Materials

Get to know our textiles better 

Are you interested in the materials and textiles used at NIKIN?
Then you are at the right place. We are happy to tell you more about the different fabrics and product elements.

• Nettle (fibers)
• TENCEL™ Lyocell 
• naNea by Oceansafe
• Polylana®
• ECONYL®
• SEAQUAL®
• Hemp
• #tide ocean material®
• Linen
• Cork
• Piñatex®

• Bio-based Grilamid
• (Organic) Cotton
• Recycled Glass
• Recycled Polyester
• Bamboo Viscose
• Polyacrylic
• Spandex
• Ecorubber
• Recyclable Enamel
• Stainless steel
• Tree-free Paper

Nettle (fibers)

Nettles are a fast-growing and renewable resource that can be cultivated without any major ecological impact. Garments made from nettle fibers are not only environmentally friendly, but also extremely functional and have a similar feel to linen or hemp fibers. And like other bast fibres, fabrics made from nettle fibres are characterized by a slightly irregular fabric appearance and a dry feel. The fibers are robust, light and breathable, which makes them ideal for durable and comfortable clothing. They also have natural antibacterial properties that reduce odors and keep clothing fresh for longer. Nettles also require less water and pesticides to grow compared to conventional materials such as cotton and can even be grown on marginal soils that are unsuitable for agricultural use.

What we like about the material:

• Sustainability and environmental friendliness
• Robustness and durability
• Lightweight and breathable
• Natural antibacterial properties
• Lower resource consumption and cultivation flexibility

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TENCEL™ Lyocell 

TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers are produced in a resource-saving, closed production process, obtained from the natural raw material wood and produced with at least 50% less carbon emissions and water consumption. TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers support a natural dry feeling through moisture regulation, are naturally soft and smooth to the touch.

*Savings take into account the recovery of solvents.

**Comparison to generic (unbranded) lyocell and modal fibers. Results are based on LCA standards (ISO 14040/44) and are available via Higg MSI

naNea by OceanSafe - 100% biodegradable polyester

naNea by OceanSafe - 100% biodegradable polyester is a synthetic textile material that is the only one in the world to meet the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold standard for the biological cycle. This means it is 100% biodegradable and contains no harmful toxins. The synthetic fiber also meets OceanSafe Certified standards, which focus on the biodegradability of materials.

What makes naNea by OceanSafe - 100% biodegradable polyester special is that the material is fully recyclable and thus also counteracts the problem of microplastics in the oceans.

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Organic Cotton and Regular Cotton 

The fabric cotton comes from the seed hairs of the cotton plant, a mallow plant. There are about 20-50 species in subtropical and tropical weather regions. The textile is considered to be skin-friendly and hygienic, as it can be washed very hot without being dyed. Besides textiles, cotton is also used for paper, nets and fillers. Findings indicate that we have been processing and using the raw material for 9000 years. Particularly practical: untreated cotton is coated with a layer of wax and is therefore water-repellent. Until the industrial revolution, cotton, like silk, was considered a luxury good, as it was very time-consuming to process the raw material into a cotton textile by hand. Rounded up, half a kilo of cotton took 13 working days to produce at that time.

The difference between organic cotton and normal cotton lies in the production process. Organic cotton is produced without pesticides and fertilizers. Other important points such as soil fertility, water pollution and working conditions are also taken into account.

This is what we like about the material: we appreciate that cotton it is a pure natural fiber and we always try to find an organic cotton manufacturer.

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Bio-based Grilamid

The plastic is partially based on bio-substances and thus stands out from conventional Grilamid. We use this for our TreeGlasses.

That's what we like about the material: it's very stable, and the glasses can withstand bumps and falls.

Source: Internal manufacturer info sheet. Feel free to contact us if you want to learn more.

Polylana®

Polylana® is a sustainable synthetic fibre. The fibre consists of polyester pellets and recycled PET. The material can be combined with various other textiles for optimal use. For our Treeanies, we use a blend of Polylana® and cotton. Polylana® requires significantly less resources than acrylic, for example:

• 76% less energy consumption
• 85% less water consumption
• 76% less waste
• 19% less CO2
• 32% less microfibres emitted

We are the first brand to use the material in Europe. Learn more about the topic in this blog. This is what we like about the material: As of now, we can't think of a better material to complement cotton for our caps. Polylana® offers the positive properties of acrylic such as warmth and shape retention of the product, but at a much better eco-balance.

