Clothing Materials
It can be daunting to try and find clothing that is eco-friendly. Below are articles about eco-friendly materials and certifications. It is important to note the process the materials go through to become clothing. Something like ordinary cotton can seem innocent enough, but it is best to purchase organic cotton as it is the environmentally sound choice.
An additional layer to finding businesses that you want to support is aligning your purchasing power with companies that are committed to safe working conditions and fair pay. There are certifications in place in order to keep companies honest.
Beware of “greenwashing”. Going green is a trendy marketing strategy these days. Some companies boast commitments to a sustainability ethos that are far from authentic. Do some research to ensure reliability of a company’s “green” credibility.
Going green costs companies considerably more money, as well as careful planning and diligent implementation. This inevitably amounts to their products being justifiably more expensive. If we can afford to support these eco-friendly companies, we should. If your budget prevent this, there are second hand options for finding the quality, sustainable brands you love at a fraction of the price. I do this and have found online tools and filters which streamline finding excellent brands at discount prices.
Once you find the companies you want to support it is easy to shop. By being selective you are naturally curating your wardrobe by only supporting companies that align with your values. In a world that suffers from decision fatigue you are also making life easier by bypassing the overwhelming number of options.
Here are eco-materials to look for in textiles:
Bamboo - a highly renewable grass grown with few inputs.
Cork - this is a great material for shoes and purses.
Hemp - a natural renewable fiber that does not require any pesticides.
Linen - a natural fiber made from the flax plant. Biodegradable & recyclable. Linen comes from a plant that does not require any pesticides.
Lyocell - a soft textile made from renewable cellulose fiber.
Organic Cotton - biodegradable, sustainable, and renewable.
Tencel - made from cellulose fiber and dissolving wood pulp.
GOTS - look for the GOTS symbol as a globally recognized standard in ecological and socially responsibly produced textiles.
Materials to avoid:
Polyester - is a non-biodegradable material that can take up to 200 years to decompose.
Leather - manufacturing animal skin into clothing, shoes, or accessories exposes workers to hazardous dyes that are linked to leukemia. Leather is also a product of the animal agriculture industry which is detrimental to the environment. To read more about environmental degradation click here.
Nylon - the production of nylon casts off greenhouse gas in the form of nitrous oxide, which is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
ARTICLES ABOUT TEXTILE MATERIALS
7 Eco-Friendly Fabrics That Will Green Your Wardrobe | Kaye Spector | EcoWatch | November 15th, 2013
BEHIND THE MANUFACTURING OF APPAREL AND CERTIFICATION
Global Organic Textile Standard | Fiona Young | Good On You | November 30th, 2016
VIDEOS | CLIPS