fabrics ~ sizing ~ FAQ's

As a comparison conventionally produced dyes, and even more frequently the by-products of producing these dyes, are toxic. Additionally, many conventional processes use amazingly large quantities of kitchen salt. Salt, though tasty in our meals, causes irreversible harm to the ecosystems in our rivers, lakes, and underground water sources when released from a commercial dyehouse. In many cases, conventional dyeing processes have been expelled from the U.S (to foreign countries) because they do not comply with EPA regulations. Yet, due to the relaxed environmental laws in many foreign countries, the final products do make their way to the US and elsewhere.

Our clay-dyeing process does not use any salt. All other components are of natural origin or biodegradable. We at Earth Creations® are trying our best to make a difference by bringing social consciousness to the multi-billion dollar apparel industry. Thank you, our customer, for supporting our business and helping us to further achieve this goal.

Joy Maples and Martin Ledvina, (founders of Earth Creations®)
and the Earth Creations Employees




FABRICS

Hemp
Hemp is one of the oldest and strongest natural fibers. Its existence dates back as far as 2000 B.C. In the U.S. there is a strong history of hemp farming and use. Our first flag was sewn with hemp fabric and many of the first wagons going west were covered with hemp canvases. The hemp fiber is harvested from the large annual plant Cannabis Sativa. This industrial hemp has a negligible content of alkaloids and therefore cannot be used as “marijuana” or any other drug. There are myriad other uses for the hemp plant from paper to food products.

Hemp is resistant to insects and therefore no pesticides are needed for cultivation. In addition, hemp grows so vigorously that no fertilizers are needed. Thus hemp enables sustainability and prevents erosion on the farmed land. As if that is not enough, hemp produces at least three times more fiber per acre than cotton plants and the most per acre of any other fiber source. These and other attributes make hemp clothing an excellent eco-friendly choice.

The breathable, porous nature of hemp allows trapped air to be warmed by the body, making these garments naturally warmer in colder weather. Yet the breathable character of this fiber allows hemp fabrics to be very comfortable during hot summers. Hemp's UV light and mold resistance makes this a very durable fabric.

Today, hemp is grown around the world. This plant is harvested throughout Europe, Russia, China and in Canada. In the United States, each year brings us closer to the legalization of hemp farming. As our society comes to terms with the down-side of tobacco, farmers want to have a second option. Growing industrial hemp would provide a viable (and profitable) alternative for thousands of American farmers. We are excited about the years to come and the opportunity to make more eco-friendly apparel from this natural fiber and help save our farmlands.

Organic Cotton
Regular or “conventional” cotton is sprayed 30 to 40 times a year with pesticides so poisonous that they eventually render the fields barren. The chemicals applied to cotton account for up to 50% of all the poisons used on North American agriculture.

Unsustainable practices connected with growing “conventional” cotton and high public interest in the issue created a demand for cotton grown without pesticides. The term “Organic Cotton” means that toxic pesticides are eliminated in every step of the growing process, resulting in far less impact on the environment and health of the growers and the consumers.

The consumer interest in garments made out of organically grown cotton has fueled the attention of farmers to grow cotton using sustainable practices. Organic Cotton is now grown in many different countries, including the U.S., and is certified by various agencies.

Linen
This natural fabric is woven from the fibers of flax. The use of flax for weaving into "linen" cloth dates back to Egyptian dynasties over four thousand years ago. During the latter part of the Middle Ages it became the most commonly used textile material in Europe. It was not until the early part of the nineteenth century that cotton began to challenge its premier position.

In the U.S., flax was one of the most important crops to early American farmers and to the economy of our emerging nation. Grown in almost every state east of the Mississippi River, and some beyond, flax was literally the fiber that helped sustain our people. Before the spread of the mechanical cotton gin in the early 1800s, most Americans had a choice of two clothing fibers – wool or linen.

The former disadvantages of linen fabrics, including tough hand and necessary dry cleaning were overcome by modern technologies of refining the flax fiber. Our linen garments are not only comfortable to wear; they are easy to care for as well. The garments can be machine washed and dried repeatedly.


SIZING

Women’s Clothing
Dimensions in this chart are body dimensions, not garment dimensions. Earth Creations’ sizing is based on the larger size within a range. For instance a small (S) is based on a 6, a medium (M) is based on a 10, etc. However, most of our waist bands are elastic so there is a wide range of sizes the bottoms will fit.

Unisex Clothing
Unisex clothing is based on men’s measurements. If you are a female interested in unisex styles please see the corresponding women’s size at the top of the chart. The length of the garment and the sleeve length are average measurements of the actual garments. The chest or bust size is your body measurement.

T-shirts (short sleeve and long sleeve)
Values in this table are actual garment measurements. We suggest buying a size that is 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) wider than your actual chest (bust) measurement.

FAQ's

Who makes earth creations® clothing?
We believe in supporting our local economy as much as possible. Our T-shirts are custom made in North Carolina. Earth Creations’ clothing line is cut and sewn in apparel plants in Alabama and Mississippi. The factory in Alabama is only 90 miles from our headquarters and we have worked with these folks since the inception of our clothing line. Our woven garments are being made in south central Mississippi. Earth Creations supports about 50 full time jobs in these plants. We often visit the plants and chat with the ladies (and men!) who sew our clothing. They all know who we are, who our customers are and are proud to sew these garments! And yes, all of these factories are in complete compliance with all rules and regulations as set forth by the labor laws of our country.

We have found that our response time to consumer demand is much faster, our quality is excellent and our pride in our product is much greater because we manufacture in the USA. By purchasing our T-shirts and clothing, you contribute to the US economy. Thank you for doing your share, we appreciate it!

How is our dirty stuff made?
1. Where does the dirt come from?
Nature is amazing. Throughout millions of years of geologic development of the Earth, nature created a variety of colored clays. Some of them are very abundant and present on the surface (red and yellow) and some of them are rare and you have to dig deep to get to them. Both myself (Martin) and Joy, have spent years looking for good deposits. During any of our outdoor adventures, always having a bucket ready in our truck, we have been on the lookout for “good” clay for a long time. The south eastern section of the US is rich in geologic history and provides a variety of colors.

2. What is “good” clay?
Good clay is fine without bigger stones, rich in color and pure, not containing veins of other types of clay.

3. How do we get the dirt into the clothing?
Sometimes grinding is the necessary first step. In the second phase, good blending with water is a must. The mixture is then added to a load of soaked naturally colored (unbleached) clothing and stirred for about 1 hour. Subsequently, the garments are lifted from the vat and any excess water is removed. Then the dyed clothing travels to dryers. After drying, a rigorous quality inspection takes place. Finally, garments are folded and packaged.

4. Is it going to stay there?
Our clay-dyeing process assures lasting color. After several washes the shade will change slightly like your favorite pair of jeans.

How to care for Earth Creations’ clothing?
Our care instructions are located on the label. All of our garments are pre-shrunk. We suggest turning the garment inside out and washing in cold water (no bleach or detergent with bleach) with similar colors. Tumble dry low. Do not iron if imprinted.

How do I remove spots (oil and others)?
Accidents do happen. We suggest that you use some type of grease cutting dishwashing liquid. Please do not rub the spot vigorously or the dye will come out. Instead wipe the spot gently and soak until the spot is gone. You cannot use most stain removers because they contain bleach!!

fabrics ~ sizing ~ FAQ's