Section
Fibers, weaves, knits, leather and membranes: what the term on the label means and how the material behaves in wear and washing.
Materials·Brand program··4 min
A brand-attributed explainer of the GORE-TEX membrane: what expanded PTFE is, how Gore describes its microporous structure, what the laminate is, and which product ranges Gore ties its waterproof promise to — including the INFINIUM range the brand markets for drier conditions.
A 100% Merino wool sock sounds like the top of the range, but Darn Tough – a brand that knit Merino socks – argues otherwise. We walk through the brand's own explanation of yarn blends versus garment composition, why it adds nylon in high-wear zones and Lycra spandex for fit, and what its example fiber breakdowns (48/45/7 and 61/36/3) suggest about reading a sock's label. All durability and comfort claims here are the brand's, not independent test results.
Denim weight is measured in ounces per square yard, but 'lightweight', 'midweight' and 'heavyweight' are brand-defined shorthand, not standardized terms. Levi's own Denim Dictionary and its Off The Cuff terminology guide draw the category boundaries differently. Here is what the measurement actually describes and how to read it.
Selvage denim is woven on old shuttle looms that produce a narrow fabric with a self-bound edge that cannot unravel. Nudie Jeans' own explainer describes how shuttle looms work, why the edge shows up on cuffed vintage hems, how to spot it on a new pair, and why the brand says it is more expensive — while admitting the edge itself does not make the denim mechanically stronger.
The RDS logo on a puffer jacket or duvet means the down inside was certified against animal welfare criteria — including a prohibition on live-plucking and force-feeding — with third-party audits and chain-of-custody tracking from the farm to the final product. Here is what the standard covers, what its page says it does not, and why it remains in use after Textile Exchange's December 2025 transition to the Materials Matter Standard.
RWS is a voluntary standard from Textile Exchange covering sheep welfare, land management, social criteria and chain of custody from farm to the final business-to-business seller. It does not give shoppers farm-level transparency. Textile Exchange is transitioning RWS into the Materials Matter Standard, with effective and mandatory dates in 2026 and 2027. Here is what the logo means, what it does not, and how to check a claim.