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SEAQUAL®

SEAQUAL® YARN is upcycled and consists of 100% recycled polyester. The plastic, which later becomes the yarn, comes from marine debris and post-consumer plastic. These are collected thanks to the SEAQUAL INITIATIVE in the Mediterranean Sea, along the European west coast and on the west coast of Africa. SEAQUAL® YARN is almost identical to conventional polyester and can be used in many sizes and shapes. For example, as continuous filament or as staple fiber.

The second hand yarn is used for clothing and home textiles. It is also used in contract and automotive upholstery.

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Hemp

Hemp is a natural, robust and particularly sustainable fiber whose use has a long history. Hemp, that's the name of the plant. But hemp fibers are the bast fiber bundles from the stems of the hemp plant. Hemp is a climate-resistant and relatively undemanding crop that can be grown all over the world. We use European-grown hemp for our products. Cultivation is resource efficient because hemp requires little water, grows very quickly, uses little to no pesticides, and yields significantly more output per area than cotton.

Natural active wear made from hemp: Due to the raffia structure and the resulting properties, textiles made of hemp have a temperature-regulating effect - breathable in summer and insulating in winter. We use a mix of hemp and organic cotton for our textile products, combining the best properties of both fibers. Hemp is a very robust material and therefore textiles made by hand are particularly durable.

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#tide ocean material®

Plastic pollution of the environment and waters is a worldwide problem. But clever minds have figured out how to remove such waste from the ocean and eventually reuse it. The innovative #tide ocean material® is made from collected ocean plastic, mainly in cooperation with local fishermen from Southeast Asia, by the Swiss company tide ocean SA from Basel. In cooperation with the Swiss University of Applied Sciences, the collected plastic is upcycled into granules and finally processed into high-quality and sustainable products such as furniture, textiles and much more. Because only recycled plastic is used, fossil raw materials such as petroleum can be saved.

For our Impact Bracelet from the collab with Viva con Agua, we use the sustainable #tide ocean material®.

The advantages of #tide ocean material®:

• Made from 100% recycled ocean-bound plastic (0% new plastic)
• Converting single-use plastic into sustainable goods
• Made in Switzerland
• CO2-neutral transports
• In 2 years, #tide ocean material® has recycled the equivalent of more than 25 million plastic bottles
• The upcycling process of #tide ocean material® causes up to 80% less CO2 emissions than the production of new plastic/plastics

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Linen (-fibres)

Linen fibers come from the cultivated plant true linen. In addition to linen, the group of so-called bast fibers also includes materials such as hemp fibers or jute. If the fibers are harvested from the young plant, they are soft; the older the true linen is, the coarser the fibers become. Linen is considered a breathable textile, which allows almost no bacteria, dirt and dust to adhere to its surface.

This is what we like about the material: we like linen because it is a natural fiber and appreciate that its production requires little to no fertilizer or pesticides, even when grown conventionally.

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Cork

In the textile world, cork describes the bark material of the cork oak.This is mainly found in the Mediterranean region. Almost half of the worldwide production comes from Portugal. The cork oak can grow up to 250 years old and 20 meters high. Once the Tree is 30 years old, the bark can be "harvested" every 9-12 years for the next 150 years. This slow process does not harm the trees. Cork is water repellent, difficult to burn, elastic and lasts about 20-50 years. Our wallets also show how versatile cork is to work with.

Here's what we like about the material: as a natural fiber and thanks to its durability, cork is a great quality material for a variety of products.

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Piñatex®

Piñatex® is a natural leather alternative obtained from pineapple residues. The raw material is a by-product of the pineapple harvest. The use of pineapple leaf fiber, an agricultural waste product, offers the opportunity to create a commercial industry for the development of agricultural communities with minimal environmental impact.

This is what we like about the material: the material is an optimal solution for products that are often made of leather, because at NIKIN we do not use animal products. In addition, it is important to the manufacturer of Piñatex® to ensure that not only the textile, but also the production chain is fair and environmentally friendly.

