Sustainability

Our approach to sustainability begins with how clothing is made. By evolving lace-making through programmable braiding, we create garments as unified structures rather than cutting shapes from larger pieces of fabric. This greatly reduces cutting waste, seams, and unnecessary material while allowing pattern and performance to be built directly into the structure. We favor natural and cellulosic fibers, produce in small quantities, and let balanced tension do more of the work—creating apparel with less material, fewer steps, and a more thoughtful relationship between what we make and what we leave behind.

  • The lace braiding machines of the early 19th century were expressly invented to mimic the motion of a bobbin lace maker's hands. These early machines used punch cards to control the motion of the spindles.

  • Toward the end of the 19th century refurbished lace making machines were fitted with CAD systems to control the motion of the spindles. This advancement opened the door for creation of new fabrics that merged the structural qualities of a braid with the fluid nature of linked filaments.

  • By repurposing century old machines, an entirely new technology and way of building light, strong and flexible 3D textile structures became accessible to a larger group of producers, designers and manufacturers.

  • Innovation meets sustainability when these machines and new lace making software enable the production of functional fabrics in a virtually zero waste, efficient way.

  • Our bralettes demonstrates the less is more fundamental principal of sustainable product design by using a minimum amount of resources to create a high performance product.

  • The result of our bralettes innovation is a new fit and feel paradigm that requires fewer resources, as well as a method of manufacture that is more efficient than historic methods of production.

  • Historically bras have been made by stitching multiple pieces of material together. In contrast, Tensengral bralettes are one continuous piece of fabric that is zonally patterned with the aim to provide a fluid support that adapts to a body in motion.

  • Manufacturing efficiency is achieved by reducing production steps through the seamless integration of essential elements such as elasticized straps and band into the single piece of patterned material. This technique eliminates the need for assembly and stitching of individual pieces. Virtually zero waste is achieved through the elimination of fabric scraps that traditionally are the result of cut and sew production methods.

  • Material choices play a large part in a products sustainability. Our apparel made from Tencel™ yarns. Tencel™ is made from sustainably harvested eucalyptus wood pulp using recyclable, earth-friendly solvents.

  • No dyes, fabric finishes used on the final product reduces wastewater pollution, creating an end product that is good for you and the planet.

  • Our products encourages less consumer consumption by way of theri versatile design, having multiple wearing options in one bralette.

Old is New - Less is More

Refurbished Repurposed Machines + Fabrics with Function + USA Virtually Zero Waste Efficient Manufacturing + Locally Grown and Sustainably Produced High Quality Fibers + Versatile Product Function + Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Resources = Our Sustainability