Within the manufacture of clothing and household products, we currently have many different types of materials available. As these fabrics are made from different fibres, it is important to know the difference between the different materials or fibres that socks are made from. That's why we decided to write down all the pros and cons to the most used and most popular materials of recent times - cotton and bamboo socks. And as a bonus, we're adding some revolutionary ones, ours from Folkies!
Advantages and disadvantages of cotton socks
The most widely used and sought-after type of not only socks, but clothing in general, is cotton. But is it really as high quality and eco-friendly as the media present it to us?
The advantages of cotton include, in particular, the comfort of wear, as we have become accustomed to cotton materials over the years of use. Another advantage is that cotton is a natural material. However, beware of the fact that natural does not necessarily mean eco-friendly! When growing cotton, its vegetative growth must be minimized to achieve a high yield.
Cotton is not a perennial plant, grown as an annual crop. Cotton farms thus spend vast amounts of energy and water on its annual production and cultivation. In addition, the ploughing of cotton and the possible use of pesticides disturb the soil ecosystem and greatly contribute to soil erosion.
How about organic cotton? While the idea is noble, organic cotton, like conventional cotton, requires the use of pesticides. Cotton thus becomes perhaps the largest user of water of all agricultural commodities and requires lots of fertilizer.
Advantages and disadvantages of bamboo socks
Bamboo is a perennial grass that grows extremely fast. It requires less water to grow than cotton, is softer and drought-resistant, and is a better thermal insulator. But it holds much more water than the cotton one, so it requires much more energy to dry after washing. Bamboo fabrics wick water away from the skin much faster than cotton fabrics and are less durable than cotton fibers.
So where is the problem with bamboo? In its ethical production! The problem lies in the fact that the main country for the production of bamboo fibre is China. This makes it very difficult for global companies to know the true origin of your fibre and to provide a so called fair trade certificate of fair labour and pay for its producers.
How does this hearty plant become a fabric? Most bamboo fabric is actually bamboo silk, an artificial fiber made from cellulose using a viscose process. Cleaning and bleaching before soaking in sodium hydroxide. It is then treated with carbon disulphide and softened in a solution of sulphuric acid, sodium sulphate, zinc sulphate and glucose. This extraction method has significant emissions to both air and water, therefore negatively affecting not only humans but also our planet. Bamboo as a raw material is indeed sustainable, but the real concern lies in the chemical extraction that transforms it into fibre.
Revolutionary Folkies socks in Prolen
So how do you choose socks that are functional, made organically and ethically? The solution is the revolutionary Prolen fiber,which is also what our Folkies socks are made of! Prolen is a polypropylene multifilament fiber made in Slovakia and exported worldwide since 1974. Because of its excellent properties, it is used in the production of sportswear of many world brands.
It's features literally predestine it to be the best choice not only for sports, but also for everyday use. Some of its best features include:
Healthy - chemically harmless fibre that limits the growth of bacteria
Environmental - small amount of water used for production, pesticide-free, 100% recyclable
Ethically produced - made in Slovakia and subject to fair trade
Zero moisture - its water absorption index is almost zero
Thermoregulating - maintaining ideal body temperature, you are always dry
Lightweight - up to 50% lighter than cotton!
Durability -2.5 times higher than that of cotton
Want to learn more about Folkies socks made from PROLEN® fiber? If you have any questions, feel free to contact us To purchase our products made from this unique multifunctional fiber, click directly on our e-store!