Truly Sustainable Fashion
SEABLEND®
In 2022 we created and trademarked our very own fabric SEABLEND™ made from 30% Lyocell SeaCell™ and 70% carbon neutral Australian 'Super' Cotton, a first for the UK.
Below you can read about the development process and view our complete supply chain. This provides full transparency and traceability of our product.
You can purchase our fabric directly from us, for all enquiries please email: adam@inlandsea.co.uk
Yarn spun here in the North of England
The North used to be the centre of the world for spinning cotton into yarn for fabric and textiles. So when we heard English Fine Cottons in Manchester had started doing this again, we knew we had to get involved.
English Fine Cottons boast a state of the art cotton mill, using the very latest technology using one of the most modern, efficient and productive compact ring spinning system in the world.
In early 2022 we imported a bale of sustainable raw fibre containing seaweed called SeaCell™ created by German based innovators SmartFibreAG.
Working closely with English Fine Cottons we have developed our very own yarn, creating a blend of SeaCell and Australian 'Super' Cotton, the first of it's kind to be manufactured in the UK.
Fully traceable cotton right back to the farmer's field
Our specially blended yarn has been made from carbon neutral Australian 'Super' Cotton, a long staple, fully traceable cotton grown in Queensland, Australia.
Our farmers are constantly working to produce a more resliliant crop in order to lessen the need for pesticides, increase biodivisty and reduce water usage.
The cotton is traceable all the way back to the farmers paddock to ensure it is farmed ethically and everyone involved benefits from the production.
The raw fibres of the cotton have then been blended with SeaCell™ during our spinning process.
Lyocell SeaCell™ The sustainable cellulose fibre
Made from renewable organic resources, a mix of wood pulp and seaweed are spun the SeaCell fibre.
SeaCell is produced within a closed loop production process meaning minimal waste and energy usage is required.
The fibre through a patented process retains vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and minerals that are present in the seaweed and is 100% biodegradable.
Certified by a multitude of institutes including EU-Ecolabel and OEKO-Tex 100 standard.
Wild harvested Icelandic seaweed
SeaCell™ contains a brown seaweed called Ascophyllum Nodosum or Knotted Wrack. The seaweed is harvested in the cold and pure fjords of Iceland.
Reaching far into the mainland, the estuaries are surrounded mostly by very steep mountainous slopes, which present a pristine natural paradise for animals and sealife. The fjords are barely populated. No wastewater and no ships pollute the naturally preserved microcosm.
The seaweed is harvested every 4 years and goes through a natural drying process before being shipped to Germany to be mixed with wood pulp and made into the final fibres.
Eucalyptus & Spruce wood pulp
Lyocell SeaCell™ is made using a mixture of wood pulp and seaweed. The wood pulp is dervived from FSC® Mix and FSC® controlled Eucalyptus and Spruce forests.
The origins of the wood are currently South Africa and Czech Republic.
The wood pulp is transported to Lenzing in Austria where it is spun into SeaCell fibre.
You can read more about Lenzing's sustainability values here.
Knitted in Leicester
Our fabric is knitted in Leicester by Aristo Fabrics Ltd who have been established for over 30 years. With just one other commerical knitter left in the UK we feel it is important to support businesses like Aristo in the UK.
Being a small self contained unit means low energy usage. The attention to detail and finishing of the fabric is truly some of the best in the world.
Photo: Adam visiting Aristo fabrics last year and chatting with owner Rajen.
Dyed and finished in Leicester
Our fabric is dyed at Colours Dyers (UK) Ltd in Leicester.
Colours is one of the few remaining commercial dyers operating in the UK. We feel is it crucial to support the knowledge and skill gained over many years supplying the British textile market. The dye is currently made from fossil fuel based synthetics. However we are currently working to introduce natural dyes, to our futures products.
Photo: Inside the testing lab, where all the colour dyes are mixed ready for lab dip samples.
Sewn and Stitched in Manchester
Once the fabric has been knitted and dyed it is sent back to English Fine Cottons where it's life began to be sewn and stitched into T-shirts.
Photo: Our blue fabric being sewn into T-shirts.
Eco Friendly Printing
All our print is completed in house at our premisses in Stockport. We use a print method called Direct to Film (DTF). We believe this to be one of the most environmentally friendly ways to print, it uses water based inks, minimal wastage and no nasty chemicals.
It is also very low on energy meaning a low carbon footprint.