About Activewear Materials
We have chosen to use synthetic fabrics in our activewear because they are more durable and they naturally resist more abrasion; this is an important factor when considering long-term use. Synthetic fibres also need less treatments regarding finishing and washing than natural fibres like wool and cotton. The overall quality of the activewear is the sum of the qualities of each part of the supply chain, not just one piece of it.
Our fabrics come from two united companies from northern Italy. Fabric making is a traditional business and, in fact, the company has 50 years experience in creating quality materials. The company has been developing over time and they function under European Union law. The textiles also have oeko-tex 100 standard certification, meaning that no harmful chemicals are used during production.
Since Népra’s inception, we have been following the discussion about microplastics and its effect on the environment - especially marine life. It is a fact that every time we wash our activewear items, there is some microplastic making its way into water supplies. Fortunately, according to The Finnish Environment Institute, most of the microplastics can be removed at wastewater treatment plants.
According to the graphics published by Helsingin Sanomat, only 9% of the microplastic in the oceans is caused by synthetic fibres. Much bigger problems are plastic bottles (33%) and car tyres (18%). Also, after washing your clothes made of synthetic fabrics around 5-10 times, the amount of unfastening microplastic decreases. The best ecological deed we, as consumers, can do is to use one item for as long as possible and wash it less frequently. The best thing we, as Népra, can do is to create timeless activewear that lasts and lasts after many many washes.
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