Corozo: the vegetable ivory
Trousers, blouses, blazers, coats. They are essential for almost every item of clothing: buttons. They are made of wood, plastic, metal and sometimes mother-of-pearl or ivory. Some are easily breakable, others are made of petroleum or endanger animals, depending on the material used.
Oil for Fashion
In the textile industry, especially in the fast fashion sector, plastic-based materials are mostly used. Polyester fabrics are a well-known emergency. However, when looking at the whole thing, attention must also be paid to the smaller components: buttons, for example. Manufacturing from petroleum-based plastic is simple and inexpensive, and the end product is relatively stable.
However, oil extraction, its processing and the disposal of plastic pose numerous risks for humans, animals and the environment. The drilling and extraction of oil often entails massive interference with nature. Large-scale deforestation is fatal for the climate and causes the ecosystem to become unbalanced. The habitat of numerous animal species and also indigenous peoples is destroyed.
Wooden buttons are a sustainable and animal-free alternative. The disadvantage here is durability. Without a coating, the material becomes porous and breaks more easily than conventional plastic buttons.
Horn, mother of pearl and co.
Buttons of animal origin are often associated with killing. Ivory is the horn of elephants, which are mostly poached for its production. The illegal killing of the animals has already led to their extinction in parts of Asia and Africa. Even though the trade in ivory is restricted or banned in many countries, elephants are still at risk of poaching through legal and illegal sales.
There are no problems with disposal of the classic horn or bone button, which we know primarily from traditional clothing. After all, this is a natural material. However, care should be taken to determine how the material is obtained. Special hunting of cattle or buffalo can be prevented if horn and bone are obtained as waste products from slaughter.
Mother of pearl is another common raw material for buttons. Here, a distinction must be made between the extraction of pearls and buttons. Pearls are produced in invasive processes in breeding stations because they grow inside the mussels. For buttons, on the other hand, only the shells of the mussels are needed. Various mussel and snail species form layers of mother of pearl. Here, the shells of dead specimens can be used, from which the shapes are punched out.
However, for those who want an alternative that does not involve plastic or animals, there is a material that is enjoying renewed popularity.
A nut as a button
The corozo palm (Phytelephas) originates from South America. Its seed, the corozo, provides an ideal alternative to conventional materials. The special thing about this seed is that it becomes bone-like in hardness after drying. Under the dark shell is the light core, which is reminiscent of ivory in terms of structure and color.
It can be shaped into a new form by milling and filing. Works of art and chess pieces are also made from this material. The corozo is a plant-based material and is therefore biodegradable and recyclable.
Yes, to the power nut
The local population has been using the nut for many generations. The material became known here through maritime trade, but lost importance due to the commercial plastic button. Sustainability and a change in thinking are making the material more widely used again today. In order to avoid animal and synthetic materials, we use the stone nut as a button for our products. It is available in light and dark tones and can be used in many different ways.
Little things make the difference. So that we as a fair fashion label can produce holistically sustainable fashion, we pay attention to using natural alternatives.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steinnuss
https://www.peta.de/themen/perlenketten-muschelketten/
https://www.prowildlife.de/aktuelles/background/elfenbeinhandel/
https://utopia.de/ratgeber/erdoel-darum-ist-es-fuer-die-umwelt-und-das-klima-so-problematisch/
