Materials

At Atelier AÉRÉ, we divide the fabric for our clothing production into two categories, woven and knitted.

Our current pieces are made with woven fabrics, yet we intend to incorporate knitwear - and leather – in the future, always in styles that can be combined with the already existing pieces in the core collection, as well as pieces that will be added next. No matter the fabric used, however, it is a fundamental first step for Atelier AÉRÉ to obtain all knowledge about the chosen material to ensure that we will be using the highest possible quality for our products.

 
 
 

Wool

Wool is generally defined as a textile fiber obtained from various animals, most commonly sheep and goats. In more special instances, wool from other animals is also used, such as camels, lamas, and angora rabbits. Wool is, thus, a natural material - a natural fiber.

AÉRÉ favors the use of wool for its production due its well-known ability to help the wearer regulate their body temperature better. That incredible capability of the fabric stems from its fibers’ wavy structure that creates a wealth of tiny air pockets that act as an insulating buffer zone between you and the cold. At the same time, in hot environments the wool absorbs moisture from your body and cools you down as the moisture in the wool evaporates. So, the material works with your body to regulate temperature according to your body’s needs and the external environment.

In addition, the wavy structure of the wool offers the advantage of easily smoothing out any creases by simply being hung up for some time. The material is also known for its natural antibacterial qualities, which means that any woolen clothing piece can be worn multiple times before needing to be washed.

• Wool is suitable for any temperature, as it helps regulate body heat.
• Wool can, to a certain extent, self-smooth any creases just by being hung.
• Wool does not need to be washed often, due to its self-cleaning properties.

Wool blend: Often, wool is paired with other materials in the production of clothes, as a blend is considered more comfortable to wear. Yet, if the wool percentage of the fabric is rather high, the clothing item will have many of the same benefits as if it were made purely in wool. Another reason a brand may choose a wool blend for its production is the option to choose among a wider variety of colors and shades for its products.

Recycled wool: In recent years, clothing brands have also started utilizing recycled materials as a more environmentally-friendly way of production that saves valuable resources, such as water. Recycled wool is usually blend with other fabrics, so to make the material stronger and long-lasting.

At AÉRÉ, our pieces are primarily made from 100% pure wool of the highest quality, procured from a small family business in Italy. In some cases, we choose to utilize a wool blend, in which elastane has been added to make the clothes even more comfortable to wear. Recycled wool is also incorporated in our pieces, in a soft double-face quality, reflecting our mission to be a conscious brand. Of course, when using any wool blend fabric, we always make sure that the wool percentage is very high, so to ensure our items still offer our customers the benefits of the natural fiber.

Cotton

Cotton is a material very commonly used in the making of clothes. It is a completely natural material that has emerged and can grow completely without human intervention. It comes from a soft white fibrous substance surrounding the seeds of the cotton plant, which is then made into textile fiber and thread. Generally, there are four different varieties, but two of them account for most of all cotton production: American cotton and Barbados cotton.

Clothes made of cotton are smooth against the skin, while also moisture absorbent. Cotton fibers are flat, screwed and are therefore easy to spin and dye. While special weaves allow cotton to achieve a very special form of "crispness", which gives a beautiful, sculptured shape to the clothing pieces. Thus, cotton is a very agile and comfortable material, which is the reason it is so commonly used in clothes.

• Cotton is soft and comfortable against the skin.
• Cotton is breathable and can absorb the moisture your body releases.
• Cotton poplin and other types of cotton can be shaped into sculptural garments.

 

For most of AÉRÉ’s cotton pieces, 100% pure cotton poplin of the highest quality is used, again in collaboration with a small family business in Italy. For the rest of the cotton fabrics, AÉRÉ uses a cotton blend with 3% elastane, as well as an extravagant silver denim, which is a high-quality cotton blend procured from an exclusive producer in Japan. With this special material, we make our Silver Denim Jeans and Silver Denim Jacket, pieces made to encourage everyone to go out dancing and feel the best in their outfit!

Silk

Silk is another type of a natural fiber, extracted from the cocoon of silkworms, and was first developed in China, around 6000 BC. It is a special material as it is the longest animal-created fiber that can reach up to 800-1.200 meters long. In addition, it is created through a manual process, as its production cannot be automated.

Due to its handmade and sleek nature, silk is considered a fine and elegant material. At the same time, it is a very practical and comfortable fabric, as it has very good absorption possibilities, containing up to 30% moisture without the feel of being damp. Also, silk, like all other animal fibers, has an incredibly good insulating ability that can help its wearer keep the heat and cold at bay. With proper care, ilk clothing lasts for a very long time and keeps its shape and size without the worry of shrinkage.

  • Silk is an extremely comfortable material – fine silk such as Crepe de Chine and Crepe Geogette feels light and airy on the skin.

  • Silk works as a great isolation for the body, protecting it from hot or cold weather.

  • Silk lasts a long time with proper care.

At AÉRÉ, we are lucky to be working with our Italian partners, that can help us procure 100% pure silk materials of the highest quality. From their silk collection, AÉRÉ also uses a Crepe Geogette blend with 3% elastane, on which our artwork is printed on*.

*The drawings that make up the AÉRÉ artwork are the authentic sketches from the portfolio of the founder’s grandfather. The sketches turned 100 years in 2019/2020

Leather

Leather is another common material used for the production of clothes, which is categorized in different types based on aesthetic and functional properties. Some factors that can affect the look and the feel of the leather can be the animal's characteristics, such as its species, age, and gender, as well as its life conditions, for example, the climate it has lived in and the purpose of its breeding.

Of equal importance is the treatment the skin undergoes. Experts look into every step of the process, with some examples being: how carefully the skin is removed, how quickly and well it has been preserved before being transported to the tannery, what tanning agents were used, the tanning temperature, how quickly the skin was dried after tanning, as well as whether it was surface treated, and if so, with what and how much.

After considering all these details, leather is divided into three categories:

  1. Full grain leather

  2. Top-grain leather

  3. Genuine leather

At AÉRÉ, we use exclusively full-grain leather. AÉRÉ’s soft belt and the inner trimming of our cape piece are made of full grain, combined tanned, aniline calfskin. This material was chosen as it is flexible and light, yet, a very strong piece of leather that ensures the longevity of our products, as the combination of its aniline nature and the vegetable tannins used during its tanning process means it will mature beautifully over the years. As a customer, you can further elongate the lifespan of your leather AÉRÉ pieces by occasionally treating them with light leather care products, such as lotion or mink oil, which we strongly encourage as we love to see you keep our pieces in your wardrobe for as long as possible.