We are so excited to announce that our Peruvian cotton collection is arriving on our site for this holiday.
There's a reason Peruvian cotton baby clothing is head and shoulders above the rest when choosing fabrics for your infant to wear,
But what makes it so superior to other kinds of cotton? And what is it about Peruvian cotton baby clothing manufacturers that mean they are often sustainable and ethical in their production process?
The Difference Between Peruvian Cotton and Egyptian Cotton
There are three different species of cotton used in the majority of products that you use.
The most common type is Upland cotton, which is used in nearly 90% of all cotton worldwide. Egyptian and Peruvian cotton, which is also seen as the main staple in Peruvian cotton, are both of higher quality. They make up the remaining 10%.
Both Egyptian and Peruvian cotton are seen as "extra-long staple cottons" because they have longer cotton fibers. They are silkier, and the fabric, as a result, is luxurious and incredibly strong.
It's also resistant to tearing, fraying, wrinkling, and pilling. So perfect for the kind of stress baby clothes can be put under!
But the main difference between these two higher grade kinds of cotton is where they come from. Egyptian cotton thrives in the dry Nile River Valley. However, cotton can be labeled as "Egyptian," and it's actually from any area of Egypt.
Meanwhile, Peruvian cotton is primarily grown in Peru. But did you know that even though it's labeled as superior quality, many low-quality kinds of cotton can be labeled authentically in this category but fail to fulfill the criteria? A recent test revealed 89% of cotton sold as Egyptian or Peruvian isn't pure at all. This is why at 10 to 12 Baby Lounge, we are very specific about where our cotton comes from. And we are delighted to share that is all comes from Peru!
Why Peruvian Cotton Baby Clothing is Superior
Peruvian cotton is softer and more absorbent than other kinds of cotton. It's also environmentally friendly and can dye to stunning hues because of its long fibers.
We use Peruvian cotton because it’s considered one of the best natural fabrics in the world. And we only use the best for our precious babies.
How Peruvian Cotton is used in Sustainable Babywear
There are two types of cotton grown in Peru: Pima cotton and Tangüis cotton. We use Tangüis cotton in 10to12 Baby Lounge artisan babywear. Grown in Canete's valley (south of Lima) and on the central coast of Peru, it's also known as "Oro Blanco" or "White Gold."
Tangüis cotton was developed exclusively in Peru in the early 1900s. It's ethically sourced and is ranked among the finest fibers in the world. We use it in 10 to 12 Baby Lounge products because of its resistance and the fact it has incredibly soft, long, and uniform fibers. Tangüis cotton is also highly absorbent and can retain 24-27 times its own weight in moisture. Does your baby sweat a lot? This is the best material for her / him.
Royal Alpaca And Ethical Manufacturing
The 10 to 12 Baby Lounge babywear and product range will also soon use Royal Alpaca in our fabrics to ensure it's the most superior eco-conscious you can buy.
Royal Alpaca is even softer, lighter and stronger than cashmere or sheep wool. The term ‘Royal’ refers to the thickness of the fiber, which is usually measured in microns. Royal alpaca usually means that the fibers used are less than 19 microns in diameter.
Alpacas have been bred for thousands of years for the fiber in their coats. They are sheared once a year, at the very most. Pre-Incan nobility used to measure their wealth primarily by the number of alpacas they owned.
10 to 12 Baby Lounge is currently developing new products that use Royal Alpaca.
An added benefit of this type of fiber is because it has no lanolin, Alpaca is hypoallergenic, naturally water repellent, and flame-resistant.
The Importance of Cashmere for Your Baby Clothes
Cashmere wool, is usually simply known as cashmere. The fiber is from the coat of cashmere and pashmina goats.
It’s obtained in two ways: the wool can be collected during the spring molting season when the goats naturally shed their winter coat. Or it can be removed by hand with a coarse comb that pulls tufts of fiber from the animal as the comb is raked through the fleece. If done correctly, this is not painful for the goats.
In other areas, the goats have their coats shorn. Our goats are treated like royalty and live on a beautiful farm in the mountains. They are treated with reverence because we believe that any stress and anxiety experienced by them can be felt in the fabric. When the time comes to retrieve their coat, they are brushed gently to make sure it's an enjoyable process.
There are four other reasons why this type of cotton is one of the best fabrics to wrap your little one in.
Durability and Softness
As an 'extra-long-staple cotton' (the fibers are 1-3/8" staple length, in comparison to ordinary cotton fibers, which measure between 1/2" to 3/4"), the fabrics we use are incredibly soft and very strong. It's also very absorbent and doesn't tear easily. Plus, it doesn't wrinkle easily. So when it comes to your little ones, it means the clothing can be put through its paces and soaks up any minor accidents. 10 to 12 Baby Lounge clothing and products are designed to be machine-washable. Hence, as a mom, you spend less time worrying about getting your luxury babywear clean. And you also know it will look just as good after it's been washed again and again.
Long life and hardy
Peruvian cotton is estimated to have 50% more longevity compared to lesser kinds of cotton. The reason is it's resistant to pilling. So it doesn't wear. You won't see those 'bobbles' appearing after 10 washes. In fact, it hardly ever pills. So when you want to take a look at your little ones' keepsake garments 10 years later, they look as good as new.
Sensitive to body temperature and hypoallergenic
Your baby is susceptible to heat and cold. You need to know they aren't overheating and feel comfortable and snuggled up without feeling too much heat. Peruvian cotton can help regulate your baby's temperature.
Best growing conditions in Peru
The northern coastal valleys of Peru have the best growing conditions in the world for Peruvian cotton. There they have rich soil and ideal temperatures. The cotton soaks up just about the right amount of moisture. It means the cotton is soft to touch and has a rich luster. When it's in the light, -Peruvian cotton looks silky and shiny.
10 to 12 Baby Lounge Peruvian cotton is hand-harvested, which makes it sustainable and environmentally kind. When cotton is commercially farmed, the cotton fibers tear, causing it to go yellow. As well as that, the texture becomes scratchy. Our cotton is responsibly sourced and responsibly produced. Plus, our cotton is ethically sourced and the softest. It also absorbs sweat 20 times of its own weight.
The Story of Our Artisan Peruvian Cotton Baby Clothing Manufacturers
10 to 12 Baby Lounge uses an artisan process to produce our range of ethical babywear products. Our raw material has worldwide recognized certifications. These validate our brand as a sustainable one.
Using our Peruvian Cotton blend, the weaves for our fabrics are created in manual machines.
By merging these textures, the result is high-quality baby clothing.
The majority of the workers in our artisan process are women. And they're also mothers. They know the importance of quality and comfort when it comes to clothes for your baby.
Everyone who works in our manufacturing process comes from different parts of Peru. They know the importance of artisan production and are incredibly proud of their roots.
Our non-toxic and environmentally friendly process doesn't just extend to the fabric. All the zippers, dyes, and buttons used in 10 to 12 Baby Lounge clothing and products are certified. They don't have any components that could damage your baby's skin.
Follow us on Instagram to find out when our Peruvian cotton collection is available!