Every piece we make starts with a fibre.
Choosing our fibres starts at the very beginning with what we’re designing – how we want the style to feel, look and perform. We use preferred fibres wherever possible, opting for natural fibres first or recycled where performance fibres are needed. At Afends we’re always on the lookout for new fabric technologies and fibres; our amazing suppliers have come a long way from when we started 20 years ago.
ABOUT THIS FIBRE
Hemp is a no-brainer compared to other natural alternatives so we aim to use as much hemp as possible! It needs little to no pesticides, is fast growing, bio-degradable, breathable and naturally UV resistant.
WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT
It can be used in a heap of different fabrics from jersey to knitwear to denim and when blended with other performance fibres it’s great for your activewear or boardies too.
ABOUT THIS FIBRE
Organic cotton is free from the use of harmful pesticides, synthetic fertilizers and cannot be GMO. Being a natural fibre it’s breathable and comfy. Buying organic cotton goods is an investment in your wardrobe – the slight downside is that organic cotton yield is much less than conventional cotton, so that’s why your Organic Cotton goods might be that little bit more pricey, but waaay more worth it!
WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT
Blended into our jersey and fleece, used across tees, singlets, crew necks and hoodies, and found across our seersucker range.
ABOUT THIS FIBRE
Our recycled cotton is pre-consumer, meaning it comes from the little fabric off-cuts when your tshirt or shirt pieces are cut before sewing. These fabric off-cuts are mechanically chopped up and made into a new yarn so that it can be made into fabric or blended with another fibre. We love it because it helps with fabric waste and uses much less water than conventional cotton.
WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT
Blended into our jersey and fleece, used across tees, singlets, crew necks and hoodies.
ABOUT THIS FIBRE
Let’s be real – 100% cotton boardies or bikinis just aren’t going to cut it in the surf. They’ll be heavy, soggy and probably give you some hectic chafing. There are some clothes that really do require performance fibres to do the right job, so synthetic fibres shouldn’t be completely demonised. And for these fibres we make a big effort to make sure we’re using recycled synthetic fibres wherever possible. Both our boardies and bikinis are made from recycled nylon, which is often waste material that gets sterilised and melted down to be used in new yarns. These recycled fibres can be blended with natural fibres like hemp to help breathability and comfort.
WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT
Throughout our women's and men's swimwear ranges.
ABOUT THIS FIBRE
Hemp Macel is a trademarked fibre created by Hempfortex themselves. It uses a similar method to how Lyocell is created – using the raw, fibrous parts of the hemp plant that cannot be otherwise used for fabrics, made into a pulp using a closed-loop and non-toxic solution. The pulp is created into a yarn and that yarn is woven or knitted into a lustrous and suuuuper soft fabric from a biodegradable fibre.
WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT
You’ll find it in our delicate fabrics, alongside cupro, lace and ultra-fine knits.
ABOUT THIS FIBRE
Often referred to as Tencel across our site, this fibre is similar to Macel except that instead of using raw hemp fibre, eucalyptus wood chips are made into a pulp using a solution in a closed-loop process to make into yarns. We use it because it produces less carbon emissions than traditional rayon and when blended with other yarns gives your dress, shirt or pants that nice soft finish.
WHERE YOU'LL FIND IT
Blended with other yarns in our dresses, shirts and pants, and found across our seersucker range.
Explore further
Where we came from and what we stand for, plus the sustainability work behind the brand.
