FLORENCE BRUSHWARE
Florence brushware is sourced from quality manufacturers in Germany.
Brush bristles vary according to the end use, and include:
Arenga fibre - from the hairy fibrous trunk of the Arenga Pinnata palm tree which grows only in Indonesia. Finer and softer than other palm fibres, it is extremely durable and elastic, outperforming most synthetics. Highly resistant to salt water, it is heat resistant up to 150°, so ideal where plastics fail. Colours range from dark grey through chocolate brown to blue-black.
Coconut fibre - a sustainable vegetable fibre from the husk of the mature coconut, it is tough, lightweight and naturally anti-bacterial
so won’t become smelly or mouldy. Fats and oils do not congeal to it, and the long-lasting bristles resist flattening with use.
Goat hair - derived from the Chinese long-haired goat, this extremely fine and silky soft hair is paricularly suited for use in baby brushes,
face brushes and other cosmetics brushes.
Horse hair - the dressed hair from the tail (stiff) or mane (soft) of the horse. The hair quality is dependent on the breed, climate,
season and condition of the animal.
Jute fibre - is a natural fibre from the stem of the jute plant, and has a golden and silky shine. Jute has good antistatic properties,
as well as having low thermal conductivity and moderate moisture retention.
Natural bristles - the dorsal bristles of a species of bristle pigs which are only kept in China. Light coloured or black “wild boar bristles”,
the longer the bristles the tougher they are.
Palmyrah fibre - produced from the base of the palm frond stalk of the palmyrah palm tree, the fibres are hard and stiff,
long-lasting and resistant to water.
Piassava fibre - a coarse, elastic palm fibre originating from West Africa and South America.
Rice Straw - harvested from the sorghum cereal plant and used in flat splayed brushes.
Sacaton Grass - Sacaton or dropseed grass is a coarse, wavy grass which only grows in the Mexican highlands above 2,000m.
To maintain its elasticity the material must be moistened well prior to use.
Sisal fibre - a very robust fibre from a cactus species grown in Africa. Eco Max sisal comes from Tanzania. The fibres are strong and durable,
and do not absorb water easily. Unbleached sisal is a golden creamy colour.
Tampico fibre - a very robust fibre from the yellow leaf of the agave cactus, which grows only in the highlands of northern Mexico.
Tampico has great water-retaining properties, is resistant and hard-wearing, and keeps its shape without softening. The fibre has tiny hooks on the shafts, which gives it a natural slightly abraisive quality.