Know a Little More about
the Fabrics we use

RPet Suede

If you’ve ever wondered what gives some of your clothes that comfortable stretch factor while continuing to bounce back and retain its existing shape over time, it’s most likely a kind of synthetic material. Synthetic fabrics like nylons and polyesters are man-made polymer fibres that deliver certain unique elements of performance and functionality while maintaining their durability and elasticity over time. Polyester (PET) is the most widely used fibre, making up 52% of the total fibre market volume produced worldwide. However, such fabrics are usually derived from fossil fuels like petroleum and crude oil - producing plastic-based fibres for textiles uses an estimated 342 million barrels of oil every year! These non-renewable resources are extracted and refined through production processes that can cause irreparable harm to human health and the environment, from polluting water bodies to exacerbating the existential threat of global climate change.

Without compromising on the quality, fit, or technical performance of your garment, we use different blends of recycled polyester fabrics to produce Primal Gray garments. Recycled polyester, also known as rPET, is created by mechanically recycling plastic waste in the form of discarded PET bottles originally containing water or other drinks. In comparison to virgin polyester-based fabrics, rPET from postconsumer bottles produces 37% less carbon emissions per ton of fibre. This is equivalent to:

  • Charging a smartphone 182 times
  • 6 kilometres driven by the average gas-powered car

Compared to virgin polyester, rPET has a 59% lower energy demand for every 1 ton of rPET, or 15.55 kilowatts per hour per ton of fibre kWh - about the equivalent of keeping on an incandescent bulb (for 2 hours per day) over one month. Along with being far less resource-intensive compared to its virgin counterpart, rPET also diverts upto 3133 plastic bottles from disposal in the landfill per roll of fabric produced, with the potential to slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 66%.

Our rPET fabrics are all certified to contain a minimum of 20% recycled materials by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) GRS confirms a responsible use of resources and processes that have the least possible impact on human health and the planet.

The rPET suede offers a soft, durable, cruelty-free, and vegan alternative to animal hide-based materials, coming in at 55% rPET blended with 45% island silk (a fine blend of equal parts rPET and conventionally produced PET). On average, rPET suede diverts about 4 plastic bottles from landfill per piece manufactured.

Recycled Polyester Gabardine

If you’ve ever wondered what gives some of your clothes that comfortable stretch factor while continuing to bounce back and retain its existing shape over time, it’s most likely a kind of synthetic material. Synthetic fabrics like nylons and polyesters are man-made polymer fibres that deliver certain unique elements of performance and functionality while maintaining their durability and elasticity over time. Polyester (PET) is the most widely used fibre, making up 52% of the total fibre market volume produced worldwide.

However, such fabrics are usually derived from fossil fuels like petroleum and crude oil - producing plastic-based fibres for textiles uses an estimated 342 million barrels of oil every year! These non-renewable resources are extracted and refined through production processes that can cause irreparable harm to human health and the environment, from polluting water bodies to exacerbating the existential threat of global climate change.

Without compromising on the quality, fit, or technical performance of your garment, we use different blends of recycled polyester fabrics to produce Primal Gray garments. Recycled polyester, also known as rPET, is created by mechanically recycling plastic waste in the form of discarded PET bottles originally containing water or other drinks. In comparison to virgin polyester-based fabrics, rPET from postconsumer bottles produces 37% less carbon emissions per ton of fibre. This is equivalent to:

  • Charging a smartphone 182 times
  • 6 kilometres driven by the average gas-powered car

Compared to virgin polyester, rPET has a 59% lower energy demand for every 1 ton of rPET, or 15.55 kilowatts per hour per ton of fibre kWh - about the equivalent of keeping on an incandescent bulb (for 2 hours per day) over one month. Along with being far less resource-intensive compared to its virgin counterpart, rPET also diverts upto 3133 plastic bottles from disposal in the landfill per roll of fabric produced, with the potential to slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 66%.

Our rPET fabrics are all certified to contain a minimum of 20% recycled materials by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) GRS confirms a responsible use of resources and processes that have the least possible impact on human health and the planet.

The rPET gabardine fabric used in our more structured pieces is light and composed of 100% recycled polyester, diverting about 10 plastic bottles from landfill per garment.

Recycled Polyester Jersey

If you’ve ever wondered what gives some of your clothes that comfortable stretch factor while continuing to bounce back and retain its existing shape over time, it’s most likely a kind of synthetic material. Synthetic fabrics like nylons and polyesters are man-made polymer fibres that deliver certain unique elements of performance and functionality while maintaining their durability and elasticity over time.

