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Materials

Description of our materials and their maintenance

 

Since its creation, Cœur de Mithril has always been dedicated to offer you the best gear of the market. We consider that our products must fulfill strict requirement in term of functionality, authenticity, durability and of we use is therefore crucial to meet our quality standards. To allow you to make your choice with confidence we provide you here a summary of the technical characteristics as well as the maintenance and storage instructions for the different type of materials we use to manufacture our products.

 

Textiles

 

Different materials are used to make our clothing line. Each fabric is different and depending on its use you can adapt yourself to the weather depending on the seasons to enjoy your passion both in summer and winter. Our clothing line and some accessories are made from different materials: cotton, leather, wool, suede-like ...

 

COTTON:

This material is by far the most used natural fiber in the textile industry especially for the resistance of its fibers. It does not stretch or tear easily giving it great resistance to heat and washing. Cotton garments therefore have a particularly long life, despite frequent use and cleaning. It is mainly used in the manufacture of shirts, blouses and underwear in direct contact with the skin but also in the manufacture of trousers and other second-layer clothing. The evolution of the techniques of the textile industry allows us to have at our disposal cottons of different composition depending on the uses we want to give it.

 

 Light-Cotton (100% cotton)

The first layer that is against the skin should be in cotton. Light-Cotton garments are comfortable to wear in any season: in summer, they allow a good air circulation and in winter, they provide good insulation and effective protection against the cold. Microfibers do not take moisture and give a soft finish to the fabric.

  • Weight: 120 to 150 grams per meter2 (0.26 to 0.33 pounds per meter2).
  • Beautiful and soft thread, smooth and silky frame, crisp stitches.
  • The micro fibers used for making this fabric are thinner than silk, do not take moisture and offer a finish of an incomparable softness.
  • Excellent stability and high durability.
  • Multi-season fiber suitable for use in summer and winter.
  • Perfectly suited for washing machine.
  • Available for children and adults.

 

Care instructions for Light-Cotton:

  • The dyes used on our clothes are fixed and should not fade. Nevertheless, in order to avoid any risk, we suggest that you first wash your garment alone.
  • Before washing, remove all accessories attached to the garment.
  • Can go in a washing machine on a delicate cycle with 40° (90 to 110°F) maximum.
  • Can be tumble dried.

 

Poly-Cotton (85% cotton - 15% polyester)

As a second layer, it is necessary to use a robust fabric that is both resistant and breathable. Poly-Cotton and its "sturdier" weave pattern is very similar to ordinary linen fabric, but is made from thinner cotton fibers. Its high resistance to effort makes it a particularly suitable fabric for fighting clothes such as gambisons or tabards that are subject to many stress factors (friction, stretching, abrasion, etc. ). 

  • Weight: 170 to 190 grams per meter2 (0.37 to 0.42 pounds per meter2).
  • Very high resistance to abrasion (equivalent to Denim's canvas).
  • Dry quickly and wrinkles less.
  • More water repellent than regular cotton.
  • Multi-season fiber suitable for use in summer and winter.
  • Perfectly suited for washing machine
  • Available for children and adults.

 

Care instructions for Poly-Cotton:

  • The dyes used on our clothes are fixed and should not fade. Nevertheless, in order to avoid any risk, we suggest that you first wash your garment alone.
  • Before washing, remove all accessories attached to the garment.
  • Can go in a washing machine on a delicate cycle with 40° (90 to 110°F) maximum.
  • Can be tumble dried.

 

Cotton-Canvas (variable 85% to 100% cotton - 0% to 15% polyester)

Recommended for formal apparel, Cotton-Canvas has a textured weave pattern that gives it a rustic appearance. This particularity is interesting for the confection of cloths used for historical reconstruction because it offers a less "perfect" and therefore more authentic look.

  • Weight: 250 to 350 grams per meter2 (0.55 to 0.77 pounds per meter2).
  • Authentic weaving pattern.
  • Textured and rustic.
  • Available for children and adults.

 

Care instructions for Cotton-Canvas:

  • The dyes used on our clothes are fixed and should not fade. Nevertheless, in order to avoid any risk, we suggest that you first wash your garment alone.
  • Before washing, remove all accessories attached to the garment.
  • Can go in a washing machine on a delicate cycle with 40° (90 to 110°F) maximum.
  • Can be tumble dried.

 

Textured cotton

Textured cotton is worked to obtain a raw look thanks to the irregular weaving of the yarn without making the piece more difficult to wear. It is a cotton that catches the light differently and has an interesting relief due to its fineness and the slight difference in transparency between the tight and loose threads. The lightness and suppleness of this material makes it very comfortable to wear and perfectly breathable in hot weather.

  • Weight : 1180 grams per square metre (0.40 pounds per square metre2).
  • Irregular weave pattern.
  • Textured and rustic.
  • Lightweight, soft and breathable.
  • Available for children and adults.

