People searching for "Geometry Towels" through search engines, frequently find our store instead. Are you being sent a message?
Geometry is a different brand with lots of pretty home stuff, but... Funny thing is even though they also sell home textiles and are technically a competitor, there is nothing similar about what we do. Hem And Tassel and them might as well be on different planets with non-intersecting orbits.
What differences?
Many stores and brands out there rely on PCR (post-consumer recycled) fabrics. That got us thinking — you might find our differences quite interesting because PCR materials might be risking your well-being
The first difference is "intention". We make what they do not, and they sell what we refuse to touch. They buy their fabrics made of synthetic materials without knowing origin sources nor the included chemicals; We... weave our own using only virgin natural fibers.
You might ask: "Those are famous brands — do such differences really matter?"
Ask yourself... Do you see oven mitts and pot holders made of PCR materials? Why not? You see plenty made of cotton. Why?
Run a test to get your answer... Place a PCR kitchen towel on a heat-resistant surface. Safely extract a baking tray from your oven at 400º and place it on the towel - just for 30 seconds. What happens? You probably have enough experience in the kitchen to know the answer without trying.
The differences only matter if you understand why they matter. Our 100+ years of experience with natural textiles makes the most important distinction clear. When we began manufacturing cotton textiles, synthetic polyester-like yarns didn't even exist. And, almost nothing that we made a century ago is still around — it has safely biodegraded, as nature intended
Natural fibers have been safely used for 70,000 years. Synthetic yarns went mainstream less than 70 years ago in the fiber world, BUT YET, they'll be around for thousands of years, quietly polluting the planet. Ewww!
You really do not want to read this ...
The environmental benefit of recycling and reusing materials is merely a good intention - because those materials are not biodegrade in the first place. PCR is a bit like saying, "This won't kill you just yet because we reused the polymer textiles — but we're perfectly happy knowing they'll harm your children and their children."
Many of those materials are incompatible with AZO-free dyes, which means more harm for everyone. Recycled polyester is made from short-strand fibers that leach more microplastics — onto your dishes, your hands, into your food, and into the water table for future generations to "enjoy." This is a report by Orbasics with some valuable info.
Claiming "they are good for the planet" has a term for them... greenwashing
Then comes the cost ($$$)
The ultimate cost is borne by the customer. PCR materials are significantly more expensive than virgin polluting polymers — so if someone is pulling the wool over your eyes about recycling, they're also making you pay through the nose for the privilege. Better to turn a deaf ear and stick your tongue out at that kind of price gouging.
Many of our designs feature geometric patterns, stripes, and checks — so it's understandable that Google, Bing, or whoever is serving us up when you search. But no, we are not "Geometry Towels," and we never will be.
In another 100 years, the choices you make today will matter: A) Natural yarns that return to the earth, dust to dust — or B) Pollution you support today that lingers as a sad legacy.
