Product Info

Where does the EnvironOxide™pigment come from?

The iron oxide comes from polluted water that has been passively treated (no energy used or chemicals added). The water coming out of old underground mines runs through the systems by gravity only. The purpose of the settling ponds is to slow down and spread out the flow & aerate the water a little, if possible, by flowing over the troughs. In this picture, Bob Hedin is cleaning out one of the troughs at the Lowber treatment system. Notice his fabulous pigmented Rusted Threads sweatshirt!

On the right is one of the settling ponds with iron oxide that has collected for about 2 years. Iron oxide can be collected from here when it gets to be 1-2’ deep.

After the water goes through a few settling ponds, it flows through a wetland. After the wetland, the water is “clean” and flows into a larger stream. There’s usually lots of wildlife in these wetlands, like these swans!

What makes EnvironOxide™ pigment “green”?

• Recovered as part of the clean-up of mine water pollution, it is an innovative use of a waste material.
• Produced locally, EnvironOxide™ is extracted and manufactured within the region.
• EnvironOxide™ is a preferrable replacement for iron oxide that has traditionally been mined or produced synthetically.

Why Pigment?

Naturally-occurring colorants have been used throughout human history. Most of these obtained their color from the mineral iron, which is found abundantly in soils in a wide variety of hues. Very early in the history of humankind, iron oxides were adopted as pigments.

EnvironOxide™ could certainly be called the latest step in the evolution of iron oxide pigments, adding some color to our lives as we restore our natural environment.

How are the shirts pigmented?

The t-shirts are prewashed, then pigmented with the iron oxide. Pigmenting is different than dyeing. Dyes are incorporated into the textile, or threads, and are usually harsher chemicals. Pigments mostly adhere to the textile, are usually natural materials, and the colors are not as intense as dyes. The pigmenting process involves lots of agitation of the pigment and the shirts interspersed with lots of soaking. Then the shirts are rinsed at least 2 times to release the excess pigment.

Washing Instructions:

Rusted Thread shirts have been rinsed and have been through an additional wash and rinse cycle. So you can wear your shirt right away. We recommend to machine wash separately the first time you wash a Rusted Threads shirt and with like colors in subsequent washings. Warm or cold water wash and regular dryer cycles are fine. The shirt does fade slightly with time.