Care Instructions for Textured Cotton:

  • The dyes used on our garments are fixed and should not bleed. However, to avoid any risk, we suggest that you wash your garment for the first time on its own.
  • Before washing, remove all accessories attached to the garment.
  • Machine washable on delicate cycle 40°.
  • Can be tumble dried.

 

WOOL:

The sheep wool that we use to make our cloths is particularly appreciated for its exceptional characteristics which offers protection from the cold and the climatic variations. The wool has the capacity to trap in its fibers the air warmed by the body. The wool is a particularly suitable fiber in rainy weather. In general, wet garments cause heat loss up to 25% faster than wool garments that can absorb up to 35% of their weight in water and stay dry to the touch. When you move from a warm environment to a cold environment, the wool will continue to diffuse the accumulated heat in a slow and regular way. Finally, another strong point of wool, it does not retain odors and will be easier to maintain and clean than other textiles that require more water and soap.

  • Weight: 375 to 425 grams per meter2 (0.83 to 0.94 pounds per meter2).
  • Excellent thermal protection against the cold.
  • Suitable for wet and rainy weather.
  • Does not retain odors.
  • Authentic look.

 

Care instructions for Wool:

  • Before washing, remove all accessories attached to the garment.
  • Machine washable on delicate cycle 40°.
  • Can NOT be tumble dried.
  • Dry flat on a clean, dry towel.
  • Do not dry in the sun, the wool may not withstand a too high temperature and deform.

 

POLYESTER PADDING:

Polyester is a synthetic fiber that represents more than 70% of the synthetic fibers used in the textile industry. It does not soak up much so this fiber is the perfect match for sports textiles as it allows an easy evacuation of perspiration. This characteristic and the fact that it is non-allergenic has convinced us to use Polyester as padding material for our Gambisons. In addition to equal density Polyester is lighter than other types of padding.

  • Weight: 450 grams per meter2 (1 pound per meter2).
  • Not allergenic.
  • Lightweight.
  • Evacuate perspiration. 

 

Skins

 

SUEDE:

This material has a velvet appearance that is very soft and pleasant to touch. Suede is flexible and easy to work with, allowing it to be used in combination with other materials.

  • Soft and velvet like material that is pleasant to touch.
  • Easy to maintain.
  • Authentic aesthetics.

 

Care instructions for Suede:

  • To restore a beautiful appearance to your piece of Suede, sprinkle with talc and leave for 12 hours. Then remove gently all the powder with a brush.
  • To remove a stain use a special nubuck eraser and rub gently.
  • If washing is necessary proceed by hand with a water at 40° (90 to 110°F) maximum.
  • Do NOT tumble dry.
  • Dry in the open air.

 

LEATHER:

 

Leather is a gift of nature. It is a durable, flexible, robust, insulating and a decorative natural product. Leather is prepared from the skin of an animal. Generally, it is the skin of large mammals such as beefs and pigs, which is used to make leather. Tanning is the operation of transforming the skin into leather thanks to tannins, substances of different natures which make it possible to pass from a putrescible skin, sensitive to the hot water and very hydrated to a rot-proof material, resistant to hot water and poorly hydrated.

 

Vegetable tanned leather

Vegetable tanning makes it possible to obtain a more rigid and resistant leather, it allows in particular the work of the embossed leather (sculpture of the leather in low relief). Vegetable tanned leather is a "living" material that wears less quickly, resists to tearing and puncture. It is therefore perfect for making armor and rigid accessories that guarantees a noble and authentic finish. A specific characteristic of vegetable tannins is that they naturally oxidize under the effect of light. Thus, the leathers, like a good wine that improves over time, pat in a natural way offering each skin a unique look and personality.

  • Rigid and resistant.
  • Suitable for embossed leather.
  • Authentic, noble and unique.
  • Pat and improve with time.

 

Care instructions for vegetable tanned leather:

  • Before storage, wash well with mild soap and rinse dirty parts with water. Be sure to let it dry your piece of leather before storing it.
  • Store in a dry and ventilated place.
  • It is important to always store with the straps attached to allow the various pieces constituting the armor to keep their shapes.
  • Feed the leather as needed if it is dry, stiff or starts to crack. Use beef foot oil and protective grease.
  • Warning: the leather can rub off during the first use. You can scrub the inside of the leather with a damp cloth to remove excess stain and any residual dust. We advise you to wear dark clothes during the first uses.

 

Boiled vegetable tanned leather

Boiled leather is a widely used material throughout history. In the sixteenth century, this process allowed to obtain a leather resistant to arrows. In history, boiled leather has been used for the realization of many objects, for civil and military use. Nowadays, Cœur de Mithril has developed its own technique to replenish this formula making the leather waterproof and much more resistant.

  • Waterproof.
  • Even more rigid and resistant compared to regular leather.
  • Suitable for embossed leather.
  • Authentic, noble and unique.

