these organizations are reliable sources to know the origin of fabrics aswell elevating and ensuring best processes, working practices, and labour conditions. We all can make our part by investing in products and brands supporting these regulatory agents. our goal is to help grow its influence not just for better product’s environmental performance, but to safer and better controlled environment contexts for workers and overall aspects of Sustainable Development Goals.
To learm more about most trustable organizations please see Hemp Suppliers & Certifications section below.
We want to help people being more aware about Certified Hemp by certified companies, following environmental and social criteria for cultivation, processes and textile production.
Other precondition for overall CURA® processes and aesthetics are skilled and dedicated manufacturers. CURA® garments are made by talented seamstresses and micro-companies in the apparel business, working in Lisbon district. With great know-how, using the best handmade sewing techniques and also, preserving an invaluable knowledge about garments culture – construction, details and finishings. However, these seamstresses and micro-companies cannot pay certifications, or even have the scale. Therefore we will make them known for you can ensure garments are made in appropriate and respectful environments, that you are also contributing to these professionals well-being standards of life, as they absolut deserve.
We consider this local and crafts approach to clothes manufacture as bringing value not just to our products, but to the Fashion and Apparel industry – for its higher quality, inclusiveness, heritage and culture.
We value local craftmanship, knowledge, and green technology. Once you have a CURA ® hemp garment you will recognize an overall quality uniqueness, combined with the most skilled and creative cosmopolitan Lisbon energy.
We also work with some of the best portuguese companies in eco-friendly finishings, trimmings, textile labels, paper labels and packaging. Examples of dedicated and responsible industry, with hight quality standarts alongside sustainable innovation, making them the ideal partners in building a better industry.
Hemp
CURA® states for Hemp as an amazing fabric with potential for a better industry development. Therefore is our raw material, deserving attention to be recalled for better well–being, and sustainable ways of living. Cannabis Sativa L. is the name of the plant where Hemp comes from. Cannabis is a medicinal plant with diverse healling properties, and one of the most ancient natural fiber used for clothes and textiles. For fabrics, many countries and cultures adopted different ways of cultivation and production, creating a valuable and vast knowledge. Several centuries ago in Portugal, Hemp was used for sails, for the “Naus” and “Caravelas” – the ships that crossed oceans during a period of land discoveries around 1500 – surely by Hemp’s resistance to salt, and also for other properties like resistance, flexibility and form recovery.
Unlike other vegetable fibers, due to Cannabis Sativa L. properties, Hemp does not need the same water irrigation, pesticides, herbicides, or any kind of chemicals to grow. Planted in dense crops and by its height, Hemp does not allow sun-light to penetrate, which reduces weed grow by 95%.
Hemp is also an ideal rotation-crop due to its long taproot structure that helps retain topsoil, while replenishing soil quality, due to the natural leaf composting so it can regenerate vital soil elements, and it has the unique and additional ability to surpress the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi.
Socially, because Hemp is a low maintenance plant growing in very diverse territories and climats, it has huge potential for contributing for alleviating rural poverty of populations that live from plants cultivation.
Today Hemp is cultivated for fine fabric, soft and cool to the touch. It is the strongest natural fiber, resistant to UV and ideal for sensitive skin. Is thermodynamic, adapting to body temperature, and its natural antimicrobial properties adds value to performance.
Organic Cotton
Conventional cotton growing practices uses harmful amounts of pesticides and herbicides for workers and close populations and for the environment. It releases more toxins into the world’s water than any other crop grow, and these are just some reasons for we absolute avoid its use. Because cotton actually can be grown without harmful chemicals, using good ways for processing fiber and yarns. It is true that conventional cotton cultivation is the biggest source of income for millions of farmers worldwide, which makes this a difficult issue, from a social perspective. However, it is imperative to find a balance, which does not imply that the currency of exchange for profit, and low prices, are these people’s health and planet’s life; a balance capable of turning this industry into a cleaner, fair, and safer one.
Although OC also needs vast areas of land and workers for its cultivation, it is produced within an organic farm system along with other crops and so, ecosystems are preserved particularly throughtout crop-rotation. OC production sustains the health of soils and also the people involved by using natural, rather than artificial inputs. Generally OC uses 91% less water in its production compared to conventional cotton because is mostly irrigated by rainwater. Importantly, organic cotton farming does not allow toxic chemicals or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Instead, it combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment, and promote a good quality of life for all involved.
And OC still has everything you look for in fine cotton; it is soft, comfortable, breathable, washable and resistant. OC is the only cotton we choose. Actually, we don’t feel it a choice if we really want to make a difference to a positive impact.
Recycled
For CURA®, our R stands also for Resilience : as the ability to restore and overcome crisis, using knowledge not to repeat mistakes of the past but to learn, adapt, and overcome, building new cycles preventing known negative impacts. Our “R” also means Reduction: making the most of what we already have. So we work with recycled fabrics as: Cotton, Organic Cotton and even Recycled Hemp because it is so resistant, it goes so well to re-purpose.
