KAUTE tops are made with lawn, a lightweight fabric with a soft hand (feel) that is loosely woven and visibly sheer.

Our lawn fabric is composed of 99% organic cotton and 1% recycled polyurethane, and it weighs 2.15 oz per yard. It has a relatively high thread count and is made with combed cotton, two elements that account for its smooth feel and durability. 

KAUTE’s lawn fabric is made from GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) organic certified fibers. KAUTE fabric has met the highest “organic standard” under GOTS as more than 95% of the fabric is made from organic cotton yarns.*

We source our fabric from Zentex, a New York based company with factories in Japan and Asia. This fabric is designed and milled in Japan using organic cotton fibers from India and Turkey.

KAUTE chose this fabric because it met all of our criteria:

  • Lightweight and soft: Featherweight, soft feeling fabric that has movement, is perpetually “wrinkled” and easy to wear every day and while traveling.
  • Earth & People-Friendly: Made from 99% organic cotton, which does not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides, promotes better soil health and uses significantly less water than regular cotton. (The 1% recycled polyurethane in the fabric is less earth-positive, but its production requires much less energy than regular polyurethane.)  
  • Versatile: Sheer fabric that excels in warmer weather and can be layered effectively for cooler weather or for styling preferences. 

*Note: KAUTE acknowledges that proving the traceability of organic cotton, from farm to fashion, is definitely not foolproof. This is a complex issue and one that we’d like to address in a future blog post. 

We use mother of pearl buttons made from the iridescent inner lining of Black lip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) shells.

These salt water oysters are native to the Indo-Pacific, a region that stretches from the California coast to the Indian Ocean, and are most commonly found wild within tropical coral reefs or grown via aquaculture for pearl production.

Black lip oyster shells are lined with nacre, a natural substance composed of aragonite (a form of calcium carbonate) and conchiolin, a tough insoluble protein. Mother of pearl buttons are cut from this nacre lining, which is also the same outer coating of pearls.  Thus, these buttons are made from shells that are the by-product of the pearl industry and make use of the entire resource extracted during pearl cultivation.

Mother of pearl buttons offer superior durability and longevity compared to plastic buttons. With their inherent strength and resilience, they can withstand frequent use without losing their look or functionality. These natural materials elevate garments, infusing them with a touch of elegance and individuality.

Caring For Your Shirt

To learn more about how best to care for your organic cotton shirt, including the mother of pearl buttons, see our blog post, "How to Care for Your KAUTE Clothing."