program Cotton GSM™
ARKET differentiates the number of knitting needles and yarn counts used to create a core collection of jersey materials in four different weights. GSM, a standard measurement of fabric weights in textile trading, stands for grams per square metre and indicates the material’s density. A high-GSM fabric is typically knitted with shorter loops and is thus thicker and more compact, while a lower GSM denotes a finer and more loosely knitted material.
150GSM
Lightweight underwear T-shirt
170GSM
Mid-weight regular T-shirt
220GSM
Heavyweight ‘vintage’ T-shirt
340GSM
French terry sweatshirt
program Cotton GSM™ weight 170GSM
Yarn spinning
A yarn consists of several strands of fibres – either staple fibres or long, continuous filaments – twisted together. The amount of twist impacts the feature of the yarn. A lower degree of twist produces soft and lustrous yarns while high-twist yarns are stronger and more compact; an even tighter twist produces crinkled crêpe yarn. The oldest and most widespread method of yarn manufacturing is spinning yarn from staple fibres, such as cotton (as opposed to filaments, such as silk or synthetic fibres). The five processing steps – opening and blending, carding or combing, drawing, drafting and spinning – convert raw fibres to airy and rope-like ‘slivers’ that are twisted and spun into yarn, and wound up on cones ready for knitting or weaving machines.
program Cotton GSM™ weight 340GSM
supplier Flamingo fashion
Flamingo Fashion is part of a Dhaka-based conglomerate called DBL Group, one of the top-five apparel and textile manufacturers in Bangladesh. Founded in 1991, they take a holistic approach to sustainability; they have a number of environmental and organic textile certifications, and procure their raw materials from responsible sources – like the Better Cotton Initiative, which promotes better standards in cotton farming.
They also offer positive working conditions for its 28,000 employees, with a day-care centre, skills development courses and a shop that sells a variety of items at subsidised prices. Flamingo Fashion is making ARKET knitted tops, bottoms and jumpers for men and women, as well as nightwear for babies and kids.