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Recycled Glass (TreeBottle Glass) and Waste Glass (TreeBracelet) 

Glass consists of a high proportion of quartz sand. Potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate is also often added to lower the high firing temperature for processing. Humans have been making glass as early as the 5th century BC. At NIKIN , the glass used for both the TreeBottles and TreeBraclets is recycled.

This is what we like about the material: it can be washed in the dishwasher, unlike our colored stainless steel bottles, and with the TreeBracelets we can reuse old glass, which is very important to us.

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Bamboo Viscose

General viscose fibers are man-made fibers made from natural polymers, such as cellulose. The liquid, honey-like cellulose mass is converted into a yarn by manufacturers through several processes. Viscose fabric is generally very easy to dye and spin. Likewise, the fabric is often found in combination with other materials in textiles. Bamboo viscose, as the name already describes, is a viscose fabric based on bamboo pulp.

This is what we like about the material: we appreciate in bamboo viscose that it is not a synthetic material and can be used in many ways. In addition, bamboo grows back very quickly. Depending on the type of viscose, the recovery rate can be very high (e.g. 99% for Tencel from Lenzing).

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Recycled Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fiber. The polyester fiber appeared in the 1950s and was particularly popular at the time because the fabric stays nice for a long time without having to iron it and was inexpensive. The textile can be well adapted to its intended use, is generally very elastic and resistant to abrasion and tearing.

NIKIN uses polyester only when it makes sense. For example, in bikinis and swim shorts, the quick drying properties of the material are the primary consideration in fabric selection. The polyester in our products is recycled polyester whenever possible. There are two types of recycled polyester: mechanically recycled and chemically recycled. In the chemical process, the polyester can be recycled more often without losing quality. In the mechanical process, the quality decreases with each cycle due to the shortening of the fibres.

This is what we like about the material: recycled polyester is a fabric that has already been used, so no new raw material needs to be used for production. In addition, polyester has qualitative properties such as durability, which natural fibers do not have.

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Normal Acrylic (Polyacrylic)

Acrylic is a synthetic fiber. The fabric looks wool-like and has a heat insulating effect. Likewise, the textile is mothproof and dries very quickly. The fabric appeared in the 1950s. Only remnants and older versions of NIKIN caps and hats contain regular acrylic. In the future, we would like to do away with the material altogether.

This is what we have appreciated about the material in the past: its heat-insulating effect and the long durability of the material. However, from an ecological point of view, we do not want to continue using it in the future.

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Spandex (-fibres) 

The fabric is synthetic and consists of at least 85% polyurethane, also called plastic. Spandex is very elastic, but at the same time tear-resistant. So far, there is no similar natural fabric that offers these two properties to the same extent. The textile is often used for tights or sportswear, as it can expand and then retract back to its original shape.

This is what we like about the material: spandex is used for purely functional reasons. This is because the material enables an elasticity that cannot be produced at all or only to a very limited extent in natural fibers.

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ECORUBBER® & EVA & PU Mix

This mix is found in the soles of our TreeShoes. ECORUBBER® consists of at least 70% recycled tires as well as EVA and PU, which are both plastics.

That's what we like about the material: we were looking for a recyclable alternative to traditional plastic soles when producing our first shoe. Thanks to ECORUBBER® we have succeeded in this to 70%. Of course, for new models we will always research if this value can be increased.

Source: Internal manufacturer info sheet. Feel free to contact us if you would like to learn more.

Recyclable Enamel

Enamel is a layer of glass adhered to iron. Surfaces of this type are easy to clean, can be easily colored and printed. They are also fireproof to a certain extent. Already in 1500 BC this technique was known in Europe as well as in the Middle East. You will find this material in our TreeMugs.

That's what we like about the material: For the mugs we were looking for a material that is light and looks nice for a long time. It was also important to us that the material could be recycled if disposed of properly.

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(Stainless) Steel  

Steel consists of an iron-carbon alloy. There are over 2500 different types of steel, all of which are used for different areas and products. People have been handling iron as early as 3500 years ago. Today, the steel industry is an important industry for many countries, producing over 1691 million tons of steel annually. Since the mining of iron ore is very costly, manufacturers are increasingly using recycled iron materials. In Europe, we divide steel into different grades of purity: unalloyed quality steels, unalloyed stainless steels, alloyed quality steels and alloyed stainless steels.

That's what we like about the material: stainless steel is durable.

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