Glossary of Green Textile Terms

This alphabetical listing of sustainable fabric definitions is a must for anyone wanting to look up the difference between a third-party certified green fabric and one that has been merely 'washed green', ie. 'greenwashed'.

Dayle compiled this list from her 19 years experience teaching textiles at college, and her hours of research into various textile websites. This is available to you in a downloadable pdf from the resource section of this website.

http://www.daylelaing.com/environmental-green-resources.html

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email this

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (3) add comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Margarida Oliveira: ...

Hello Dayle,
Thank you for sending your newsletter and in particular the glossaries you have compiled. That was very generous and informative; I know I will make reference to them often. As always you continue to be a wealth of information.

Margarida
Chic Decor

Thanks for the positive feedback Margarida!
Dayle

September 17, 2009

Barb Bowes: ...

Thank you Dayle. I have not read all of your research yet, but just wondering if you know anything about the foam mattresses on the market. Do they off-gas as well?

Barb Bowes
Bowes Design Solutions

Hi Barb,
Manufacturers can be asked if the adhesives used in production are solvent or water based. Water-based adhesives would generally be preferable for less VOC off-gassing.

Some people are avoiding polyurethane foam used in mattresses. The information on polyurethane linked on page 3 of the Glossary (found in the Resource page on my website) quotes from Greenpeace's Pyramid of Plastics. "Polyurethane... uses several hazardous intermediates and creates numerous hazardous by-products."

I would also like to refer you to the Less Toxic Guide - household cleaning section link, found on the 4th item listed on my Resources page. Sleeping on bedsheets laundered with fabric softener exposes one to an assortment of chemicals (such as formaldehyde), that may surprise some people. This guide from the Nova Scotia government is excellent in its explanations and suggestions for alternatives. I like to use vinegar instead if I need fabric softener, which is quite rare.

Best regards,
Dayle

September 22, 2009

Sharyn Adler Gitalis: ...

Hi Dayle: wondering if you may be able to help me out. I went to visit a client of mine who has severe environmental allergies. She wants to recover a chair and put up some drapes. She finds that a lot of the chemicals on fabrics bother her so has been trying to find organic cotton fabrics or some fabric that does not have a lot of processing and coatings.

Have you found any products that may work in a situation like this?

Thank you very much,
SHaryn Adler Gitalis

Hi Sharyn,

I can certainly understand your client’s situation. I can suggest several fabric suppliers that carry beautiful organic cottons. They sell to the trade through designers such as yourself.

J Ennis Fabrics “Simply Natural” collection.
http://www.jennisfabrics.com

Robert Allen’s Beacon Hill “Awakenings” and Robert Allen “Pure Style”
http://www.robertallendesign.com

Threadcount Inc.
http://www.threadcountinc.com

Do make sure the upholsterer does not put in new polyurethane foam that will off-gas and cause your client problems. Similarly, the drapery lining should be organic as well. One has to consider the components as well as the surface material.

All the best with this project,
Dayle

April 21, 2010

Write comment