[pronounced: mick / mik]
So why Miik? It's quite simple really. One word - sustainability.
What does that really mean? Well, we could go on about how much bamboo is better for the environment from a growing and harvesting point of view (really.... the stuff grows like weeds). Or how the bamboo for our products is processed in a certified closed-loop system designed to minimize harmful effects to our environment. Or even how our product is designed, milled and crafted all within the Greater Toronto Area, minimizing our carbon footprint. All this is true. But for us, real sustainability goes even beyond this.
What we're interested in here at Miik, is introducing change in a world of temporary, disposable clothing. We want to lengthen the time between purchasing the clothing you love, and it's eventual disposal. This is the real reason for starting with bamboo. Rayon produced from bamboo, by its very nature, looks and wears beautifully and when properly cared for, doesn't lose its shape or fade like other textiles. Combine this with a modern twist on classic styling and you'll be enjoying your favourite clothing for a long, long time. Oh... and did we mention comfort and cuts that flatter every size and shape? We're willing to bet once you've tried Miik, you won't want to wear anything else.
Go ahead and indulge - wrap yourself in Miik.
About our fabric
At Miik, we believe in being as transparent as possible when it comes to our process. We are committed to continually finding new and better/greener ways to improve all aspects of what we do. With regard to rayon from bamboo fabric (and all our fabrics), we have a very linear, trackable path of production:
1. We track our rayon from bamboo from the source. The bamboo is farmed organically and there is OCIA International Organic Certification to back this up.
2. We process the bamboo in a closed loop. Here is the process explained by our suppliers:
Our bamboo fiber is a regenerated cellulose fiber, made from the natural organic bamboo by a high-tech process that is non polluting to the environment during our production. The main chemical used during the processing is sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda, the other is CS2. Caustic soda is one of the most widely used chemicals in the world. It is used in food production, soap making, manufacturing of bio diesel, production of paper, and is used on nearly all cotton fabrics, including organic cotton, during the wet processing. Caustic soda is approved for use on textiles under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
The key, most important parts of the process are all recyclable. We process in a hermetic container where 100% of the chemicals that are used are trapped and contained, not released into our factory, environment or atmosphere. 73% of CS2 are recycled, 26% are recycled into H2SO4. So those chemicals don't pollute any part of the environment. Each step of the process is watched for many reasons: company policy, brand commitment and China's environmental ethical standards. We know many of these processing issues are extremely sensitive and we are committed to being a leader in the eco/green industry not just when it comes to bamboo fiber, but also to the safety of our team/staff, who are also committed to healthy living. Our bamboo fiber also has passed OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 which is a gold standard when it comes to testing for harmful substances. We have passed these OEKO TEX STANDARD'S 3 years in a row. The bamboo we use and process is certified by (OCIA) Organic Crops Improvement Association International which is certifies that our bamboo is organic bamboo under "wild crops" and certified organic under "organic farms". Our vision and commitment to be as green as possible has not changed in our part of the processing from start to finish.
3. The yarn is shipped to Canada and delivered to our mill in Concord, Ontario (just 21 km from Miik's office and showroom) to produce the fabric. The clothing label clearly states that it is a rayon from bamboo.
4. It is dyed in Agincourt, Ontario (just 28 km from Miik's office and showroom) under very strict Canadian Guidelines using Oeko approved dyes.
5. All design is produced downtown Toronto. The CMT is produced in Markham, Ontario (just 40 km from our office and showroom). We ship the product in paper, not plastic.
6. We email receipts as opposed to paper.
As much as possible, we try to promote sustainability. We truly believe in the concept of slow fashion. It is the one of the main reasons the company was started. There are always ways to improve. So every step we take, we try to do better.