Have you ever stopped to think about what your clothes are saying? Not just in terms of style, but also about their impact on you and our planet? Under the trendy exterior of many of our clothes lies a secret. They’re a form of plastic that sticks around for ages, adding to the world’s plastic mess. This sent me on a quest for a wardrobe makeover, diving into the world of natural fibres and sustainable fashion. Join me on this journey where our fashion choices become a statement, not just about what we wear but also about the planet we call home.
What about fabric blends with more natural fibres, those are a good choice right? We talk about why that is not the solution. Unfortunately I too fell for this greenwashing tactic for a while. Further, it’s not only about what the clothes are made of but also about how they were made and who made them. Overall, making the switch to eco-friendly clothes isn’t just a style upgrade; it’s a small step towards a planet-friendly fashion revolution.
Think of your clothes as messengers, silently telling a story about your values and the health of our planet. Choosing clothes that not only make you look good but also care for our world is like casting a vote for a better future. So, let’s embark on this journey together, where fashion becomes more than just a trend – it becomes a statement of sustainability and a pledge to a healthier Earth.
What Materials Make Up Your Clothes? … Go Look!
Synthetics Fabrics And Our Precious Planet
Wearing synthetic fabrics isn’t just bad for you, it’s also terrible for the environment. These fabrics stay in landfill for hundreds of years without breaking down. Many of them never fully break down.
Take polyester, for example. It hangs around for about 200 years, often longer. This adds to the growing problem of plastic waste in our environment. Shockingly, polyester is plastic made from petroleum. So, when you wear polyester, you’re wearing plastic clothes. This means you’re exposing yourself to chemicals leaching into your body without even realising it.
I was horrified when I first discovering this. I had been working to avoid using plastic in other areas of my life such as avoiding eating from plastic containers. However, I was walking around covered in plastic clothes. That’s when I started looking into better, more environmentally friendly fashion choices.
Natural Fabrics Are Kinder To You And The Environment
This is why I’m slowly transitioning my wardrobe to sustainable and holistic fashion. How do we do this? To start with, it’s a switch from synthetic clothing, to clothing made entirely of natural fibres.
Natural fibres biodegrade, which means that they break down a lot more quickly. Clothing from natural fibres return to the earth without leaving a lasting environmental footprint.
Consider cotton, a widely used natural fibre. When disposed of, cotton decomposes naturally, enriching the soil with organic matter. It takes only up to 5 months to decompose.
Noting that the ability of a fabric to break down, even the natural ones, is impacted by the chemicals and dyes used on them. As you can see, switching to natural fibres is a great choice, but it doesn’t end there.
Additionally, what the fabric is exposed to after you throw it away matters. For instance, linen can take longer than cotton to decompose in some conditions. However, it breaks down at a faster rate than cotton when buried in the soil.
What About Fabric Blends?
Clothing Made From Both Synthetic And Natural Fibres
I thought I was making a good choice by using blends with more natural fabric, but turns out it didn’t have the change I was hoping for.
The fashion industry often uses blended fabrics. Combining synthetic and natural fibres creates durable materials with various uses. However, this also creates a lot of problems.
One major issue is that when combined it is no longer biodegradable. Even if blended with natural materials like cotton or silk, they still prevent those fabrics from fully realign down.
Polyester and cotton blends are common, but unfortunately this blend of fabric is unable to biodegrade. Have you ever read a clothing label stating that it is 50% cotton and 50% polyester? Or even 90% cotton and 10% polyester? If you aren’t sure, check the labels on your underwear or your tops as a starting point, many contain a blend of these or similar.
Another common example of this stretchy denim. To create this blend, elastane or spandex is blended with cotton fibres. However, the addition of synthetic elastane makes the entire textile non-biodegradable.
Washing Frequency Matters
Synthetic fabrics add to microplastic pollution. This is an environmental issue with far-reaching impacts. Washing synthetic clothes releases tiny particles called microplastics.
The more often you wash synthetic fabric, the more microplastics that are released. These particles find their way into water bodies and are a threat to aquatic life. Further, they cause harm to human health when they enter the food supply through seafood. Choosing natural fibres and mindful washing practices can reduce the environmental burden of microplastic pollution. Better still, buy clothing made of natural fibres is ideal moving forward.
Beyond the fabric – Sustainable Cultivation
Whether fabrics are biodegradable depends on more than just the base fibre of a textile. We need to look at how fabrics are treated along the supply chain.
Choosing natural fibres can extend the positive environmental impact to the cultivation stage. Organic farming practices for natural fibres, such as cotton and linen, often involve fewer pesticides and are good for the soil. By avoiding synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, these practices contribute to healthier ecosystems, sustainable agriculture and a healthier you.
