Natural Fibers vs Recycled Plastic — Honest Pros and Cons

Q: What materials we use?

We work with three fabrics. Three. Not thirty.Brushed Organic Cotton Jersey (220g, made in Portugal) soft, slightly thick, with a peach-skin touch. Our flagship. The Sohang, Yamala and Mahan are knitted from this.Mercerized Organic Cotton Jersey (180g, made in Portugal) lighter, smoother, with a subtle natural sheen. Our new Essence Collection uses this for models like Ankaa, Nashira, Maia.Bamboo Viscose blended with Organic Cotton (made in Turkey) cool, breathable, fluid. Used for the Lilii pants and the Mizar Kimono. Bamboo regrows in three to five years, without replanting and without irrigation.Most pieces include around 8% certified elastane, enough to hold shape over years of wear, without losing breath.We use every meter of yarn we knit. What we don't sew, we save for repairs and samples. Nothing goes to waste.

Q: Three generations of women to design

Three generations of women.My grandmother Johanna sewed evening dresses by hand. Long, careful, beautiful work, a kind of patience that has all but disappeared.My mother, Cornelia, learned from her. In 2009, she founded Breath of Fire. The very first piece she designed, the Sohang, was created on the floor of her living room in Switzerland, with a yoga teacher friend named Christina. It is still our flagship today, seventeen years later.Today, I ( Pernelle) run the brand. I do not redesign what works. I extend it. The Essence Collection, launched in 2025, sits beside the Evergreen line. New silhouettes, same intention.We do not design for trends. We design for the body in practice, for the moment when the breath deepens, when the posture lengthens, when you forget what you are wearing.That is the test of a piece. Forgetting it on. Returning to it.

Sustainable clothing is a hot topic in the fashion industry these days, as more and more people are becoming aware of the environmental impact of the clothing they wear. There are several different types of sustainable fabrics that are commonly used in garments, including natural fibers and recycled plastic fabrics. In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of these two types of sustainable fabrics to help you make an informed decision about which is the best choice for you.

Natural fibers are materials that are derived from plants or animals, and include fabrics such as cotton, wool, silk, and linen. These fibers are considered to be more environmentally friendly than synthetic fibers because they are biodegradable and can be produced with fewer harmful chemicals.

Pros of natural fibers:

Biodegradable: Natural fibers will break down over time, which means they won't contribute to landfill waste.
Renewable: Natural fibers can be replenished relatively quickly, compared to synthetic fibers which are made from non-renewable resources such as oil.
Durable: Some natural fibers, such as wool and linen, are known for their durability and can last for many years with proper care.
Comfortable: Many people find natural fibers to be more comfortable to wear, as they tend to be breathable and have a softer feel than synthetic fibers.

Cons of natural fibers:

More expensive: Natural fibers can be more expensive to produce than synthetic fibers, which means garments made from these materials may be more expensive to purchase.
Sensitive to stains: Some natural fibers, such as wool and silk, are more sensitive to stains and can be more difficult to clean.
Requires more care: Natural fibers can be prone to shrinking or losing shape if not cared for properly, so they may require more attention when it comes to washing and storing.

Recycled plastic fabrics are materials that are made from recycled plastic bottles or other plastic waste. These fabrics are created using a process called "upcycling," which takes discarded plastic and turns it into a new, usable material.

Pros of recycled plastic fabrics:

Reduces waste: Using recycled plastic fabrics helps to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or the ocean.
Durable: Recycled plastic fabrics are known for their durability and can last for many years with proper care.
Water-resistant: Some recycled plastic fabrics are water-resistant, which makes them a good choice for outdoor clothing or for use in damp environments.

Cons of recycled plastic fabrics:

Synthetic: Recycled plastic fabrics are made from synthetic materials, which means they are not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to break down in the environment.
Requires energy to produce: Recycling plastic requires energy, which means that the production of recycled plastic fabrics has a carbon footprint.
Limited options: While the number of recycled plastic fabric options is increasing, there are still fewer options available compared to natural fibers.