Polyester (PET) is the most widely used fibre, making up 52% of the total fibre market volume produced worldwide. However, such fabrics are usually derived from fossil fuels like petroleum and crude oil - producing plastic-based fibres for textiles uses an estimated 342 million barrels of oil every year! These non-renewable resources are extracted and refined through production processes that can cause irreparable harm to human health and the environment, from polluting water bodies to exacerbating the existential threat of global climate change.

Without compromising on the quality, fit, or technical performance of your garment, we use different blends of recycled polyester fabrics to produce Primal Gray garments. Recycled polyester, also known as rPET, is created by mechanically recycling plastic waste in the form of discarded PET bottles originally containing water or other drinks. In comparison to virgin polyester-based fabrics, rPET from postconsumer bottles produces 37% less carbon emissions per ton of fibre. This is equivalent to:

  • Charging a smartphone 182 times
  • 6 kilometres driven by the average gas-powered car

Compared to virgin polyester, rPET has a 59% lower energy demand for every 1 ton of rPET, or 15.55 kilowatts per hour per ton of fibre kWh - about the equivalent of keeping on an incandescent bulb (for 2 hours per day) over one month. Along with being far less resource-intensive compared to its virgin counterpart, rPET also diverts upto 3133 plastic bottles from disposal in the landfill per roll of fabric produced, with the potential to slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 66%.

Our rPET fabrics are all certified to contain a minimum of 20% recycled materials by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) GRS confirms a responsible use of resources and processes that have the least possible impact on human health and the planet.

Finally, Primal Gray pieces designed for even more stretch and mobility use our rPET spandex jersey fabric, which is composed of a blend of 73% rPET and 27% spandex. In addition to being UV-protective, quick-drying and moisture-wicking, Primal Gray pieces that use rPET spandex jersey divert, on average, 17 plastic bottles from landfill.

Organic Cotton

Soft and breathable, cotton is a naturally-derived plant fibre that can go on being renewed, so long as its production is responsibly managed and the climatic conditions for its survival continue to persist. Keeping in mind the immense damage that conventionally produced cotton can have on our environment, workers, and the end consumer, Primal Gray’s cotton fabrics are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). GOTS is a globally-recognized textile processing standard that certifies materials worldwide as being of at least 70% organic origin, as well as meeting a strict standard of environmental and social criteria through processing and manufacturing, all of which is independently assessed and verified across the supply chain. Our softest cotton terry and twill garments are 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, while our fleece comes in with a blend of 70% organic and 30% conventional cotton.

Simply by not using hazardous chemical pesticides, organic cotton, on average, produces 46% less carbon emissions per ton of cotton fibre compared to its conventionally produced counterpart. To put it into perspective, this is equivalent to the

  • amount of carbon sequestered by 24.3 metre square of wild forests preserved from deforestation over one year; or
  • 3,315.25 kilometres driven by the average gas-powered car (about the drive from Mumbai to Goa and back…about 6 times); or
  • 260.4 kilograms of garbage recycled instead of sent to landfill.

Organic cotton also has a 62% reduced demand for energy, or 2555.5 kilowatts per hour per ton of cotton fibre - equivalent to keeping on 58 incandescent light bulbs (for 2 hours per day) over one year. Maintaining pesticide-free farming practices for organic cotton also greatly diminishes the harmful potential of eutrophication, water acidification, and groundwater resource scarcity while protecting human health.

Recycled Cotton

At Primal Gray, we recognize that though cotton can be cultivated in different ways to make it more sustainable, virgin cotton still carries a significant environmental footprint. Cotton is the most used natural fibre in the textile industry, making up about 23% of the total volume produced globally. Through production and use, significant amounts of the material are sent to landfill, creating massive amounts of textile waste and greenhouse gas generation in addition to the natural resource inputs used to produce it.

Recycling cotton, on the other hand, diverts large quantities of material from landfill, as well as dramatically decreasing its water footprint and energy demand. Per ton of cotton recycled, upto 765,000 litres of water can be saved - equivalent to 21 people taking 5-minute daily showers for a whole year!

Our recycled cotton fabric is certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) to consist of a minimum of 20% recycled material, sourced from both pre and post-consumer waste material - that is, scraps and by-products of manufacturing as well as items that have been bought and used. GRS is an international, voluntary standard with the primary goal of increasing the use of recycled materials in products and reducing the harmful social, environmental, and chemical impacts of production.