 

Care instructions for vegetable tanned leather:

  • Before storage, wash well with mild soap and rinse dirty parts with water. Be sure to let it dry your piece of leather before storing it.
  • Store in a dry and ventilated place.
  • It is important to always store with the straps attached to allow the various pieces constituting the armor to keep their shapes.
  • Feed the leather as needed if it is dry, stiff or starts to crack. Use beef foot oil and protective grease.

 

Mineral tanned leather

Mineral tanning provides a thinner and softer leather. It is therefore perfectly suited to the manufacture of fasteners, accessories and clothing. Mineral tanned leather is a "living" material that breathes. It is ideal to fight against perspiration because it can absorb a large quantity of water which it will then dissipate. The mineral tanning fixes the colors better and does not fade. Finally, it is less sensitive to acidity and is therefore more resistant to stains and water. 

  • Thin and flexible.
  • Do not rub off.
  • Resistant to stains and water.
  • Authentic and noble aesthetics.

 

Care instructions for mineral tanned leather:

  • Before storage, wash well with mild soap and rinse dirty parts with water. Be sure to let it dry before storing your piece of leather.
  • Store in a dry and ventilated place.
  • Feed the leather as needed if it is dry, stiff or starts to crack. Use beef foot oil and protective grease.

 

FUR:

Fur is the skin of animals, trimmed with hair. It has been used by men since prehistory, before the invention of any textile, as protection against cold and bad weather. With the advance of the ages the fur has become especially a sign of prestige or an object of luxury. We distinguish the real fur and synthetic textile fur. At Coeur de Mithril we have always valued this material and adapted it according to the use that our products will have.

 

Real fur

Real fur is a natural, renewable and sustainable resource. Fur production, whether from breeding or hunting, is today strictly regulated by international standards. In this respect, the legislation focuses on two objectives: the homogenization of trapping standards and the protection of endangered species. The furs that do not come from farms come from ethical hunts, whose quotas allow the regulation of species, with the ultimate goal of protecting nature. It is also possible to recycle the old fur coats to retrieve pieces entirely suitable for ornamental use on the pieces of armor. Take note that real fur is made of real animal hair, it can be allergenic.

  • Durable material.
  • Used primarily as an ornament on armor pieces.
  • Aesthetic authentic, rich and unique.

 

Care instructions for Real Fur:

  • Store in a dry, ventilated place and away from direct sunlight.
  • Wash with common shampoo and allow to dry.
  • In case of strong impregnation with water, dry the fur superficially by dabbing it with a towel. Do not twist the fur like you would with a mop.
  • Once the fur dries gently brush it.
  • To restore shine to your fur, rub it from time to time with a velvet pad.

 

 Textile fur

Synthetic fur is used mainly for practical but also economic reasons. Indeed the textile fur is even more resistant than the real fur, less technical to work, and requires less maintenance. The textile fur consists of a mesh or woven fiber background, the free ends of which form the hairs that are not allergenic. Regarding these qualities, Cœur de Mithril mainly values ​​this material for making clothes.

  • Extremely durable material.
  • Easy to maintain.
  • More economical than real fur.

 

Care Instructions for Textile Fur:

  • Can go in washing machine on a gentle cycle but do not tumble dry.
  • Once the fur dries gently brush it.
  • Always be careful to keep away from sources of heat.

 

 

Metals

 

Stainless steel:

The technical qualities of stainless steel are incomparable with standard iron. It does not rust, is stiffer at equal weight and ultimately requires no oiling or special maintenance. It is therefore without hesitation that Cœur de Mithril chose this material for the making of his armor pieces. In order to offer you the best possible quality of armor, we use plates from standard 304 (as well known as A2) of a thickness of about 1mm (20 to 22 gauge) of thickness which is a perfect compromise between solidity, realism but also not that heavy to wear for the owner.

Care instructions for stainless steel:

  • None but it is effective to use a microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints or grease.

 

Brass:

Brass is a non-ferrous metal from the mixture of zinc and copper. Whether in the field of stationery, watch industry, plumbing and piping, brass is a frequently used alloy because of the many advantages it offers. Indeed, it has a certain malleability that can be heavily exploited for the realization of small pieces of armor of a beautiful golden color. It is also highly valued because of its corrosion resistance and ease of maintenance. These are significant strengths that attest to the fact that brass is the most used among copper alloys.

Care instructions for Brass:

  • To clean and make shine brass shine the easy way is to use soap.
  • Melt soap in very hot water. Wait until it is lukewarm. Meanwhile, mix regularly so that it is homogeneous.
  • Then soak a chamois with that preparation and polish your brass pieces.
  • Rinse well so that there is no trace of soap, then finish wiping.

 

Anodized Aluminum

Aluminum, whose global sales have been growing steadily for more than a century, has many properties: it is almost 3 times lighter than steel, very malleable, recyclable and resistant to corrosion. Moreover, it is easily machinable and ductile which makes it a suitable material for some very specific pieces of armor. Anodizing is a specific surface treatment for aluminum which, by creating an artificial layer of ultra-resistant oxide within the metal, gives them an aesthetic appearance and good protection.

Care instructions for Anodized Aluminum:

  • None