Image: Meriel Chamberlin speaking at Fibrecraft House in Brisbane, 2017.

Cotton for Conscious Consumers.

Hailing from the UK, Meriel Chamberlin is a textile technologist and the founder of Full Circle Fibres.

Meriel is making it possible for individuals and businesses to source 100% Australian cotton yarns and fabrics. Her cotton is “single origin” and Meriel coordinates every step the supply chain, from paddock to product.

Meriel has a wealth of knowledge to share about fibres and fabric manufacturing. Her sustainability message to designers is to create brilliant products that fit well – that people will wear often and love!

In this episode:

• Meriel loved playing with fabric and yarn from a young age and was also interested in science and technology.
• She studied Textile Technology, a degree program sponsored by Marks & Spencer.
• Industry experience was part of her degree including working in a spinning mill in Mauritius.
• Meriel worked at Marks & Spencer as a Product Technologist, ensuring fabrics would perform to meet customer expectations, and managing quality and consistency with large quantities.
• Today a lot of quality management work is done in countries where products are manufactured.
• After moving to Australia and becoming a mum, Meriel began work with the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries Australia (TFIA) and met many people and businesses in the Australian industry.
• Meriel saw the opportunity to provide Australian cotton to crafters and designers seeking a transparent supply chain and locally grown product.
• Meriel founded Full Circle Fibres which provides single origin Australian Super Cotton from one farm in St George in Queensland. Individuals can purchase small quantities for crafting or large brands can get exclusive orders.
• Full Circle Fibres products include yarns, jerseys, wovens.
• Meriel coordinates the entire supply-chain with suppliers in Australia and the UK. Meriel can provide custom colours and printing.
• Australian cotton is world’s best practice in terms of yield, quality, and minimal water and chemical use. A classic Full Circle Fibres T-shirt = 700 litres of water. World Wildlife Fund estimates the global average per T-shirt = 2700+ litres of water.
• Meriel believes the most important element of sustainability is creating a quality product that fits and functions well for the consumer.
• Meriel dreams of having a cotton spinning mill in Australia and also the capability to recycle fibres.
• Meriel advises designers to avoid using blended fibres in more consumable products such as underwear and socks. 100% cotton is biodegradable.
• Meriel provides insights into the facts about organic cotton. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) = 70% organic fibre.
• Meriel advises us to consider the whole system, and the impact of chemicals and energy across the entire manufacturing chain, not only in the paddock.
• Natural fibres such as cotton, wool, mohair etc are already in fibre form, whereas bamboo and other processed fibres require chemicals and energy to create fibres.
• Today there is no need for heavy metals and harmful chemicals in the dyeing process. Synthetic dyes can mimic the exact chemical properties of their natural counterparts, eg: indigo.
• The knowledge about micro-plastic pollution will be changing the sustainability ratings of synthetic textiles as we consider the post-purchase pollution from these fibres.

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See more from Full Circle Fibres >> fullcirclefibres.com

Image: Full Circle Fibres