The ability of materials to break down and return to nature thereby avoiding pollution and closing the loop. 

In order for products or materials to qualify as biodegradable, they must completely break down and decompose (by bacteria or other living organisms) into natural elements within a short time after disposal – typically a year or less.

At MOT, we aim for all our materials to be biodegradable – this includes our carefully selected surplus materials that are made using natural fibres such as pure silk, wool, and cashmere. 

A mixture that consists largely of decayed organic materials and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land – and essential for keeping soil in good condition for food production – closing the loop.  

Composting is frequently done at home for garden use, by allotment holders and by local authorities, i.e. using the contents of green wheelie bins. 

At MOT, we strive to combine similar fabrics and highlight the materials used in our products to facilitate standard composting requirements – including the usage of certified natural dyes.

Corozo seeds can only be collected after they fall naturally from the tree. Seeds that are picked from the palm before they fall are not ripe enough for button production. This means there’s absolutely no need for deforestation. 

Corozo, which is biodegradable, is made up of very tightly wound organic fibres which give our MOT buttons excellent durability and scratch resistance qualities.

Cupro is a plant-based regenerated cellulose fabric made from recycled cotton linter – a by-product of cotton production and waste.

MOT uses GRS certified Cupro & deadstock Cupro from LVMH for its linings.

Merino wool comes from Merino sheep – the breed of sheep offering the finest wool for luxury apparel and technical sportswear. 

It’s thinner and softer than regular wool. It’s super-fine – a single Merino wool fibre is ⅓ the diameter of a human hair, making it easy to wear next to skin. It can’t be prickly like other wool fibres because it can’t stand up to the weight of itself.

Each fibre naturally helps regulate body temperature, transports sweat away as a vapor, and cancels out odors. Also,  Merino fibres help block out harmful rays from the sun (UPF 20+). 

MOT uses Woolmark certified Merino wool yarns that are 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable. 

Regular cotton farming starts with GMO or genetically modified seeds. They are modified to build resistance to bugs, but when the bugs become stronger, more pesticides are required.

Organic cotton is made from natural seeds, and there is no use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals. As a result, organic cotton is safer for the skin, and is softer, hypoallergenic, and lasts for a long time. 

But the most important benefit is protecting the ecosystem, by reducing wastage of water – requiring 91% less water than conventional cotton – ensuring a safer working environment for the farmers and manufacturers according to the Textile Exchange conducted analysis in 2014.

MOT only uses organic cotton fabrics as opposed to conventional cotton.

A process employing the action of bacteria and moisture on plants to dissolve or rot away much of the cellular tissues and gummy substances surrounding bast-fibre bundles, thus facilitating separation of the fibre from the stem.

MOT uses GOTS fabrics that have a toxic-free retting process ensuring that they are safely biodegradable.

Thermoregulation is a process that allows your body to maintain its core internal temperature. Creating a state of equilibrium. 

A key feature in the Merino wool yarn used by MOT. 

PET is short for polyethylene terephthalate, the chemical name for polyester.

PET is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic that is widely used for packaging foods and beverages.

Material that has never reached the end-user, having been diverted from the waste stream during a manufacturing process.

MOT’s packaging includes FSC RECYCLED® substances made from pre-consumer reclaimed materials.

Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as rubbish and turning them into new products. Recycling can benefit your community and the environment by saving natural resources, reducing raw material usage and carbon footprint, and saving energy and water. 

Look for local recycling programmes in your community to ensure recycling your unwanted products efficiently. 

Recycled cotton is obtained by using leftover yarns from production facilities or yarns which are re-generated from collected cloth. Recycled polyester is obtained by crushing and melting used plastic bottles, also known as rPET, and spinning it into a polyester fibre.

Recycling products is one way to help combat climate change, because it requires less energy consumption than brand new yarns. The demand for recycled fabrics in the textile industry will increase the demand for used plastics, which could convince companies to collect more plastic from our oceans. 

MOT’s suppliers recycle PET bottles to produce GRS certified interlinings and threads, in addition to recycling paper pulp materials to manufacture new packaging.

Materials that are the surplus fabrics from factories, mills and fashion houses that are discarded because brands no longer need them. 

Attempting to combat this wasteful cycle, smaller and ethical apparel companies will purchase deadstock materials to make new garments, contributing to a circular economy and saving fabrics from being destroyed and ending in landfills.

Currently, half of our MOT styles are made using high-end surplus materials from the LVMH’s fashion houses.

Upcycling, sometimes called creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, or unwanted products into new materials or products that are regarded as having a higher quality, including artistic value or environmental value.

