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Fabric Production

The Uncomfortable Truth
About
ALL
Fabric

Nature gives — and we take. Again and again.

 

Have you ever stopped to think about what your clothes are really made of? About the fibres you touch every day — and what they take from the planet?

At HOTRODDS, we’re obsessed with feel, comfort, and longevity, but we’re also honest. There is no perfect fabric. Not even cotton or wool. Every choice has an impact. We want to share the facts — so you can make informed, conscious decisions.

Plant based fabrics

COTTON 

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Where it comes from:
A natural fibre from the cotton plant.

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How it’s made:
Picked → cleaned → spun into yarn → woven/knitted.

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Impact:
High water use, pesticides in conventional cotton, soil depletion.

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Wearing it — Pros:
Soft, breathable, comfy.

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Wearing it — Cons:
Holds sweat, stays wet, wrinkles.

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Alternatives:

  • Recycled: GRS – Global Recycled Standard (logo: circular arrows forming a globe).

  • Organic: GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard (logo: green circle with a white shirt inside).

  • Organic: OEKO‑TEX Standard 100 (logo: yellow sun + text “Confidence in Textiles”).

  • Fairtrade: Fairtrade Cotton (logo: blue and green yin‑yang figure with a raised hand).

fabric origin .png

BANANA FIBRE

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Where it comes from:
The stalks of banana plants — often waste from farming.

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How it’s made:
Stems stripped → fibres cleaned → spun.

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Impact:
Very eco-friendly and low water use.

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Wearing it — Pros:

Light, breathable, strong.

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Wearing it — Cons:
Slightly stiff unless blended, more niche.

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Alternatives:

  • Recycled: GRS – Global Recycled Standard.

  • Organic: Naturally organic (no pesticides).

  • Fairtrade: Small cooperative projects, sometimes under Fairtrade Textile Standard.

VISCOSE /

RAYON

(Incl. Bamboo Viscose,

Modal, Lyocell)

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Where it comes from:
Wood pulp from trees (eucalyptus, beech, bamboo).

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How it’s made:
Trees → pulp → dissolved → extruded into fibres.

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Impact:
Can be polluting unless made with closed-loop systems.

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Wearing it — Pros:
Soft, silky, breathable.

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Wearing it — Cons:
Weak when wet, can stretch or shrink.

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Alternatives:

  • Recycled: GRS – Global Recycled Standard.

  • Organic: FSC – Forest Stewardship Council (logo: green tree with a checkmark).

  • Organic: OEKO‑TEX Standard 100.

  • Fairtrade: Some viscose supply chains under Fairtrade Textile Standard.

  • Lyocell (TENCEL™)
    Lyocell is also wood-based, but the production uses a closed-loop solvent system that recycles 99% of chemicals.  Often considered one of the most eco-aligned man-made fibres.

SYNTHETICS — POLYESTER

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Where it comes from:
Fossil Fuels - Oil (petroleum).

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How it’s made:
Crude oil → refined → chemicals → melted → extruded into fibres.

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Impact:
Fossil-fuel based, microplastic pollution.

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Wearing it — Pros:
Strong, stretchy, fast-drying.

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Wearing it — Cons:
Can smell, not breathable, plastic-like.

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Better choices:
Recycled polyester, washing bags for microplastics

SYNTHETICS — POLYAMIDE | NYLON

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Where it comes from:
Oil (petroleum).

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How it’s made:
Refined oil → polymerised → spun into smooth fibres.

Impact:
Energy-heavy, non-biodegradable, microplastics.

Wearing it — Pros:
Soft, silky, strong, great recovery.

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Wearing it — Cons:
Can trap heat, plastic-based.

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Better choices:
Recycled nylon (Econyl), microfibre wash bags.

Animal-Based Fabrics

SILK

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Where it comes from:
Cocoons made by silkworms.

How it’s made:
Cocoons boiled/steamed → long filaments extracted → woven.

Impact:
Energy-heavy; traditional silk kills the worm.

Wearing it — Pros:
Smooth, breathable, luxe.

Wearing it — Cons:
Delicate, stains easily, pricey.

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​Better choices:

  • Recycled: GRS – Global Recycled Standard.

  • Organic: GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard.

  • Organic: Peace Silk (non‑violent, often GOTS certified).

  • Fairtrade: Fairtrade Silk (logo: Fairtrade yin‑yang hand).

WOOL

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Where it comes from:
Sheep fleece.

How it’s made:
Sheared → washed → spun → knitted/woven.

Impact:
Can contribute to methane + land degradation if not responsibly farmed.

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Wearing it — Pros:
Warm, breathable, odour-resistant.

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Wearing it — Cons:
Can itch, heavy when wet, delicate care.

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Better choices:

  • Recycled: GRS – Global Recycled Standard, RCS – Recycled Claim Standard (logo: arrows forming a circle).

  • Organic: GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard.

  • Organic: RWS – Responsible Wool Standard (logo: sheep silhouette inside a badge).

