Kon2re Materials
As a small artisan maker with a passion for handcrafted ethical design, I strive to be responsible and mindful of my production and make the very best quality products I can, not the highest number.
With that being said, I choose to use materials that promote social, ecological and cultural development; natural, renewable, more durable and cruelty-free.
I am happy to share that my goal to produce my design from natural materials is achieved fully. The materials I’ll use will be made from Piñatex, hemp, linen, nettle, organic cotton and new innovative materials currently in development.
More about the materials in my production:
- Hand-weaved vintage local linen – (lat. flax linum usitatissimum) is a natural material made from the fibres of the flax plant. Linen fabric is breathable, durable, antibacterial, hypoallergenic and biodegradable. It has visible traces of becoming due to a beautiful hand weaving with a rustic texture making the products from this material a pure linen dream.
FAQ
Who made your products?
All Kon2re products are individually hand-cut and machine stitched by the Kon2re designer and owner, Melina Marelja, in Koprivnica, Croatia.
What is the process of making linen?
The quality of the finished linen product is often dependent upon growing conditions and harvesting techniques. The flax plant has been cultivated in just about every country in the world and has been used to make fibre for over 6,000 years. To extract the fibres, the plants are cut or pulled by hand from the ground (it’s said that pulling creates more fine linen). The seeds are then removed through a process called winnowing or ripping, followed by retting, which removes the plant stock from the fibres. Once the fibres are separated to collect the most extended pieces, which can be up to 20 centimetres long, they are spun into yarn and eventually woven into fabric.
How do you colour your linen?
My vintage hand-weaved local linen is hand-dyed by Vedrana with various plant dyes foraged in Brezovica, Croatia. She used these plants for dyeing:
- goldenrod + alum. (yellow)
- walnut husk + ferrous sulfate (dark grey/brown)
- goat willow + ferrous sulfate (grey/brown)
- cochineal + alum. (rose/pink)
Is linen biodegradable, and how long does linen take to biodegrade?
Yes, linen is 100 % biodegradable and recyclable, only if the natural dye is used (as I am using it in my production). Pure natural linen can start to decompose in just two weeks. It should be cut into small pieces to speed up the decomposition process.
Is linen sustainable?
Yes. A key reason why linen is a sustainable fabric is that the entire flax plant can be woven into a fibre, which means that almost no waste is left over from the spinning and weaving process. Organically processed without chemicals or intensive dyes also means no water pollution is made.
Since linen is made from flax plants, it grows without needing fertilizers or pesticides, making it a fast-growing renewable resource that can be produced without damaging the environment.
What are the caring instructions for linen?
To preserve water and consider our environment, machine wash at 40 C° with mild detergent, separately, only when necessary.
- Piñatex by Ananas Anam – a new, patented, natural, non-woven material made from pineapple leaf fibre. It is a by-product of the agriculture industry, therefore no extra land, water or pesticide is required to produce the raw material. In its essence, Piñatex proved to be lightweight, durable, breathable and water-resistant vegan material with a strong ethical source and low environmental impact. In other words, a better choice for a better future.
FAQ
What is Piñatex? Is Pinatex Leather?
Piñatex is a non-woven textile made from waste pineapple leaf fibre which can be used as an alternative to leather. These leaves are a by-product from existing pineapple harvest, so the raw material requires no additional environmental resources to produce. The term leather is reserved for animal hides only.
Who manufactures Pinatex?
Ananas Anam is the company that manufacture, market and sell Piñatex. Ananas Anam’s HQ is in London, UK, with subsidiaries in the Philippines and Spain.
Where is Pinatex produced?
Piñatex is sourced in the Philippines and finished in Spain and Italy. Piñatex is shipped worldwide from Spain.
Is Piñatex 100% animal-free?
Yes, Piñatex is PETA approved and registered by the Vegan Society.
What is the process to make Piñatex?
After pineapple harvest, the suitable plant leaves which are left behind are collected in bundles, and the long fibres are extracted using semi-automatic machines.
The fibres are washed then dried naturally by the sun or during the rainy season in drying ovens. The dry fibres undergo a purification process to remove any impurities, which results in a fluff-like material.
This fluff-like pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) gets mixed with a corn-based polylactic acid (PLA) and undergoes a mechanical process to create Piñafelt, a non-woven mesh that forms the base of all Piñatex collections.
The rolls of Piñafelt are then shipped by boat from the Philippines to Spain or Italy for specialised finishing.
To make the Original, Pluma and Mineral collections, the Piñafelt is coloured using GOTS certified pigments, and a resin top coating is applied to give additional strength, durability and water resistance. A foil is heat pressed on to create the Metallic collection, and a high solid PU transfer coating is used to develop Piñatex Performance.
Is Piñatex biodegradable?
Piñatex is not 100% biodegradable. The base of Piñatex Performance is biodegradable, which represents 58% of the total composition. The substrate/base material of Piñatex (made from 80% pineapple leaf fibre, 20% PLA) is biodegradable under controlled industry conditions.
What is PLA?
PLA (polylactic acid) is a vegetable-based plastic material made from corn starch which comes from a renewable source.
What is the resin used to coat Piñatex Original/Pluma?
A water-based PU resin that is REACH compliant
That is just a plastic coating and isn’t sustainable
The PU used in our coating is REACH compliant, which means we have no detectable volatile compounds within the collection. We have optimised the maximum amount of bio-based PU we can use while still ensuring longevity to our materials.
How do you colour Piñatex?
We use GOTS-certified pigments to colour Piñatex
Is Piñatex heat resistant?
Yes, but as with any natural fibre, you cannot subject our material to temperatures above 120°C for long periods of time.
Is Piñatex waterproof?
Piñatex Original/Pluma/Mineral/Metallic are water-resistant, not waterproof. Piñatex Performance is waterproof
How do I care for Piñatex Original Pluma?
We recommend using natural colourless wax to keep Piñatex Original/Pluma looking hydrated. Apply your wax of choice sparingly with a clean cloth and leave to dry.
