Why should we go all the way to Japan for natural fibres?
Hinoki is a kind of cypress (its botanical name is chamaecyparis) which is grown in Japan because its pale, slightly aromatic and rot-resistant wood makes it an excellent building material. Its trunk can reach a diameter of one metre, and it can grow up to 35 metres high. Now Grado Zero Espace’s research laboratory has succeeded in extracting fibres from the tan-coloured bark which Feng-Shui experts agree have both therapeutic and insect-repellent properties. When mixed with cotton fibres and given a chemical-free wash, the fibres can be woven into a cloth and used in numerous ways for clothing and in the household. Because of its anti-bacterial properties and comforting feel, Veronica Bettini has already used this material to make children’s bedding quilts. Designed by Giada Dammacco, head of Grado Zero Espace’s design office, the Hinoki LS fashion line was chosen by Roma Design+ and featured at the IFAI Expo 2008, America’s leading textile exhibition.