For instance, organic cotton that is grown without harmful pesticides and genetically changed seeds is best. This helps nature by supporting a variety of living things and lessens the overall harm to the environment when growing cotton. This way of farming focuses on keeping the soil healthy by switching crops and using natural ways to control pests. It makes the farming system more balanced and strong.
Further, hemp is another earth-friendly material. It doesn’t need a lot of pesticides and weed killers because it naturally fights off pests. Also, growing hemp helps the soil stay healthy, making it a good choice for the environment.
In contrast, making synthetic fabrics harms the environment. It does this by releasing harmful chemicals and the using non-renewable resources. The manufacturing process makes environmental problems worse because it uses a lot of energy and water.
Harmful Chemicals
Making synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and nylon, uses a lot of chemicals. These chemicals are not good; they go into the air and water and can be harmful. Nasty stuff like azo dyes and formaldehyde, used to colour and finish fabrics, makes the air and water dirty. But that’s not all – these chemicals continue to cause issues when you wear them and even after you’ve thrown the clothes away.
So, what happens when these synthetic dyes and chemicals end up in landfill? That’s really bad for nature. Breathing them in or touching them directly can be risky. Also, these chemicals can make it take longer for the fabric to break down.
For instance, many natural fabrics, while they start out as organic and biodegradable, don’t always end up this way. Sadly, many are treated with chemicals that make them non-biodegradable. This shows how the colours used in clothes are impact their ability to break down.
To fix this, it’s important to pick clothes that break down naturally and use dyes from plants. This means getting colors from things like plants, fruits, and veggies to color the fabric. This way, there’s less use of bad chemicals, and it helps farming stay good for the earth. It also makes sure both the clothes and colors break down, so they don’t hurt the environment or your health.
Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources
Non-renewable resources
Synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and nylon, come from non-renewable resources.. For example, crude oil. Getting oil out of the ground can hurt the environment, messing up habitats and causing pollution. After we get the oil, it goes through a lot of steps to turn it into the materials used for synthetic fabrics.
The process of making these fabrics uses a lot of energy and releases gases that are bad for the environment. The whole cycle of making, using, and throwing away synthetic fabrics is bad for the planet.
Let’s talk about polyester, a common fabric used in clothes. To make it, we begin with oil, something that doesn’t come back. We turn this oil into chemicals, and then we turn these chemicals to make polyester. All these steps can hurt the environment and add to climate change.
Relying heavily on non-renewable resources like oil isn’t a good idea in the long run. We need to find better, more sustainable ways to make fabrics that don’t harm the planet as much. As more people care about the environment, the fashion industry is starting to look for ways to make clothes that are kinder to the Earth.
Renewable resources
On the other hand, there’s a greener side to making clothes by using renewable resources. Renewable resources, unlike non-renewable ones like crude oil, can naturally replenish over time. Fabrics made from renewable resources often have a smaller environmental impact.
Take cotton, for example. It’s a natural material that comes from plants, and we can keep getting more of it. Growing cotton has some problems, but it doesn’t need things like oil that won’t last forever. Also, other things like bamboo and hemp are becoming more popular for making clothes. These are great because these plants are renewable and they grow fast.
The processes involved in turning renewable resources into fabrics can also be more eco-friendly. For example, organic cotton is grown without harmful chemicals. This leaves the soil and water in a healthier state. Using renewable resources allows us to make clothes in ways that are gentler on the planet and reduce our dependence on resources that won’t last forever.
Looking for ways to make clothes that are kinder to the earth is important. As people and the fashion industry think more about the environment, using things we can get more of for clothes becomes not just a choice but something we really need. It’s a way to make a better, more earth-friendly future.
Energy Consumption and Water Usage:
When we make synthetic fabrics like polyester, it takes a lot of energy, mainly from the petrochemical industry that deals with oil. Water is also a big part of making these fabrics – we use a ton of it for cooling, dyeing, and finishing. This heavy use of water can lead to problems like not having enough clean water and causing pollution.
Now, let’s look at natural fibers, like cotton. While growing cotton does need water, it usually requires less energy compared to making synthetic fabrics. Turning natural fibers into fabrics is often not as demanding on energy as making synthetic ones.
Knowing about the impact of making both synthetic and natural fabrics helps you make choices that match your values. The synthetic fabric industry uses a lot of energy and water, raising concerns about whether it’s sustainable. On the other hand, natural fibers can be a more eco-friendly option.
