Regenerative Fibres
Taking responsibility for the impact of our garments means considering production at every stage of the cycle. In 2024 we were proud to launch our first lines made with regenerative fibres, but what is regenerative farming? Here we look at what the term means, and how the practice can benefit biodiversity, carbon capture, and soil protection.
The term ‘regenerative’ specifically relates to the way in which crops or livestock are farmed, and Regenerative Farming prioritises farming in harmony with nature – optimising the capture of carbon by the soil, as well as encouraging the biodiversity and health of the land.
It’s important to note that there are various different definitions of regenerative farming, but most agree on the following core principles:
1. Least disturbance
Whether avoiding chemicals, using resources responsibly or avoiding over-farming, regenerative farming practices focus on reducing the impact on the land as much as possible.
2. Increase biodiversity
This can be done by reducing mono-crop farming, incorporating different plants, particularly local flora, and creating areas that encourage wildlife to flourish.
3. Soil protection
Rather than an extractive practice that strips the soil, regenerative farming practices include crop and livestock rotation, and planting in empty fields to combat soil run-off.
4. Location
‘One size’ does not ‘fit all’. Biodiversity and weather conditions will differ depending on where the farm is, and this should be accounted for in regenerative farming practices to ensure the right crops and resources are used.
At Finisterre, we believe in the importance of supporting our suppliers to move to these holistic farming practices where possible, and are proud to be introducing lines in 2024 that have been produced in accordance to these lower impact farming practices.
Are regenerative fibres easy to source?
Regenerative farming practices in the textile industry are relatively new. This means there is limited availability of this type of material, so it can be expensive and difficult to source. However, these regenerative practices can be initiated in the farming of any naturally grown fibre, such as linen and cotton, as well as animal fibres such as alpaca and sheep wool.
Seeing an opportunity, we’ve been working closely with one of our main product manufacturers, Egedeniz in Turkey, helping them begin to implement regenerative farming practices with their growers, and offer 100% regenerative organic cotton in a range of our garments. We know that it will take time for all the land owned by the farmers they work with to transition to regenerative farming practices, but we have to be willing to invest in this material for the benefits of a lower impact product and our planet’s future.
Organic cotton vs regen cotton: which is best?
In the past we’ve always championed organic cotton as the most responsible choice when selecting a virgin cotton. This still has a lower impact than traditional cotton, and has been widely adopted by the clothing industry as a lower impact alternative, but organic regenerative cotton is now considered the industry best practice. We’re committed to continuing to work with our suppliers to introduce these farming practices and hopefully you’ll be seeing more and more materials grown with regenerative farming methods in our range soon.