In conclusion, both natural fibers and recycled plastic fabrics have their pros and cons when it comes to sustainability. Natural fibers are biodegradable and renewable, but they can be more expensive and require more care. Recycled plastic fabrics help to reduce waste, but they are made from synthetic materials and require energy to produce. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your personal preferences and priorities.

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What you wear matters. The texture against skin. The breath that moves freely. Pieces that soften with the years.

Our clothes are certified organic cotton, knitted and sewn in Portugal in small batches since 2009. Natural fibers. Slow craft. Clothing for those who pay attention to what touches the body.

Near Porto, in Portugal, two small family businesses work side by side for us. The first, in one village, knits our organic cotton from scratch and dyes it to our specifications. The second, in the next village, cuts and sews. We have been visiting both every year since 2009. We know the people by name. We share meals when we visit. They have watched our collections grow alongside their own children.

During the Covid years, when organic cotton and bamboo became briefly impossible to source in Portugal, we found a second family workshop in Turkey — also ethical, also certified, also personal. About 5% of what we make passes through their hands today. The Mizar Kimono and a few Lilac pieces from past collections come from there.

Most yoga brands buy fabric from a market — pre-made rolls, ready to cut. We don't. Every meter of jersey we use is knitted from scratch to our specifications. That is why the Sohang feels the way it does. That is why a five-year-old pair softens instead of wearing thin.

A slower way of making clothes. Sometimes inconvenient. Always worth it.

Sustainability for us is not a marketing department. It is a series of small, sometimes annoying choices we have made since 2009.

We chose certified organic cotton when it was 40% more expensive than conventional or plastic fabrics. We still pay that premium today. We grow without external capital which means we cannot afford to overstock, so we don't. We use every meter of yarn we order, even when it means smaller runs and longer waits. We are 100% self funded and all the money is placed in ethical funds in a local bank.

We focus on evergreen pieces, the Sohang, the Amrit, the Amba instead of seasonal collections. Some of these designs are over a decade old and still our bestsellers. A garment worn for ten years on a body is the most sustainable thing a fashion brand can make.

Our fabrics are dyed with processes gentle enough for a baby's skin. We package in either recycled or biodegradable bags. We ship from our small warehouse in Cully (Switzerland) or our partner in Germany, never overseas.

We don't tick every box. We are not perfect. But these are the choices we make, and we make them visible.

We work with three fabrics. Three. Not thirty.

Brushed Organic Cotton Jersey (220g, made in Portugal) soft, slightly thick, with a peach-skin touch. Our flagship. The Sohang, Yamala and Mahan are knitted from this.

Mercerized Organic Cotton Jersey (180g, made in Portugal) lighter, smoother, with a subtle natural sheen. Our new Essence Collection uses this for models like Ankaa, Nashira, Maia.

Bamboo Viscose blended with Organic Cotton (made in Turkey) cool, breathable, fluid. Used for the Lilii pants and the Mizar Kimono. Bamboo regrows in three to five years, without replanting and without irrigation.

Most pieces include around 8% certified elastane, enough to hold shape over years of wear, without losing breath.

We use every meter of yarn we knit. What we don't sew, we save for repairs and samples. Nothing goes to waste.

Three generations of women.

My grandmother Johanna sewed evening dresses by hand. Long, careful, beautiful work, a kind of patience that has all but disappeared.

My mother, Cornelia, learned from her. In 2009, she founded Breath of Fire. The very first piece she designed, the Sohang, was created on the floor of her living room in Switzerland, with a yoga teacher friend named Christina. It is still our flagship today, seventeen years later.

Today, I ( Pernelle) run the brand. I do not redesign what works. I extend it. The Essence Collection, launched in 2025, sits beside the Evergreen line. New silhouettes, same intention.

We do not design for trends. We design for the body in practice, for the moment when the breath deepens, when the posture lengthens, when you forget what you are wearing.

That is the test of a piece. Forgetting it on. Returning to it.

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Natural Fibers vs Recycled Plastic — Honest Pros and Cons

Wear your frequency.

Two villages in Portugal makes your clothes

The slow choices we keep making for sustainability

What materials we use?

Three generations of women to design