Provenance of our clothing
COTTON’S COMING HOME…
Purchasing an IQ T-shirt or – new for 2019 – a hoodie is a great way to support the revival of Manchester’s industrial heritage and a British trade that used to be the envy of the world. Using technology that is gentle and kind to every fibre, our suppliers guarantee a clean, pure and consistent product that’s rated within the top five percent of global cotton output.
THE IQ TEST
We want to know where our cotton grows and looked for a partner who could prove it. Instead of trading in cyberspace, English Fine Cottons buy direct from growers on a 200,000-acre farm in California.
Every bale can be traced back to an exact location in a specific field, as well as the exact day the cotton was harvested. Each plant is grown to a uniform height – all enjoying the exact same conditions, nutrients and water supply. As a result, English Fine Cottons can guarantee real consistency in the length of the cotton, which eliminates bobbling and imperfections in all IQ apparel. We can also trace the cotton’s journey through the mill and warehouse, so our promise to you is that the same amount of love and care is lavished on the cotton at every stage of its life.
LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD
No drop of water is wasted on the farm. No cotton fibre is discarded in the mill. Our Californian growers’ employees benefit from some of the most protective employment laws in the world.
Waste cotton produced at Tower Mill is still of a better quality than 80 percent of the rest of the world’s output. It goes back into the manufacturing supply chain to continue its life elsewhere.
All things considered, we’re confident that at every stage of the process, IQ’s clothing is produced in an ecologically-friendly and socially conscious way.
MADE IN BRITAIN
From our exquisite Mancunian-spun cotton to our classy labelling and packaging, we are proud to say that all aspects of IQ’s garments are sourced and assembled within the UK.
