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Home / Our Materials Standard
The Curvo Standard

We make gear
as safe as it is
serious.

Most sports brands never tell you what's in your kit. We do. Here is every fabric decision Curvo makes, why we make it, and the science behind it.

60%+
Natural fiber minimum
OEKO-TEX
Standard 100 certified
0
Harmful substances
Section 01

The natural fiber commitment

Natural fibers — bamboo lyocell, merino wool, organic cotton — are generally safer for the skin because they are breathable, hypoallergenic, and free from the heavy chemical processing found in synthetics. Curvo sets a minimum floor of 60% natural fiber across every garment we make. This is not a marketing number. It is a manufacturing standard we enforce at supplier level.

60%+
Natural fiber floor
Bamboo lyocell, merino wool, and organic cotton make up the majority of every garment. Breathable, hypoallergenic, and kind to skin.
100
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
Every fabric is independently tested and verified free from over 100 harmful substances before it is used in any Curvo garment.
4-ply
Core-spun construction
Synthetic elastane is hidden inside a natural fiber sheath. Only the organic surface touches your skin. The performance happens invisibly inside.
Section 02

What OEKO-TEX Standard 100 actually means

You have probably seen the OEKO-TEX label on clothing before. Here is what it actually means in plain language — and why it matters for sportswear specifically.

OEKO-TEX
Standard
100
Independently certified

Tested for over 100 harmful substances including pesticides, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and allergenic dyes.

It is not self-certified. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 requires testing by an independent institute — not a manufacturer's own lab. If a supplier claims it without documentation, it does not count.
It covers every component. Not just the outer fabric — threads, buttons, zips, linings, and prints must all pass. A jersey with a certified shell but an uncertified lining is not OEKO-TEX certified.
It matters more in sportswear. When you exercise, your skin pores open. Absorption of chemical residues increases significantly. The certification that is adequate for a dress shirt is the minimum standard for a football kit.
It matters most for children. Children's skin is thinner and more permeable than adults. Any kit worn by a child — school sport, junior clubs, weekend football — should be held to this standard as a minimum.
Curvo will not use any fabric that cannot produce the certificate. If a supplier cannot provide OEKO-TEX Standard 100 documentation, we do not source from them. No exceptions.
Section 03

The hard truth about sublimation printing

This is the section most brands would never publish. We think transparency is a competitive advantage.

What most brands do
Traditional dye-sublimation
True dye-sublimation is chemically impossible on natural fibers. Sublimation works because synthetic polymers like polyester open up when heated, allowing gaseous ink to bond with the plastic molecules. Natural fibers lack these molecular structures entirely.

To print on natural fabrics using sublimation, a manufacturer must either use a heavy polyester blend (50-60% polyester minimum) or spray a chemical polymer coating onto the natural fabric before printing. Both approaches defeat the purpose of a skin-safe garment.
The Curvo approach
Digital pigment printing + water-based screen printing
Digital pigment printing binds directly to the surface of natural fibers using heat curing and eco-friendly, water-based inks. No polymer coatings. No synthetic base required. Full-colour, all-over patterns are completely achievable on natural fabrics.

Water-based screen printing is used for logos and club badges. Solvent-free, non-toxic inks that sink into the fabric rather than sitting on top as a heavy plastic sheet. This is how Curvo puts your crest on your kit without compromising the material standard.
Section 04

Core-spun construction — only natural touches skin

High-performance stretch and compression require elastane. But elastane is synthetic. Core-spinning is the engineering technique that lets us have both — performance stretch and a natural fiber skin contact surface.

Football sock — cross-section (inside out)
Bamboo Lyocell / Merino Wool
Skin contact layer
Organic Cotton blend
Structure + softness
Recycled Nylon
Heel & toe zones only
Core-spun Elastane
Hidden inside — never touches skin

The elastane thread is tightly wrapped in bamboo or merino fiber. When knitted, only the organic surface is exposed to skin.

01
The performance problem
A football sock built from 100% organic cotton or bamboo will absorb sweat like a sponge, become heavy, stretch out within twenty minutes, and slide down to the ankle. Natural fibers alone cannot meet the demands of professional sport.
02
The core-spun solution
Core-spinning takes the elastane thread and tightly wraps it in natural bamboo or merino fiber. The synthetic core provides compression and stretch recovery. The natural sheath is what your skin actually touches. The best of both — hidden inside each yarn.
03
The recycled nylon rule
Recycled nylon is used only in the heel and toe reinforcement zones where abrasion resistance is critical. It is never used in the leg or instep — the primary skin contact areas. This is a non-negotiable in our sock manufacturing specification.
Section 05

Fabric blueprint by product type

Every Curvo product category has a defined material specification. These are the exact blend targets we give to our manufacturers.

Product Base fiber Blend % Technique Purpose
Football Socks Bamboo Lyocell / Merino Wool
Natural		 65%
+ 18% organic cotton
+ 10% recycled nylon (heel/toe)
+ 7% core-spun elastane		 Core-spun circular knit Moisture wicking, compression, durability, only natural skin contact
Match Jersey Bamboo Lyocell / Organic Cotton
Natural		 70%
+ 25% recycled polyester mesh
+ 5% elastane		 Digital pigment print Breathable, lightweight, full-colour customisation without synthetic coatings
Training Tracksuit Organic Cotton French Terry
Natural		 80%
+ 15% recycled polyester
+ 5% elastane		 Water-based screen print Warmth, comfort, durability for training environments
Match Shorts Bamboo Lyocell / Organic Cotton
Natural		 68%
+ 27% recycled polyester
+ 5% elastane		 Digital pigment print Freedom of movement, breathability, moisture management
Compression Tights Merino Wool / Bamboo Lyocell
Natural		 62%
+ 28% recycled nylon
+ 10% core-spun elastane		 Core-spun knit Graduated compression, natural skin contact, muscle support
Section 06

Our supplier vetting standard

Every manufacturer we work with must answer these questions before we place an order. These are the exact questions to use when vetting any sportswear supplier for natural fiber, skin-safe production.

Question 01 — Knitting capability
"Do you have circular knitting machines capable of multi-zone compression for ankle and arch support in football socks?"
Question 02 — Raw material sourcing
"Can you source GOTS-certified organic cotton, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 bamboo lyocell, or certified mulesing-free merino wool?"
Question 03 — Core-spun production
"Can you produce a core-spun yarn where the synthetic elastane is fully covered by the natural face fiber — so only natural fiber is exposed at the knitted surface?"
Question 04 — Printing method
"Do you offer digital pigment printing or water-based screen printing for natural fiber fabric customisation — without polymer coatings or sublimation base treatments?"

Where we look: Specialist sock mills and activewear manufacturers in Portugal, Italy, Turkey, and select certified performance mills in South Africa. Standard apparel factories that do not specialise in technical hosiery knitting are not suitable for Curvo sock production, regardless of price.

Gear you can trust.
Performance you can feel.

Every product in the Curvo range is built to this standard. Shop the collection or get a custom team kit quote.