The clothes we wear and the materials they are made of can have a negative impact on the environment and on our health. The plethora of cheap clothing and the constantly fleeting fads are contributing sufficiently to the enormous amount of waste. As a result, many people are turning to sustainable fashion. Don’t imagine uncomfortable and dull textiles. Green clothing doesn’t mean limited choice either.
When it comes to natural and organic fabrics, many people are worried about the basic maintenance and cleaning methods. Indeed, some of these textiles require special care. Luckily you don’t need to spend a fortune on expensive cleaning products. Eco-friendly manufactures are working hard to create easy-to-clean and comfortable fabrics. There is a wide variety of green alternatives that look stylish, without imposing any harm to you or the nature. According to Spring Cleaners Ltd. these seven fabrics that are gentle to the skin and the environment.
Bamboo
This sturdy and 100% renewable grass is generally grown with little chemical inputs. Bamboo fibres have natural antibacterial, hypoallergenic and thermo-regulating properties. It offers unparalleled softness and comfort, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The problem is that some manufactures use toxic ingredients to turn the plant into fabric. The companies are obliged to disclose this information and label their products. The washing and maintenance of bamboo clothing is fairly easy and doesn’t require any special cleaning products.
Organic Cotton
Conventional cotton production incorporates more than 25 percent of the world’s pesticides. The toxic ingredients are polluting the soil and the water. This is a good reason to switch to organic cotton. These plants are grown without synthetic chemical inputs. Keep in mind, that cotton, even the organic one, requires specific care and cleaning.
Industrial Hemp
Just like bamboo, hemp is highly renewable and easy to grow. It requires little or no synthetic products like pesticides and fertilizer. Hemp needs minimum attention and it is easy to harvest. Another benefit of this plant is that it doesn’t deplete soil nutrients.
Recycled Polyester
The textile is made of discarded polyester fabric and soda bottles. The production of recycled polyester has 75 % lower carbon footprint than the virgin one. The downside is that this fabric contains toxic antimony.
Soy Cashmere/Silk
This fabric is derived from soy protein fibre – by-product of the processing of soybeans into food. You should be mindful about the genetically engineered products.
Tencel
Tencel fibres are produced from cellulose wood pulp. The material is fully biodegradable. Although the product is absolutely sustainable, it’s not necessarily healthy, because of the heavy use of chemicals.
Wool
Wool falls into the category of natural fibres. It is renewable and doesn’t need chemical inputs. Organic wool in particular incorporates sustainable farming practices and humane approach towards animals.
Although, these choices represent a positive change, they don’t resolve the problem. Clothing industry in general has huge environmental impact. It consumes a lot of water and energy for production processing and transportation. Textile manufacturing involves the use of toxic chemicals such as pesticides, dyes and bleaches.
Cleaning the pollution and preserving the environment requires different approach. Consider buying, recycled or used clothes. Instead of throwing away your old or damaged clothing, repair it.