Ultimate guide to environmentally friendly fabrics
There’s no denying that every piece of clothing we buy is going to have some impact on our planet. The challenge to eco-friendly shopping is being able to spot out fabrics that have a smaller impact on the environment and being sure to veer away from others.
Conscious fabric shopping doesn’t have to be so complex as long as you have a general understanding of what to look for.
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Here are listed some eco-friendly fabrics for your closet!
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1. Organic Linen
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Linen is made from a versatile crop called the flax plant which makes it a natural fibre and an excellent choice for eco-friendly shopping. The production of linen requires minimal amounts of water and no pesticides in addition to being able to grow in low quality soil.
Linen is a textile easy to find in stores, breathable, biodegradable, and has a minimal production impact. When it comes to your closet, Linen is a guilt free fabric to add to your eco-friendly wardrobe.
2. Organic Hemp
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Hemp is one of the oldest fabrics in the world, yet one of the best choices for our planet. Not only can it be used in cosmetic products and food, but it can actually be used for clothing.
Similar to Linen, Hemp is a natural fibre which makes it biodegradable as well. The production of hemp causes minimal environmental damage by requiring very little water and no pesticides. Great durability and longevity: even after being washed over and over again, the fabric continues to get softer overtime rather than showing wear and tear.
That’s why hemp clothing will last for years in your wardrobe which saves you money and increases its sustainability as a fabric.
3. Recycled Cotton
Cotton is one of the most commonly used fabrics in the fashion industry, but it does have a very problematic production. Conventional cotton requires heavy amounts of water and pesticides to grow. As an alternative, organic cotton has been trying to minimize the impacts of conventional cotton by reducing the amount of water and energy while also removing harmful pesticides.
However, the most sustainable form of cotton is actually recycled cotton. According to Higg Materials Sustainability Index - https://msi.higg.org/page/msi-home ,recycled cotton reduces water and energy consumption, but most importantly it keeps cotton clothing out of our landfills which makes it a highly sustainable fibre. Since cotton is such a popular fabric used in the fashion industry, it’s also one of the most common fabrics that ends up as waste.
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Choose recycled cotton!
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Conscious shopping may be more of a challenge than mindless purchases, but being dedicated to lowering your carbon footprint goes a long ways. As mentioned before, all fabric will have its drawbacks, but knowing which textiles have a smaller impact on the planet will make shopping a lot more ethical.
To learn more on how to build an ethical closet, read:https://www.sinipesaswim.com/blogs/journal/guide-ethical-closet
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