Now, Polyester, one of the most used materials in the textile industry, is made of plastic. Plastic-based fibers seriously compromise natural resources. Polyester-based products takes an average of 200 years to degrade. We could talk about the pros and cons of recycling polyester but let’s first face numbers, the amount of plastic that still exists in the oceans or in landfils, and about 800 million tons of bottles are produced every year so, at this point, we think it is worth reducing through recycling, which causes far less air pollution than making from scratch. We see Recycled Polyester as a viable transition solution: as a technology, it reduces emissions of greenhouse gases into the environment, and simultaneously eliminates the demand for virgin polyester production.
Our Hemp suppliers are recycling wasted plastics and combining with the softness and breathability of hemp. Through careful crafting they turn them into luxurious and fine polyester yarns creating modern, eco-friendly, fashion forward textiles. And recycled fabrics performance are great, soft and comfortable. To ensure the best fibre recycling process, our suppliers are well certified with trademarks like REPREVE of Unifi, Inc., registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, to name a few.
Lyocell
With a botanical origin and sharing similar properties with other cellulosic fibres such as Cotton, Linen or Hemp, Lyocell is a man-made cellulosic fibre derived from hardwood trees – such as eucalyptus, oak and birch – and extracted from the wood pulp. Lyocell does not depend on arable land, nor need pesticides or fertilizers to grow. When compared to Cotton, uses 15 to 35 times less water for its production, and being a biodegradable fabric it also works in a close-loop system. With a solvent-spinning process, recycles process water and reuses the solvent at a recovery rate of more than 99%.
Plus, it has a high-performance, a soft finishing touch and gentleness to skin, and good resistance to wrinkles, fitting perfectly on CURA ® garment proposals.
Our suppliers are working with the recognized Lenzing AG trademark TENCEL®.
Blended Hemp
To improve the diversify and performance of our clothing proposals, and amplify Hemp products, we work with blended Hemp with others like Silk, OC, Recycled Polyester and Lyocell. Hemp fibers are mechanically carded separating the short and the long fiber. Short fiber is used in the blending of yarns with organic cotton and others; long fiber stands alone. You can find both in our products, and actually feel its distinctive touch.
We know that some blended fabrics are more difficult to recycled and reuse particularly if there are mixtures between natural and artificial fibers. The process of separating them compromises the reuse of the natural ones. We try to keep up with technological developments that allow us to learn about processes improvements, to make conscious and informed decisions. Thus, we are commited in selecting the best suppliers, who respect the percentages of organic fibers and offer certification’s guarantees, of using the best blended processes.
Hemp Suppliers & Certifications
After an accurate research within social and environmental criteria, also a CURA® rigorous fabric selection based on style and comfort, we’re proud to work with some of the best world Hemp and Blended Hemp fabric suppliers, Certified by recognized and legitim organizations, that you can consult below.
Our US based supplier is a pioneer specialized in Hemp fabrics, and leader in eco-friendly and bio-degradable products. Promoting principles of fair trade and corporate responsibility, they have created for long their registered marks to control quality processes and assumed responsability by informing consumers and partners about each step that takes place when a product is made, from the raw materials used and processed, to the labor conditions involved. As certified organizations evolved throught time, they became accredited by these external certification organizations:
As the most anciest Hemp producer country and tecnhologically up-to-dated, our chinese Hemp supplier is the first company in China mainland member of Fair Wear Foundation, providing the healthiest of working conditions, medical benefits, safety insurance, regular salary raises, vacation days, and community building. Also, they source the best environmental Hemp fibers, spin, knit and weave the highest quality hemp yarn and fabrics. We feel entusiastic in working with companies that are game changers, raising ecological and humanitarian levels for fashion industry. They are Certified by the following organizations:
Fair Wear Foundation is a non-governmental organization (ONG) responsible for working directly with companies to raise the company structures standards with regard to promoting the best working and overall socio-economic conditions for garment workers.
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) recognised as the world’s leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres, products that contain a minimum of 70% organic fibres, can become GOTS certified. All chemical inputs must meet certain environmental and toxicological criteria. The choice of accessories is limited, in accordance with ecological aspects. A functional waste-water treatment plant is mandatory, for any wet-processing unit involved and all processors must comply with social criteria. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain requiring compliance with social criteria as well.
The Organic Content Standard 100 (OCS 100) verifies the presence and amount of organic material in a final product and tracks the flow of a raw material from its source to the final product. This process is then certified by an accredited third party. OCS 100 takes covers the same processing steps in goods containing 95% to 100% organic material. It can be used as a business-to-business tool, to give companies the means to ensure that they are selling quality and getting what they pay for. The final product may include non-food materials, not limited to fibres products, yarns, fabrics, clothes and home textiles.*
Textile Exchange is a global nonprofit. With a robust membership representing leading brands, retailers, and suppliers, is positively impacting the climate through accelerating the use of preferred materials across the global textile industry. The program Climate+ is the driving force for urgent climate action on textile fiber and materials, with a goal of 45% reduced CO2 emissions from textile fiber and material production by 2030.
ECOCERT has nearly 30 years of experience for audit and certification of organic products in France, and in more than 130 countries, is the world’s leading specialist in the certification of sustainable practices. The certifications issued by Ecocert guarantee and highlight the best environmentally friendly and socially conscious practices, from processes to products and packaging.
