Blog
How Many Clothes Does a Newborn Actually Need?
Around seven bodysuits, seven sleepsuits, two or three cardigans, a couple of hats, and something warm for going outside. That is a working newborn wardrobe. Most checklists suggest two to three times as much, and most of it goes unworn.
What Does Organic Actually Mean in Textiles?
In textiles, "organic" describes how the fibre was farmed - no synthetic pesticides, no GMO seed, organic feed for animals - and says nothing about how the fabric was dyed, finished, or sewn. The word means only as much as the certification printed beside it.
What OEKO-TEX Actually Certifies (And What It Doesn't)
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certifies that every component of a textile - thread, button, dye, and accessory - has been tested against more than 1,000 harmful substances. It is a chemical safety label: it says nothing about organic farming, fibre origin, water use, or, on its own, labour conditions.
IVN BEST: The Strictest Textile Standard in Europe
NATURTEXTIL IVN certified BEST is the most demanding organic textile standard in use. It requires 100% of a product's fibre content, excluding accessories, to be certified organic, bans processes GOTS permits, restricts trims to natural materials, and requires proof that wool comes from mulesing-free flocks.
What Does kbT Mean on a Wool Label?
kbT stands for kontrolliert biologische Tierhaltung - certified organic animal husbandry. It tells you the sheep or goats were kept to organic standards: organic feed, real grazing, no routine veterinary chemicals, and no mutilations such as mulesing. It describes the farm, not the fabric.
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel: What It Covers, and What It Doesn't
The Nordic Swan is the official ecolabel of the Nordic countries, established in 1989 by the Nordic Council of Ministers. It is a life-cycle label: it restricts hazardous chemicals, sets fibre sourcing requirements, requires ILO labour compliance, and tests whether the product physically lasts.
What Is Mulesing? The Wool Practice Behind Every Merino Label
Mulesing is the removal of crescent-shaped strips of skin from a lamb's hindquarters, using shears and usually without anaesthetic, to prevent flystrike. It is prohibited in New Zealand and remains legal in Australia, the source of most of the world's merino.
How to Dress a Baby for Sleep, by Room Temperature
The recommended room temperature for a sleeping baby is 16 to 20°C. Within that range, a sleepsuit plus a sleeping bag of an appropriate TOG is usually right. No chart replaces the actual check: feel your baby's chest or the back of the neck, not their hands or feet.
European Baby Clothing Sizes Explained (50, 56, 62, 68...)
European baby sizes are the child's height in centimetres, not their age. Size 62 means a baby who is 62cm tall, which is typically around three months but varies widely. This is why a German or Austrian brand's sizing feels confusing if you are used to UK or US labels that go by months.
How to Wash and Lanolise Wool Nappy Covers
Wool nappy covers work because lanolin in the fibre reacts with urea in urine and turns into a soap, which is why a well-lanolised cover can be aired and reused rather than washed after every change. Wash them only when soiled or smelly, and re-lanolise every two to four weeks.
Why Wool Doesn't Need Washing
Untreated wool resists odour and releases it in fresh air, so most of the time an airing does what a wash cycle would. Its scaled surface, its lanolin, and its ability to move moisture as vapour mean bacteria never get the damp, still conditions they need.