7 Most Sustainable Fabrics That Can Change Your Shopping
You love fashion and you want to be as eco-friendly as possible? One of the most important steps on the choice of your clothing for a more sustainable wardrobe is checking the label of the clothes you buy. Which textiles have been used to produce it? Are they sustainable fabrics? to know the answer read at this little guide about the most sustainable fabrics you can find on the fashion market and.. change your shopping!
1. Organic Cotton
Why buying clothes made with organic cotton? Because, despite being the most used fiber in the textile industry, non-organic cotton has a dark side. In fact, cotton is cultivated following processes that strongly impact our planet and its people. For example, non-organic cotton covers 2.5% of the world’s cultivated land but uses 10-16% of the world’s pesticides more than any other single major crop. This use of chemicals has elevated consequences on the environment such as air pollution, biodiversity decreased and breaking of the ecosystem’s equilibrium. Not only, but pesticides can also easily contaminate food and water supplies of the local communities. Well, is certified that organic cotton is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, so it is a sustainable solution to avoid all of this!
However, we have to say it: organic cotton production is not perfect, because organic cotton requires more plants and consequently, more land to produce. And it is also a thirsty crop, which requires a lot of watering and tending to. Plus, before the organic fiber is turned into your favorite t-shirt, it requires lots of processing and dying, which are also very chemically intensive. despite this though, organic cotton, if sustainably and ethically produced, is a beautiful alternative to conventional cotton!! Pay attention to the label!
2. Organic Hemp
The great thing about this strain of the Cannabis Sativa plant species is that it’s grown all around the world and it requires very little water, no pesticides and actually it naturally fertilizes the soil it grows in, making it one of the better crops for the environment and one of the better sustainable fabrics you can buy! Is one of the oldest fibers in the world. It helps keep you warm in winter, fresh in summer, and it actually protects you from UV rays. It even gets softer the more you wash it! For all these reasons, you should definitely have something made with Hemp in your wardrobe.
3. Econyl
Today you can, fortunately, find many different swimwear and surf brands made with this innovative sustainable fabric. This is not a case, in fact, Econyl recycles and regenerates synthetic waste such as fishing nets from oceans that have become a huge problem for marine life. Whales, dolphins, sharks, turtles and other marine life are being trapped by the nets left behind by fishermen. Mostly, the main purpose of these brands is saving the lives of our beautiful marine life. Econyl is a way to recycle and replace virgin nylon in our everyday products and clothes. In fact, the regeneration process produces a new nylon yarn is exactly the same quality as virgin nylon, but much more sustainable!
4. Pinatex
Innovative natural textile made from pineapple leaf fibre, Piñatex is a natural, sustainably-sourced, cruelty-free material and the use of these leaves creates an additional income stream for farming communities. Moreover, Pinatex uses no harmful chemicals in its production. We gotta say that while Piñatex substrate is made of natural fibers and polylactic acid fibers which is 100% biodegradable, the resins used for the coating are currently not biodegradable. But is good to know that Pinatex is working on a bio-based coating which will take Piñatex to the forefront of sustainability! If you are looking for a sustainable and vegan alternative to leather, this is the fabric for you! As it is strong, durable, flexible, light and breathable, not to mention the added benefits of animal and human welfare!
5. Linen
We all know about its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot and humid weather. Made from the fibers of the flax plant, Line is laborious to manufacture, but the fiber is very strong, absorbent and dries faster than cotton. Linen is one of our favourite sustainable fabrics. When untreated, it is fully biodegradable and every part of the flax plant from where linen is extracted has traditionally been used to create a worthwhile product. Nothing is wasted, and production is cost effective. Already used by the Egyptians on the mummifying process, it is definitely the most biodegradable and stylish fabrics in fashion history, and the must-have in everyone’s wardrobe!
6. Qmonos
Did you know that spiders are a great source of inspiration for sustainable fashion? In fact, Qmonos is a synthetic spider silk, recently developed through the fusion of spider silk genes and microbes. The fibre is said to be five times stronger than steel, the toughest fibre in nature, while being very lightweight, more flexible than nylon, and entirely biodegradable. No spiders are farmed or harmed in the manufacturing process, making Qmonos a more sustainable and ethical alternative to silk and nylon. Interesting, isn’t it?
7. Recycled Fabrics
However, if you’re looking for the most sustainable fabrics, go recycled! Recycling is always the best choice you can make: clothing recovering can give old clothes textiles a second life that not only reduces the amount of waste going into landfills but provide also both environmental and economic benefits. For example, it encourages the development of additional markets: raw materials created from recycled content generally cost less, making their use attractive and desirable to manufacturers. Moreover, recycling results in less pollution and energy savings, avoiding many of the polluting and energy-intensive processes required to make textiles from virgin materials. A way to recycle could be to donate your old clothes, which is a very good thing for your life decluttering and for others. Otherwise, why don’t you essay with a bit of DIY? There so many video tutorials on youtube on how to change your old clothes! Have fun!
