We only use natural fabrics to produce our garments, and we carefully trace how they have been made so that you can rest assured that your Roake Studio purchase has been kind to both people and the planet.

Linen

Linen is one of the oldest fibres in existence. We know it’s been around since Egyptian times because it was used as part of the mummifying process. It’s made from the inner fibres of the flax plant, also known as linseed, which is really versatile because every part of it can be used - you might sprinkle flax seeds on your breakfast, for example, or use linseed oil to polish wood or make soap. Its blue flowers are also really pretty and easy to grow in your garden if you fancy it (we’ve tried it very successfully). 

Linen’s environmentally friendly credentials are second-to-none. It grows happily in poor soil without fertilisers, and even improves the soil health as it goes. It’s not prone to pests, so pesticides aren’t usually needed either. Once made into a fabric, it’s naturally moth-resistant. Plus it doesn’t need much water to grow in its native northern Europe, so irrigation-wise, all it needs is the rain. These multiple factors make linen a really sustainable fabric, especially if it’s dyed using no nasty chemicals (ours is either AZO free or OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, depending on the supplier). 

Linen is also an absolute joy to wear. Traditionally we associate it with the summer because it deals well with high temperatures, and it is naturally moisture wicking and bacteria resistant, but it’s equally snuggly in the winter and looks great layered with knitwear. 

Cotton

We love cotton because it’s a natural fibre, easy to wear and great to make clothes with, but we acknowledge that it comes with a bad reputation. For starters, it’s a thirsty crop and is often grown in parts of the world that aren’t naturally water abundant. And unless it’s organic, pesticides will have been used, which is bad news for bees and other insects.

It’s important to us to source our cottons as responsibly as possible. We use suppliers that support initiatives including the Better Cotton Initiative, and all of our corduroy, cotton gauze and woven cotton is sourced from a supplier that has OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification. 

TENCEL™

We use TENCEL™ as a silky alternative to linen and cotton. It is our preferred option to other similarly produced semi-synthetic cellulose fabrics like viscose and rayon. They are made by dissolving the fibres of plants (usually trees, but can also be bamboo or sugar cane) and then turning the pulp into a fibre. The process used to make cellulose fabrics can either be really sustainable, or really unsustainable, which is why we like the guarantees that come with the TENCEL™ brand.

30% of the viscose used in fashion is made from pulp sourced from ancient and endangered forests. TENCEL™, however, is made using sustainably sourced trees. It also involves a ‘closed loop’ system, which recovers and recycles the chemicals used rather than flushing them out into the environment. When not made this way, the process can be very toxic, causing damage to the health of local people and wildlife by polluting the air and waterways when the viscose was produced.

Aside from all of that, we love using TENCEL™ because it feels really nice and soft against the skin, and looks super luxurious. It’s a durable, long-lasting fabric, too.

Denim

Denim is notorious for using loads of water, energy and chemicals to produce, so we make sure we source ours from reputable suppliers who are doing things differently. Because when done right, denim is an incredibly durable material that never goes out of style, so you’ll enjoy it in your wardrobe for, potentially, ever!

We source our denim in the UK and it comes with the peace of mind that it has OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification. This means that it is tested independently and has been found to contain no harmful substances. 

Quilted cotton

The quilted cotton we use to make our Nicole jackets and waistcoats, as well as our Elsie jumpers, is one of our all-time favourites. It’s made up from layers of cotton which makes it snuggly and soft - perfect for layering, but not so bulky that you can’t sling it on in the summer, too.

The best bit though, is that all of our quilted cotton has been produced as part of the Better Cotton Initiative. This promotes sustainable farming practices and policies, enhances the well-being and economic development of farmers, and drives global demand for sustainable cotton. 

Industry waste leather

All of our leather goods are made using industry waste leather that would have otherwise been thrown away. We also make them in limited small batches to ensure that there’s a double no waste strategy!

Brass

We make our earrings, hairpins and bracelets from brass. We choose to use it because the recycling process is less energy-intensive in comparison to other metals, and yields a smaller carbon footprint. We also love its subtle, slightly matt finish which makes it perfect for everyday use.

We make sustainable choices at each decision point and review our practices regularly. If you have a question about any of our processes, please get in touch.