At every step of making clothes, from turning yarn into fabric to selling clothes to people, there’s an impact on the environment. Synthetic fabrics usually leave a bigger mark. Being aware of how much energy and water different fabrics use helps you make smart choices. Choosing fabrics made from things that renew naturally, supporting eco-friendly brands, or asking for responsible production can all make a positive difference in the fashion world.
Global Labor Concerns
People who make our clothes are sometimes treated unfairly. They might work in unsafe places, get paid very little, or might even be kids. Therefore, choose brands that treat their workers well and tell us how they do things. This helps make things better for workers around the world.
A good way to find brands that treat workers well is to look for certifications. For example, if a brand has the Fair Trade label, it means the people making the clothes get fair pay and work in safe places. When you choose brands with this label, you’re helping make sure the people who make your clothes are treated right.
You can make a difference
A Holistic Approach to your Clothing Choices
Your clothes are more than just style. They affect how you feel and the Earth. Choosing clothes is about more than comfort. It’s about making choices that matter to you and help the world.
Pick clothes made from things like cotton, and support brands that do good things. Choose options without harmful chemicals and that treat workers fairly. This helps make fashion better for the environment and the people who make the clothes.
Your clothes say something about you. When you choose natural materials, it shows you care about a healthy life and making the world better. Every piece you pick is like voting for things that are good for the planet and made in a fair way.
Choosing clothes made from things like cotton helps make the fashion industry better. When we use things that break down and are grown in a good way, we’re following the “Plant and Pause” way. This means looking at how our choices are good for us and the planet.
When picking clothes, check out how brands are helping the environment. Look for brands that care about treating people and the earth right.
Support brands that are open about where they get their materials. This shows they care about the planet and the people. Sustainable and fair fashion is not just a trend; it’s about making choices that help the world and the people in it.
my most recent favourite sustainable fashion brand is Lilly Pilly Collection which is based in Australia.
The future of sustainable clothing
New natural fibre options
Exciting changes are on the horizon for sustainable clothing! Exploration of new materials that are good for the environment and for you, are in motion. Researchers are working on creating fibres from unique sources. Let’s take a look at some of these innovative ideas.
Citrus Juice Fibres
Citrus fruit fibres come from peels and pulps. These are the parts that are often thrown away when making juice. Instead of wasting these parts, they are turned into fibres. This reduces waste and is much kinder to the environment.
Grape Plant Fibres
Similarly, grape plant fibres are taken from parts of grape plants that are usually discarded. This method repurposes leftovers from making wine. It’s a way to turn what would be waste into something useful for making clothes.
Kelp Fibres
Scientists are looking into using algae, especially a type called kelp, to make eco-friendly fabrics. Kelp grows really fast in the ocean, and we can turn it into fibers for clothing. This way, we not only use a resource that keeps coming back but also help soak up carbon dioxide, making it good for the planet. The methods they’re using to get these fibres say they’re gentle on the environment and don’t use a lot of water, which is cool.
Mushroom Leather
Scientists are exploring ways to create leather without relying on animal. This is a cruelty-free and more sustainable alternative. They’re looking into using mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms, to produce this new material.
Bast Fibres
People are focusing more on promoting bast fibres. These fibres come from the inside bark of plants like hemp and flax. They’re tough and good for the environment. Using them can help make different kinds of fabrics that are better for the earth.
Processes
Besides new materials, the future of sustainable clothes means using cleaner and greener processes. This way, the fashion industry is moving towards being more sustainable. People can expect more eco-friendly materials and clothing choices, making the planet healthier and fashion more responsible.
Chemicals
One way sustainable fashion is getting better is through chemical-free binding technology. This helps make clothes with minimal harm to the environment. It also sets a positive example for the entire fashion industry. Cutting down on chemicals is important for sustainable fashion. Brands that do this help make the future greener and healthier.
Water
In the future, making clothes might use closed-loop systems for water. This means recycling and treating water to reduce waste and pollution. It’s a way to use water efficiently and responsibly, making the fashion industry more sustainable.
Remember
In our fashion journey, synthetic fabrics, especially polyester, reveal a tale of environmental challenges. This discovery prompted a shift toward natural fibres like cotton, where style meets sustainability. Unlike synthetics, these fibres do return to the earth, leaving no lasting imprint.
Choosing sustainable fashion goes beyond changing your wardrobe. It’s a commitment to responsible choices. Whether you’re wearing cotton or other eco-friendly fabrics, each outfit means a positive change. It’s a symphony that reaches beyond our closets to impact the planet.
So, let’s make each choice matter, turning our fashion statement into a commitment to a healthier earth. Let’s do it together. Happy styling, eco-warriors!
