FAQs

What is the Meaning of ankoor?

The word ankoor means first sprout after germination! We do believe that like a sprout, your ankoor clothing does represent a new beginning, light of hope, that urge to fight against all the odds and rise.

We do believe that ankoor garments are as natural as those first leaves of a sprout, we do believe that your ankoor clothing will give back to society, nature & mankind, in the same way when that a small sprout becomes a big tree!

Yes, it’s a new beginning! Yes, it’s a new hope! Yes, you do have the choice to put the best, natural fabric close to your skin! This is your second skin!

 

How are the Colours & Dyes Made from Nature?

Nature has always gifted us beautiful colours. This process is based on traditional ancient natural dyes that give the base colors of blue, red, yellow, purple and grey. These base colors are available in a multitude of different shades sourced from different minerals and by combining the different dyed fibers additional colors can be achieved.

We use a revolutionary new patented dyeing technology that combines natural beautiful colors and ancient dyes with an innovative new ultrasonic fiber dyeing process. The dyeing is implemented at fiber level before they are spun.

Colors are extracted from minerals using patented technology and then dye-tanks are filled with batches of fiber together with liquid natural dyestuff and exposed to low ultrasonic pressure waves that push the dyes into the core of the fiber. This is what gives the unique color fastness never achieved with natural mineral dyes – without adding any chemical fixation agents.

 

How Do ankoor Products Help Improve the Environmental Concerns Our Planet is Facing?

In textile, there are 4 major factors which contribute to harming the environment - Pollution, Water and Raw Material Consumption, Manufacturing and Dyeing and Packaging. At ankoor we have improved on all of these points.

 

How Do We Reduce Raw Material Consumption?

ankoor garments are made with GOTS certified organic cotton, which means at very first level of raw material procurement, there is no use of any pesticide/fertilizers or chemicals and very low water use, compared to the traditional cotton corporations.

 

What Do We Mean by Natural Mineral Dye Technology?

This dyeing technology uses natural liquid dyes in a dyeing process that completely eliminates wastewater, thus significantly reducing water consumption that is created during traditional dying processes.

Through lower dyeing temperatures and shorter dyeing times, this innovation offers measurable improved efficiency in energy and emissions. The plantations where the plants for our dyestuffs are grown only use natural fertilizers. By growing in crop rotations, the soil conditions are improved, and pesticides are avoided. Mining of the minerals for the dyes is done in Italian quarries and after they are used for their resources the land undergoes a process that is closely monitored and restored back through a 5 step process:

1. Make it Safe:
• Secure dangerous edges, unstable ground or leftover equipment.
• Remove harmful waste or pollutants.

2. Restore the Land:
• Fill holes or reshape the land to blend with the natural landscape.
• Cover exposed areas with soil to encourage plant growth.

3. Promote Nature:
• Create habitats for plants and animals, like wetlands, forests, or meadows.
• Use native species to rebuild the local ecosystem.

4. Reuse the Area:
• Turn site into a park, nature reserve, farmland, or even a recreational area like a lake or climbing centre.

5. Monitor and Maintain:
• Keep checking the site to ensure it stays safe and environmentally stable.
The dyeing mills are close to the farms to reduce the environmental impact of transportation. No chemicals, no wastewater, natural fertilizers and low environmental impact.

In summary, disused quarries are restored to be safe, natural, and useful spaces, supporting local communities and ecosystems.

 

How Does Manufacturing Compare?

We use latest state-of-the-art knitting machines which again are low on energy consumption and there is no additional wet process involved at this stage.

 

But What About the Packaging?

All of our packaging is made with recyclable and biodegradable material!
Our mailer bags are made from vegetable & corn starch and are 100% plastic free.