01 Our Material Use
honouring natural fabrics
Autumn–Winter 025
At Rue Blanche, we believe that the choice of material shapes not only how a garment looks and feels, but how it lives and endures over time. Since 1987, our work has centred on quality and longevity: principles that today carry a renewed environmental meaning.
Research shows that wearing a piece just nine months longer can reduce its carbon, water, and waste footprints by up to 20 percent. In that light, longevity becomes more than good design, it becomes a quiet form of resistance. Our materials reflect this philosophy. Learn more about the natural fabrics of the current season.
01 our material use
Natural fibres such as cotton, linen, wool, and cashmere have long been the foundation of our collections. We value them not only for their durability, renewability, and biodegradability, but also for their softness, drape, and the way they move with the body. Alongside these, we also work with man-made fibres, cellulosic fibres such as viscose and lyocell, and synthetics like polyester and rayon. When used with care, these materials can enhance a garment’s strength, shape, wrinkle-resistance, colour retention, or softness. Still, they come with trade-offs, which is why, whenever possible, we continue to prioritise natural fabrics as the core of our collections.
02 our natural fabrics
Plant- and animal-based fibres remain central to our collections, from crisp cotton and breathable linen to merino wool, mohair and cashmere. These materials are renewable, often biodegradable, and form the foundation of garments that wear well and last. But their appeal goes beyond sustainability credentials: natural fibres offer a tactile richness, breathability, and responsiveness to the body that synthetic alternatives often can’t match.
wool
Wool is a natural fibre sourced from the fleece of sheep, prized for its warmth, and durability. It is naturally breathable and insulating, making it comfortable across a wide range of temperatures. From fine merino to coarser, more robust weaves, wool comes in many forms, each with its own character. We favour high-quality wool to create versatile and cosy knitwear, but we also use it in our tailored collection for trousers, coats and blazers, where the structure and drape of the fabric are key.
leather
Leather has long been valued for its strength, resilience, and ability to grow more beautiful with wear. When cared for properly, it can last for decades, developing a unique patina that reflects the life of its wearer. This season, we explore the material’s tactile richness through a small selection of jackets, coats, and skirts. Each piece is designed to combine durability with refinement, balancing structure and softness for a contemporary interpretation of a timeless craft.
cotton
Cotton is a natural fibre derived from the fluffy seed hairs of the cotton plant. Once harvested, the fibres are spun into yarn and woven or knitted into fabric. Its matte surface and crisp structure give cotton a clean, understated elegance. It is an ideal material for garments that are meant to be worn often and styled casually. Cotton is breathable, soft against the skin, and improves with age, making it a favourite for pieces that need to balance comfort and resilience. It does, however, have its limitations: it creases more easily than synthetic fibres and can shrink if not treated properly.
linen
Linen, made from the flax plant, is valued for its natural texture, breathability, and durability. We use it mainly in our spring and summer collections, where its cool, dry hand and relaxed character come into their own. In autumn and winter, we turn instead to warmer, denser fabrics that offer comfort in colder weather.
natural blends
Sometimes the best qualities of a fabric come from a thoughtful blend. When we combine natural yarns, it is to make garments that perform better, feel softer, and last longer. A balanced composition enhances breathability, improves durability, and adds warmth without weight.
For Autumn–Winter 2025, we return to the Cashcot group: a small collection of long-sleeved T-shirts made from 85% cotton and 15% cashmere. They offer the comfort of cotton with the gentle luxury of cashmere. Ideal for layering, but they look just as refined on their own.
Blends like these can also support longevity by helping garments retain their shape and quality over time. As we deepen our focus on circular design, we are exploring more mono-material solutions though, since garments made from a single fibre remain easier to recycle once they reach the end of their life.
03 learn more
We’re aware of the environmental cost of fashion and believe that transparency is part of starting to do better. That’s why we’re committed to communicating openly about our way of working, the materials we use, and the areas where we’re still learning and improving.
We also believe that clothing made with care deserves to be cared for in return. That’s why we developed a stain guide, to help you treat everyday spills with more confidence, and a garment care guide, designed to help extend the life of your wardrobe. In our Repair Journal, we explore how repairing clothes can extend their life and enhance their beauty, sharing our favourite retouche ateliers and contemporary voices in visible mending. If you’re ever curious about how we approach things, or where we stand as a brand on certain topics regarding sustainability, we also invite you to visit our https://www.rueblanche.com/pages/responsibilityResponsibility page. There, we share more about our aims, and how we approach design and production with care.
Still have questions regarding any of this? Feel free to reach out to us by email, we’re always happy to hear from you.