Cotton Modal

At Primal Gray, we recognize that though traditional textiles can be cultivated in different ways to make it more sustainable, traditional viscose (rayon fabrics) still carries a significant environmental footprint. Through production and use, significant amounts of the material are sent to landfill, creating massive amounts of textile waste and greenhouse gas generation in addition to the natural resource inputs used to produce it.

Thus as a part of our conscious initiative a natural substitute for rayon or viscose fabrics we utilize is modal. ​​Modal fiber, also known as high-wet modulus fiber, is a type of cellulosic fiber made from wood pulp or other natural cellulose sources most commonly from the beach tree. which are a renewable resource that can be harvested sustainably. A beech tree is a deciduous tree that belongs to the Fagaceae family, which also includes oak and chestnut trees. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Modal fibers require less energy to produce than other fibers like polyester, but give a similar feel making is light and breathable but also moisture absorbent .Modal fibers require approximately 50% less energy compared to the production of conventional viscose fibers. This reduction in energy consumption is mainly due to the use of more efficient wood pulp processing techniques and the recycling of chemicals in the production process.

Modal fibers require less water to produce than cotton, which is a highly water-intensive crop.A leading producer of Modal fibers, the water consumption for the production of Modal is approximately 10-20% less than the water consumption for the production of conventional viscose fibers. This reduction is due to the closed-loop manufacturing process used by Lenzing, which recycles up to 95% of the water used in production.

Climate Positive Information:
ELECTRICITY SAVED: Each Garment saves 26.67 kw/h of electricity = 5.33 charges on a standard smartphone
WATER SAVED: Each garment saves 30.67 Liters of water = 15.62 days worth of drinking water per person
EMISSIONS AVOIDED: 22.5 tons of carbon dioxide sequestered per ton of modal produced through prevention of deforestation.

Organic Linen

Soft and breathable, linen is a naturally-derived plant fiber that is a renewable resource so long as its production is responsibly managed and the climatic conditions for its survival continue to persist. Compared to more conventional textiles, linen has a lower water and energy consumption per meter of fabric produced and hence is a more environmentally conscious textile to use in the manufacturing of garments.

Linen has a lower pesticide impact in its growth but keeping in mind the damage over cultivation cam have on our environment, workers, and the end consumer, Primal Gray’s linen fabrics are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). GOTS is a globally-recognized textile processing standard that certifies materials worldwide as being of at least 70% organic origin, as well as meeting a strict standard of environmental and social criteria through processing and manufacturing, all of which is independently assessed and verified across the supply chain. Our softest linen garments are 100% GOTS-certified organic.

Simply by not using hazardous chemical pesticides, organic linen, on average, produces 46% less carbon emissions per ton of linen fiber compared to conventionally produced textiles such as cotton. To put it into perspective, this is equivalent to the -

ELECTRICITY SAVED : Electricity saved per garment is 20.33KW or running a incandescent light bulb for 2 hours a day for 2 months

WATER SAVED : Saves 5250 L of water compared to cotton or having 52 Showers a year

EMISSIONS AVOIDED: Each garment sequesters 68 kg of CO2 which is the same as driving the average car over 10 Miles

Pure Indian Cotton

At Primal Gray, we recognize that traditional textiles can be cultivated in different ways to make it more sustainable, traditional Indian cotton has always been in the forefront of India's industrialisation and self sufficiency. From the days of Khadi in pre independence India to today, India is the largest producer of cotton in the world. It is one of the most important agricultural products that India produces and is responsible for employing and providing livelihood to over 50 Million people.

Cotton is one of the oldest fabrics, domesticated around 5000 BCE in eastern Sudan near the Middle Nile Basin region, where cotton cloth was being produced.The cultivation of cotton and the knowledge of its spinning and weaving in Meroë reached a high level in the 4th century BC. Today cotton is still one of the most commonly used fabrics in fashion. It takes about 2700 L of water and 25.3 kilowatts to make 1 Cotton T Shirt which is still lower than the impact that some other acrylic or man made textiles have on the environment. Cotton is known for its durability, softness and easy care.

Thus as a part of our ethically transparent approach to fashion we introduced 100% Pure Indian Cotton. Procured from local farmers and factories, our Indian cotton provides employment and livelihoods to some of the most impoverished yet hard working people the Indian Farmers. Ensuring fair wages and cost prices, the cotton is then used to make our newly launched Knitwear collections.

SHOP rPet Suede

SHOP Recycled Polyester

SHOP Recycled Polyester Jersey

SHOP Organic Cotton

SHOP Recycled Cotton

SHOP Organic Cotton

SHOP Pure Indian Cotton