Sustainable and Environmental Friendly Fibers in Textile Fashion A Study of Organic Cotton and Bamboo Fibers BY Muhammad Adnan Ali Muhammad Imran Sarwar Master Thesis A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Applied Textile Management University of Borås Report No. 2010.9.14 MAY 2010 Supervisor: Rudrajeet Pal Examiner: Heikki Mattila Abstract: In recent times sustainability is a leading characteristic of textile fashion products. Textile fashion companies are focusing more on sustainable products these days, so that they can meet the environmental and social aspects. For getting competitive advantage in fashion business the companies have to take care of social, political and economical issues, and they must be aware of current trends of the market. Sustainable fibres provide solution for the companies facing issues regarding environmental problems; these fibres are also favorable to meet the market demands of quality products these days. The main objective of this report is to use the sustainable materials in fashion garments; the report contains rich information about two natural sustainable fibres (organic cotton and Bamboo), that describes the brief history, biography, development, processing, application and uses of these fibres. This report briefly describes the advantages and disadvantages of these fibres and underlines the usage of these fibres by famous designers, and by many top brands and fashion companies for their competitive advantage and brand image. The report highlights the potentials of using these materials in textile fashion products and describes that high fashion and quality products can be made by these products to guarantee the environmental and social standards. 2 | P a g e Acknowledgements: We would like to express our heartiest gratitude to Håkan Torstensson, Professor Swedish School of Textiles. University of Borås, Sweden and our supervisor Rudrajeet Pal, Doktorand Swedish school of Textiles for their extreme interest, guidance and kind assistance in our entire project. Finally we thanks to our parents and friends whom prayers enabled us to complete this project. 3 | P a g e Contents Abstract: .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgements: ................................................................................................................................ 3 Figures: .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Tables: ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 1. Introduction: ........................................................................................................................................ 8 1.1 Scope of Research: ........................................................................................................................ 9 1.2 Methodology: ................................................................................................................................ 9 1.3 Limitations: .................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Sustainability: .................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Role of Sustainability in Textile: .................................................................................................. 11 2.2 Sustainable Agriculture and Environment: ................................................................................. 12 2.3 Materials:..................................................................................................................................... 13 2.4 Importance of materials: ............................................................................................................. 15 2.5 Sustainable materials: ................................................................................................................. 15 2.6 Green movement in the clothing sector: .................................................................................... 17 2.7 Fiber: ............................................................................................................................................ 18 3. Organic Cotton: ................................................................................................................................. 20 3.1 History and Background: ............................................................................................................. 20 3.2 Organic Cotton Development: ..................................................................................................... 22 3.3 Key Factors in Organic Cotton Development: ............................................................................. 23 3.3.1 Changing life style of consumers: ......................................................................................... 24 3.3.2 Companies making their business strategies more sustainable: ......................................... 24 3.4 Growing Organic Cotton: ............................................................................................................. 25 3.4.1 Soil Fertility: .......................................................................................................................... 26 3.4.2 Crop Rotation: ...................................................................................................................... 26 3.4.3 Cover Cropping: .................................................................................................................... 27 3.4.4 Weed and Pest management: .............................................................................................. 27 3.5 Advantages of organic cotton: .................................................................................................... 30 3.6 Disadvantages of organic cotton: ................................................................................................ 32 3.6.1 Productivity: ......................................................................................................................... 32 3.6.2 Cost: ...................................................................................................................................... 32 3.6.3 Cultivation: ........................................................................................................................... 32 3.6.4 Time: ..................................................................................................................................... 32 4 | P a g e 3.7 Fashion Brands and Retailers using organic cotton: ................................................................... 33 4. Bamboo Fiber: ................................................................................................................................... 35 4.1 History and Background: ............................................................................................................. 36 4.2 Methods of Bamboo manufacturing: .......................................................................................... 37 4.2.1 Mechanical method: ............................................................................................................. 37 4.2.2 Chemical Method: ................................................................................................................ 37 4.3 Bamboo yarns and Fibers: ........................................................................................................... 38 4.4 Appearance and Properties: ........................................................................................................ 38 4.5 Key properties and features of Bamboo: .................................................................................... 39 4.6 Mother of bamboo: (Social Step towards sustainability) ............................................................ 40 4.7 Bamboo in Demand: .................................................................................................................... 42 4.8 Bamboo Chemistry: ..................................................................................................................... 43 4.9 Bamboo Production recommendations: ..................................................................................... 43 4.9.1 Spinning: ............................................................................................................................... 43 4.9.2 Bamboo Weaving: ................................................................................................................ 43 4.9.4 Bamboo Finishing: ................................................................................................................ 44 4.10 Application and uses of Bamboo: .............................................................................................. 44 4.11 Advantages of Bamboo fiber: .................................................................................................... 46 4.11.1 Advantages for consumer: ................................................................................................. 46 4.11.2 Advantages for the environment: .....................................................................................