At MOT, we are committed to a circular economy that reduces waste by using existing materials to make new products. From sourcing high-quality surplus fabrics to create MOT styles and recycling PET bottles for our interlinings and threads, to the recycled materials used for packaging.

Bagasse (bə-GAS) is the dry pulpy fibrous material that remains after crushing sugarcane to extract their juice. It is used as a biofuel for the production of heat, energy, and electricity, and in the manufacture of pulp and building materials.

MOT’s stickers are made from 95% sugarcane fibres – sourced from a by-product from the transformation of bagasse.

Flexography is a form of rotary printing in which ink is applied to various surfaces by means of flexible rubber (or other elastomeric) printing plates. 

The inks used in flexography dry quickly by evaporation and are safe for use on wrappers that come directly in contact with foods.

MOT uses the flexography printing technique for its packaging.

Interlining is the soul of a garment. 

Commonly deployed as a hidden support system, interlining is an integral component responsible for delivering the intended unique drape and maintaining the integrity of a finished garment. 

It is the technique of using an additional layer or layers of textiles behind a fashion featured body fabric in order to change its normal characteristics.

MOT’s main interlinings are made from post-consumer plastic bottles and are Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified.

Fabric scraps or pieces left over from cutting the material according to the pattern. 

MOT relies on ‘AI Material Utilisation Estimate Software’ during production orders to reduce fabric off-cuts and waste. 

These are able to manipulate biodegradable pigmentations as opposed to solvent-based inks that contain heavy metals and VOC (volatile organic compounds) which are polluting to local waterways as well as producing hazardous dioxins.

MOT’s fabrics and packaging are printed using water-based dyes that comply with standard de-inking and recycling practices – ensuring circularity and closing the loop.

Ensures an exact fit of your MOT style and provides you with purchase confidence and peace of mind.

MOT offers this aftercare tailoring service in partnership with Sojo.

Despite its name, traditional dry cleaning is not dry, as this process includes soaking the garments in toxic solvent-based cleaners, such as 'PERC' (perchloroethylene).

Better aftercare is one of the main contributors to the longevity of a product, a circular economy and reduction in environmental impact. MOT introduces an after purchase sustainable alternative to the conventional dry cleaning in an effort to contribute to a more circular fashion system. 

Liquid CO2 is a carbon dioxide-based garment cleaning process and is known to be one of the most eco-friendly processes for cleaning clothes. This is because the CO2 used in this process is captured as a by-product of existing industrial processes.

Carbon dioxide is a non-toxic and naturally occurring gas which turns liquid when exposed to high pressure and becomes a super-efficient natural solvent. It’s particularly good at tackling stains and in particular the ones that are oil-based. 

Because this process is extremely gentle, it minimises the risk of damaging the garments.

MOT offers this sustainable aftercare service in partnership with BLANC.

PERC (perchloroethylene) is the dominant solvent in the dry cleaning industry, accounting for 80% to 85% of all dry cleaning fluids used by conventional dry cleaners to clean garments – this despite being toxic and known as a health and environmental hazard. 

It’s a colourless, non-flammable chemical, which has more recently been banned in France, parts of the US and other European countries because of the risks that come with using PERC.

Fabrics are hand-treated with more natural pre-spotting products and then garments are cleaned with water and biodegradable detergents in specialist machines. This means the water used is heated on demand, which minimises energy usage and reduces polluting toxins going into the air and water supply.

Wet cleaning machines work at much lower temperatures than traditional dry cleaning, and hence, are more gentle on fibres. They calculate individual cycles for each type of fabric or garment type (be it wool, cashmere, silk, lace, etc). 

Essentially, wet cleaning combines artisan care with expert technology, and provides a much higher quality outcome. The process leaves garments softer, brighter and fresher. 

MOT offers this sustainable aftercare service in partnership with BLANC.

Known as GHGs, these are compound gases that trap heat or longwave radiation in the atmosphere. Their presence in the atmosphere makes the Earth's surface warmer. Sunlight or shortwave radiation easily passes through these gases and the atmosphere.

In partnership with Ecologi, every MOT purchase funds an offset to your carbon footprint by reducing GHG emissions from the atmosphere.

Mangroves are ecologically and economically important forested wetlands with the highest carbon density of all terrestrial ecosystems. 

Because of their exceptionally large carbon stocks and importance as a coastal buffer, their protection and restoration has been proposed as an effective mitigation strategy for climate change.

In partnership with Ecologi, every MOT purchase funds an offset to your carbon footprint by planting mangrove trees.

Terrestrial ecosystems are found on land. Examples include tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rain forest, grassland, and deserts.