Product
OUR MATERIALS
At COS, we work closely with suppliers to handpick materials with intention – every cloth is meticulously selected for its character, yarn count, fibre length and finish to ensure quality and longevity.
Natural and organic fibres are a priority at COS. We pride ourselves on the quality of our cotton – from T-shirts with a clean, compact finish to our pristine poplin shirts, our yarns are carefully considered and fit for purpose. As well as using organic cotton and working with Regenerative Organic Certified®️ Cotton, we’re proud, alongside the H&M Group, to invest in pioneering the innovation Materra®️ Hydroponic Cotton, which is grown with control and care in an indoor environment.
Our knitwear is woven with the finest wool fibres using traditional methods for a soft feel with staying power. Merino, double-faced wool, cashmere and NATIVA™ Regenerative Wool are individually knitted and hand-finished to create a luxurious tactility with very little waste in the production process.
Whether cashmere, wool, cotton or silk, our knitwear is knitted with the super fine fibres for a soft feel with staying power. Merino, cashmere and NATIVA™ Regenerative Wool are knitted individually, then hand linked together to create a luxurious tactility.
Explore our material highlights below.
ANIMAL FIBRES
The Good Cashmere Standard® is owned by the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) and sets out requirements on animal welfare, land management and farmers’ working conditions.
www.thegoodcashmerestandard.org
NATIVA™ wool is sourced using regenerative practices which comply with animal-welfare standards, including stress-free shearing in line with the Responsible Wool Standard by Textile Exchange. The NATIVA™ Regenerative Agriculture program supports local communities and is designed to improve soil matter and microbiology.
NATIVA™ equips farmers with training and resources to produce high-quality product, including enhanced vegetation, not using chemical fertilisers, reducing tillage and integrating natural fertilisers, such as animal manure.
Products certified to the Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS TE-00047206) owned by Textile Exchange contain alpaca fibre from farms independently certified to animal welfare and land-management requirements.
Products certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS TE-00047206) owned by Textile Exchange contain down or feathers from farms certified to animal-welfare requirements.
Recycled cashmere is made from textile waste in production or post-consumer garments. The waste is mechanically recycled and spun into new yarn.
This form of insulation is used in our collection to insulate our coats, jackets and winter accessories. It’s made from pre-used down from consumer products, such as bedding and sleeping bags. The down feathers are extracted through a separation and sorting process. They are then washed and sterilised using a cleaning method free from toxic or harmful chemicals, so they are safe to use again.
Recycled wool is made from yarn-spinning waste, yarn overstock, production-cutting waste and post-consumer garments.
Products certified to the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS TE-00047206) owned by Textile Exchange contain mohair fibre from farms independently certified to animal welfare and land-management requirements.
Products certified to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS TE-00047206) owned by Textile Exchange contain wool fibre from farms independently certified to animal welfare and land-management requirements.
BAST FIBRES
European Flax™ linen is a vegetable fibre grown in Western Europe without the use of irrigation, other than in exceptional circumstances, or genetically modified seeds.
It is produced using a process known as dew retting, a low-intensive process which uses natural exposure to sun, wind and rain, followed by an entirely mechanical, zero-waste process to extract the fibres.
Organic hemp is grown without the use of artificial pesticides or fertilisers and contains no genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Originally derived from flax plants, recycled linen is made from yarn-spinning waste or fabric-cutting leftovers from the production process. The waste is collected, then recycled and spun into new yarn.
COTTON
We're proud to partner with Materra, an award-winning supply chain and technology company. Materra® Hydroponic Cotton is grown in an indoor environment with controlled application of water and nutrients without the need for arable land or conventional irrigation.
Organic cotton is grown from seeds that have not been genetically modified. The cultivation process requires no synthetic fertilisers or chemical pesticide.
Recycled cotton is made by converting both pre- and post-consumer fabric into fibres that are then spun into new yarn.
Compared to conventional cotton farming practices, Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton farms adopt traditional agricultural practices, such as pasture-based systems, organic bio inputs, cover cropping, intercropping and low soil tillage to flourish the biodiversity and restore the health of soil by improving the organic content over time. Healthy soil traps carbon and sequesters it back into the soil. This programme also extend to the humane treatment of animals and social equity through the provision of fair conditions and healthcare for all farmers and workers involved.
LEATHER
As part of the H&M Group, we are pleased to announce our commitment to promoting responsible leather manufacturing practices worldwide as a member of the Leather Working Group (LWG). This includes increased due diligence on the issues of deforestation and animal welfare.
www.leatherworkinggroup.com
MANMADE CELLULOSIC FIBRES
This is a cellulose fibre made from cotton linter – cotton fibres that are too short to spin. The linter is dissolved, processed and then spun into a new fibre. Cupro has a smooth hand feel and lustrous sheen that is considered by some as an alternative to silk.
Naia™ is made from wood pulp from well-managed pine and eucalyptus forests ensuring the protection of ancient and endangered forests. The fibre is traceable from tree to fibre. The production process is made in a system where solvents are recycled back into the system and reused.
Eastman Naia™ Renew cellulosic acetate fiber is made from wood pulp and acetic acid sourced from recycled waste materials. The production process is made in a closed-loop system where chemicals are reused.
TENCEL™ is a trademark of Lenzing AG. Best known for being naturally soft and smooth to the touch, lyocell is derived from wood pulp sourced from controlled or well-managed forests. The wood chips are then turned into fibres through a closed-loop process that recovers 99.8% of the solvent.
REFIBRA™ is a trademark of Lenzing AG, which is made by mixing cotton scraps from pre- and post- consumer cotton textile waste with natural wood pulp. This is a type of technology that has been designed so recycled fibres can be used to make TENCEL™ Lyocell.
METALS & GLASS
Our recycled brass jewellery is made from waste metal which is melted and used in production of new items.
Recycled glass is made from broken shards that are put through a heating, cooling and shaping process.
Recycled silver is silver made from metal waste or second-hand sterling silver items which are melted and used in production of new items.
SILK
Recycled silk is made by gathering waste fabrics from the production process and transforming it into new yarns to be used again.
SYNTHETICS
Synthetic fabrics such as elastane and polyester often add very functional elements to a garment. For example, adding a small percentage of elastane to cotton jeans will give them a slight stretch – making them less rigid and more comfortable to wear. Or, blending polyamide with wool can help the piece last longer, especially if it’s a product designed to be worn repeatedly, like a winter coat.
We’re aware that blending natural and synthetic fibres makes them harder to break down and recycle into new fabrics. This is something we’re currently exploring with new partners and innovative technologies.
This is made from recovering nylon waste, such as fishing nets, fabric scraps and carpet flooring. Through a regeneration and purification process, the nylon waste is recovered back to its original purity. This means ECONYL® regenerated nylon is exactly the same as nylon made from fossil fuels and can be recycled again and again, without losing its quality.
Recycled nylon can be sourced from pre- and post-consumer waste – even things like carpets can be made into new clothes.
Polyester is a synthetic fibre, made from chemical compounds that come from fossil fuel-derived resources. Increasingly we are switching to recycled polyester, which is made from pre- and post-consumer waste such as recycled bottles. Our focus is on scaling textile-to-textile recycling for synthetics going forward.
Recycled polyester is known for its down-like properties, retaining heat, even when wet. Made from post-consumer waste, it provides a down-free alternative to conventional padding.