  • Fairtrade: Fairtrade Wool (logo: Fairtrade yin‑yang hand).

Goat farm for Cashmere Production

CASHMERE

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Where it comes from:
Soft undercoat of

cashmere goats.

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How it’s made:
Goats are combed → fibres cleaned → spun.

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Impact:
Overgrazing from high demand causes desertification.

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Wearing it — Pros:
Ultra-soft, warm, luxurious.

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Wearing it — Cons:
Pills easily, delicate, costly.

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​Better choices:

  • Recycled: GRS – Global Recycled Standard.

  • Organic: GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard.

  • Organic: RWS – Responsible Wool Standard.

  • Fairtrade: Fairtrade Cashmere (logo: Fairtrade yin‑yang hand).

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LEATHER

NATURAL / ANIMAL — LEATHER

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Where it comes from:

Animal hides (mostly cows, sometimes sheep, goats, pigs).
A by-product of the meat and dairy industry — but only partly; in some regions animals are raised specifically for leather.

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How it’s made:

Raw hides → cleaned → tanned (chrome or vegetable) → dried → finished.
Chrome tanning is fast but uses heavy metals.
Vegetable tanning uses plant extracts but takes much longer.

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Impact:

High water use, chemical runoff from tanneries, and methane emissions from livestock.
Chrome tanning can contaminate waterways and harm workers.
Biodegradable only if untreated — most modern leathers are coated with plastics.

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Wearing it — Pros:

Durable, ages beautifully.
Breathable and long-lasting.
Natural temperature regulation (warmer in cold, cooler in heat).

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Wearing it — Cons:

Heavy, needs care, can stain with water.
Animal welfare concerns.
Conventional tanning may cause allergies or skin reactions.

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Better choices:

Vegetable-tanned leather (no chromium).
Upcycled or deadstock leather.
Leather alternatives: mycelium, pineapple (Piñatex), apple leather, cactus leather.
Choose certified tanneries (LWG — Leather Working Group).

 

Conscious Alternatives

Recycled Leather

  • What it is: Scraps and offcuts reprocessed into new sheets.

  • Certifications:

    • GRS – Global Recycled Standard

    • RCS – Recycled Claim Standard

Organic Leather

  • What it is: Leather from organically raised animals, tanned with plant-based or non-toxic methods.

  • Certifications:

    • GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard (rare, but possible)

    • OEKO‑TEX Leather Standard (tests for harmful substances)

Fairtrade Leather

  • What it is: Leather sourced from farms or cooperatives with ethical labor and animal welfare standards.

  • Certifications:

    • Fairtrade Textile Standard (applies to supply chain labor, not always to animal treatment)

Vegan Leather (Alternative)

  • What it is: Synthetic or plant-based substitutes (e.g., pineapple leaf fiber – Piñatex, mushroom leather – Mylo).

  • Impact:

    • Synthetic versions (PU, PVC) still petrochemical-based.

    • Plant-based versions are biodegradable and lower impact.

  • Certifications:

    • FSC – Forest Stewardship Council (for plant-based sources)

    • OEKO‑TEX (for non-toxic processing)

    • GRS (if recycled content used)

 

Summary for Leather

  • Leather is durable and luxurious, but has serious ethical and environmental concerns.

  • Recycled and organic leather reduce harm, while vegan alternatives offer innovative, lower-impact options.

  • Certifications matter — they help verify ethical sourcing, chemical safety, and sustainability.

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THE HONEST TRUTH

There is no perfect fabric.
But there is a perfect philosophy

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Longevity is sustainability.


A garment that lasts, feels good, and is loved is the most sustainable thing you can own.

How to wash smarter

  • Use cold or low-temperature washes (20–30°C).
    Lower heat protects stretch fibres, prevents colour fading, and reduces shedding.

  • Wash inside a fibre-capture bag.
    It keeps loose micro-particles contained while also reducing friction on the garment.

  • Avoid heavy spin cycles.
    High agitation = more fibre loss.

  • Air-dry where possible.
    Heat from dryers can weaken elastane and shorten garment life.

This is how HOTRODDS ensures longevity, performance, and care — from production to your washing machine.

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The HOTRODDS Approach

  • We create leggings you can wear all day — soft, breathable, tactile, and luxurious.

  • Our limited edition prints started with recycled polyester (REPREVE) in South Africa; vivid sublimation brought them to life.

  • Our future collections explore polyamide / nylon, luxurious handfeel, long-term comfort, and durability.

 

“The most sustainable thing you can own — is the one you love enough to keep.”

Scan the QR code to discover the story behind the original prints — from your leggings to the planet.

 

How We Help You Make Conscious Choices

  • Look at labels: Recycled PES, ECONYL, organic cotton, certified wool, OEKO-TEX.

  • Think longevity: choose leggings you’ll wear for years, not just seasons.

  • Care wisely: cold washes, gentle cycles, avoid tumble drying.

 

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HOTRODDS Promise:  We balance luxury feel, performance, print brilliance, and sustainability awareness. Every fabric choice is intentional. Every design is made to last.

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