Cork Fabric

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Cork is the bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber L), a very unique tree with a long life time and an enormous capacity for regeneration. When the Cork Oak has reached 20 years of age, the bark is stripped from the tree by the hands of a highly skilled harvester. That tree is then marked so that it will not be harvested for another 8-10 years.

​The Cork Oak is the only tree that benefits from the removal of its bark and, since it regenerates, it is truly an eco-conscious and sustainable natural resource. In fact, the same tree can be harvested every 8-10 years for over 200 years! An important and surprising fact is that the cork oak increases its ability to absorb CO2 during the natural regeneration process following stripping – a stripped cork tree absorbs, on average, five times more CO2. It is estimated that every year cork oak forests retain up to 14 million tonnes of CO2, a size-able contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the main cause of climate changes.

​Portugal (where we get our cork from) is the largest producer of cork, being responsible for around 50% of the world’s cork production. Here, the cork oak is the National Tree and occupies 22,5% of the national forest area.

​Once the cork is harvested from the Cork Oak it is boiled, dried, shaved into thin sheets and sealed with a non-toxic sealant. Once the cork fabric is complete, it is stain-resistant, water-resistant, scratch-proof, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, lightweight, incredibly soft, and is also resistant to abrasion, fire, and water.