PRODUCT

We’re on a mission to bring beautiful clothes to everyone, everywhere. We take pride in our materials mix, but also strive to offer increased access to services and systems that keep our products loved and in use for as long as possible.

Materials Mix

We are proud to favour materials from reduced-impact sources, including organic farming, recycled feedstock, and responsibly-managed farms and forestry.

At NC, we grade our materials against our Materials Matrix, an internal decision-making tool that drives continual improvement across our material use. We are committed to reviewing our Materials Matrix every year to ensure it is guided by the latest material innovation and can keep us on track for continual improvement.


 

Cotton

Cotton is one of fashion’s most ubiquitous fibres, accounting for a large proportion of Earth’s cultivated fibres. Where we can, we source organic cotton to avoid agricultural and processing chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers.

Synthetics

Where we use synthetic materials, such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic, we seek out certified recycled fibres to reduce dependence on virgin fossil fuel-based materials. Currently, we favour fibres derived from pre and post-consumer synthetic materials, such as carpets, bottles, and fishing nets, but we understand recycled synthetics still have an impact. Therefore, we constantly monitor our use and pay close attention to any reduced-impact or next-gen innovations that emerge.

Viscose

Viscose is another fibre type in our commonly used fabrics and part of the wood based fibre group. These fibres are made by extruding cellulose pulp into fibres. We seek to source wood based fibres, including viscose, from controlled or certified wood sources including LENZING™ ECOVERO™ viscose and Livaeco™ by Birla Cellulose.

 

LENZING™ and ECOVERO™ are trademarks of Lenzing AG.

Linen

Linen is one of the world’s oldest fibres. Derived from the flax plant, it’s a crop known for its fast growth, and small chemical and water footprint, compared to other natural fibre groups. As a fabric, linen is breathable, durable and has unique thermo-regulating properties meaning its wearable in both summer and winter.

Wool

As a natural animal-based fibre, wool's impact typically relates to animal welfare, traceability, and agricultural methods. This is why we source wool that has been third-party verified to uphold animal welfare and land management principles. Our animal welfare policy is included in our Supplier Handbook and is in place to ensure suppliers uphold the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare while procuring our animal-based fibres.

Recycled Leather 

To expand our accessories materials, we are exploring recycled leather. Where possible, our recycled leather is certified to the Recycle Claim Standard (RCS) or Global Recycling Standard (GRS). Recycled leather is made from pre- and post-consumer leather waste which has been reprocessed into a new material, reducing the associated environmental, social, and animal welfare impacts. As part of our commitment to source more innovative and next-gen materials, we plan on exploring bio-based leather alternatives.

Materials we avoid

Along with continually reviewing our materials mix for collections, there are materials that we’ll never use.

These include:

Animal fur including Angora

Exotic skins or hides – we’ll never source any species listed on the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and IUCN (International Union for Conservation Red) lists of endangered species

PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

We also restrict the use of certain chemicals from entering our supply chain. This list applies to our fabrics as well as to our trims and components.

Packaging

Our paper-based materials, such as swing tags and paper mailers, are derived from forestry certified to uphold strict land management standards. To ensure your delivery arrives in top notch condition, you’ll still find a certified recycled and recyclable plastic inner bag inside. However, we understand even recycled plastic still has an impact and we'll continue to review plastic-free innovations on the market as they’re developing.

 

We’ve also explored paper, oxo-degradable and biodegradable plastic however, such materials need to be properly composted and meet very specific conditions in order to break down into natural matter. In some cases, this type of packaging can contaminate waste streams. When thrown in the bin, they’re likely to end up in a landfill without the proper temperature and oxygen needed to decompose.
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