What eco-responsible materials should I choose?

Flax, the planet's best friend?

Flax is very interesting in a number of ways. Firstly, it requires very little fertiliser. It needs no special irrigation because it uses all the natural resources and nutrients in the soil.

Another significant advantage is that it requires very few pesticides and produces no waste, as it is entirely biodegradable. The manufacturing process is also environmentally friendly.

Finally, linen is very comfortable to wear. Lightweight, it's particularly suited to summer clothing. Good to know: linen is making a big comeback on the catwalks! We particularly like its soft colours and fluidity.

Linen by Elora

Flowing round-neck blush pink linen T-shirt

Lyocell (tencel), the ecological fibre to have in your wardrobe

Lyocell, also known as tencel, is a natural material made from wood cellulose or pulp. This textile has a number of benefits, while respecting the environment.

Lyocell is extremely durable thanks to its smooth, elastic fibres. Breathable and pleasant to wear, it can be used to make soft garments that will be particularly appreciated by those with sensitive skin.

It also has the advantage of being biodegradable, and its manufacture produces no components that are harmful to the planet or our health. Finally, growing the trees to produce lyocell requires very little water and no pesticides.

Good to know: lyocell is also antibacterial! For this reason, it is widely used in the manufacture of bed sheets.

Lyocell piece by Elora

Denim shirt in eco-responsible lyocell

Organic cotton, more eco-responsible and better quality

Conventional cotton is not an eco-responsible material because it depletes the soil, requires fertilisers for better growth and uses a lot of water. However, organic cotton is a good, more ecological alternative!

It puts much less strain on the soil because it is grown on a rotation system. This means that it is only grown once a year on the same plot of land, and no longer exhausts the soil like conventional cotton. With this rotation system, there is no need to use fertiliser, because the soil remains rich. What's more, insects don't have time to proliferate, so there's no need to use pesticides.

And thanks to the rotation system, the soil retains all its nutrients and is better able to retain water. So cotton needs less water to grow!

For all the above reasons, organic cotton is more environmentally friendly and has a more raw composition. Hand-harvested, it is also more solid and produces better quality garments.

The organic cotton piece by Elora

Eco-responsible red organic cotton V-neck T-shirt

Recycled textiles have never been so accessible

Are you familiar with polyester and polyamide? Well, these synthetic materials don't exactly have a great image... but their recycled versions are a big hit!

Recycled artificial textiles do not use water or fossil fuels. They are made from recycled materials (as the name suggests) such as plastic. Waste is therefore limited and recycled for the production of clothing.

The collections made from recycled materials offered by today's brands can be of very high quality and 100% fashionable: don't hesitate to give them a try! You'll be doing your bit for the planet and looking good at the same time.

Recycled fabric by Elora

Carrot trousers in recycled polyester, fluid and crease-resistant with plant prints

Green washed jeans are invading our wardrobes

We're all agreed: if there's one basic item you need in your wardrobe, it's faded jeans! These timeless jeans have stood the test of time. And yet the 'classic' way they're made raises questions, because it's neither responsible nor environmentally friendly.

Indeed, the manufacture of faded jeans requires the use of large volumes of water and chemicals that are highly dangerous to the health of the workers involved in the process.

However, greener collections of faded jeans do exist. Increasingly, fading is done by laser.

The icing on the cake: green washed jeans are just as comfortable and trendy as classic washed jeans! Why go without?

Green washed jeans by Elora

Eco-responsible straight washed jeans in stretch denim

Animal cruelty-free materials

Responsible materials are not just about the environment. It's also about taking action against animal cruelty and exploitation in the manufacture of clothing.

Imitation leather is a material that the textile industry has mastered very well. When it is of good quality, it resembles leather in every way, without any animal cruelty or 'cheap' effect. Comfortable and more affordable than leather, it can last over time without getting damaged.

In the same vein, clothing brands are now offering superb pieces with faux fur. The effect is guaranteed, without animal exploitation! What more could you ask for?

Finally, mohair can also raise questions. In agreement with PETA (a non-profit organisation that defends animal rights), Elora has decided to stop using this wool altogether.

Discover our entire collection of eco-responsible clothing