Woodlore

Bushcraft Tips And Advice

Welcome to the tips and advice section, where we have gathered information on a variety of topics related to Bushcraft and Outdoor Survival.

Caring for your Axe
Caring for your Leather Products
How to Sharpen a Knife
How to Sharpen an Axe
How to use a Fire Stick
Sleeping Bag Comfort Temperatures
What is a bivi bag?
What is fleece?
What is Gore-Tex?
What is wool?
Woodlore's Organic Cotton Clothing

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Woodlore's Organic Cotton Clothing

Making one's own life have less of an impact on the environment can often be helped by taking a few simple steps; cycling to work instead of driving; fitting energy-saving lightbulbs around the house; recycling etc. However, when it comes to a large company producing clothing en-masse it is, unfortunately, not so simple.

When Woodlore created a range of T-shirts to celebrate our 25th Anniversary in 2008, we strove to do so in the most environmentally-friendly way. Fair Trade Organic Cotton was used for each garment, while logos were printed using specialist water-based inks. Since then, all Woodlore-brand clothing has been made in this way:

• Woodlore/Ray Mears T-Shirt - Black
• Woodlore/Ray Mears T-Shirt - Navy
• Woodlore/Ray Mears T-Shirt - Olive
• Woodlore/Ray Mears Hooded Sweatshirt

The print process:

The water-based inks used on our clothing have a far-reduced impact on the environment, both in the print process and when your garment has reached the end of its lifespan. This form of printing is carried out by the only textile printer in the UK certified by the Soil Association, requiring them to work to very strict guidelines, particularly when it comes to recycling and the disposal of waste. In terms of inks and printing practices, they work closely with the Water Authority, who monitor and test their waste products, and all water is filtered before it enters the sewer.

Some may wonder whether the quality of the end product has to be compromised in order to be so environmentally-friendly. In fact, it's quite the opposite; this print process results in a durable and bold print that is soft to the touch, and is also PVC and Phalate free. There is the added advantage that the print is fully ironable and will not deteriorate over the life of the garment, unlike traditional plastisol inks which will eventually crack, or peel-off over time.

Organic cotton:

Organic cotton is grown without pesticides or chemical additives to fertilise, relying instead on methods with less ecological impact. Conventional cotton farming is one of agriculture's most environmentally destructive activities; it takes an enormous toll on the earth's air, water, and soil, and significantly affects the health of people living in cotton growing areas.

A typical, conventional cotton T-shirt uses about 150 grams of acutely toxic pesticides and insecticides; that's equivalent to a cup of sugar! Organic farming methods benefit both farmers and their communities by:

• preventing and reducing farmer debt
• improving food stability for farmers as a result of crop rotation
• preventing pollution of the water table
• preventing potential fatal pesticide poisoning of farmers and their families
• improving and maintaining biodiversity

To achieve organic certification, only azo-free dyes are used in the dying process and all effluent is properly treated. Different levels of certification exist, but at a minimum, a crop must be grown in soil that has been chemical-free for at least three years. In addition, the traceability of organic cotton right back down the supply chain means that it is the only cotton that you can be certain is GM free.

Fair Trade Cotton:

Fair Trade is a growing, international movement which ensures that producers in poor countries get a fair deal. This means a fair price for their goods (one that covers the cost of production and guarantees a living income), long-term contracts which provide real security and, for many, support to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to develop their businesses and increase sales.

At Woodlore, we believe it is important to use such fabrics in our T-shirts, and will continue to use these wherever possible.

Frequent Questions

You might also like to take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions where you will find advice on everything from contacting Ray to Ray's earlier TV programmes. We even provide some useful Camping Equipment advice.