BY IRIZZIE GAIL CU
Be an environmentally conscious shopper
When was the last time you thought about the fabric your clothes were made with? It’s easy to be drawn in by marketing and flashy labels. But it isn’t just shopping less that’s sustainable. Knowing what you’re buying into when it comes to fashion is a great reason to take a close look at a brand’s quality and materials used.
Whenever you buy anything, be it clothes, furniture, or appliances, you would want your item to last. With clothes, you might think that buying apparel made with synthetic fibers or other less sustainable fabrics will make them last a lot longer but it’s not that simple. Sustainable fabrics also have a place of their own when it comes to the fashion industry. As sustainable fashion becomes a major concern these days, brands and designers have been shifting to eco-friendly, animal-friendly, and cruelty-free practices to support this movement.
Sustainable fabrics are a niche market for clothing and it can be difficult to know which fabrics are best for the environment. So, you want to shop sustainably, but what fabrics should you look out for? Take a look at these sustainable fashion fabrics we’ve compiled.
1. Organic Cotton
Made with natural cotton seeds, organic cotton is a high-quality material that can be used in a variety of sustainable ways. It is grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and has been found to contain lower levels of harmful chemicals than other types of cotton, like synthetic varieties. It also saves water and energy, which are additional benefits to the environment.
Considered to be a better choice for workers in cotton fields, organic cotton do not involve crop burning or defoliants, which can cause serious health problems among workers. Although, it has to be Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified to be truly considered sustainable since greenwashing has become a frequent practice nowadays.
Fabrics made from organic cotton are absorbent. They will keep you cool during the summer and warm in the winter making the cloth useful all year long. It is simple to maintain and wash. Organic cotton can be machine washed in cold water with other colored textiles.
2. Organic Hemp
Another organic fabric is Hemp. Being one of the oldest textiles in the world, hemp is used to create high-quality clothing without needing to sacrifice the environment.
The plant requires less water than cotton to grow, needs no pesticides, and naturally fertilizes the soil on its own. With its ability to grow faster than cotton, the abundance can be used in products such as ropes, clothing, paper, and even food.
Hemp is a durable material that can last you through summer and winter. As one of the most eco-friendly fabrics, clothes from hemp are lightweight, breathable, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial.
3. Organic Linen
Linen is also a fabric that has been around for many years and has become increasingly popular through the years due to its sustainability. Created from flax fiber, it can grow even on poor quality soil and doesn’t need much water or pesticides. This makes it environmentally and socially responsible.
The sustainability of Organic Linen stems from the fact that flax plants are used wholly in the weaving and spinning process to create fabric. Meaning that no waste is left in the process. When the fabric remains untreated, it also decreases water pollution arising from dying and coloring.
Like hemp, organic linen is similar in many ways. Linen fabric easily creases, but it is natural, robust, and lightweight. The fabric does have additional benefits such as versatility. Organic linen can be used to create different types of clothing for both men and women.
4. Lyocell
Lyocell is a type of fabric made from wood-based fibers. It can be a sustainable alternative to viscose or rayon fabrics as well. The fibers are a combination of wood pulp and wood flour that is non-toxic and eco-friendly to use.
A brand most popular in brands of lyocell is Tencel. It is manufactured by an Austrian company that meets the sustainability criteria of production. To avoid harmful effects on the environment, the fabric is produced in a closed-looped system with more than 99% of the solvents being recycled.
With the use of recycled wood pulp, Lyocell is stronger, softer, and more elastic than rayon. Although it is very similar to cotton, lyocell has a longer life cycle. This fiber has a natural smooth finish that allows it to retain moisture and be breathable.
5. Piñatex
Piñatex is a relatively new term in the fashion industry made from wasted pineapple leaf fibers. It is a vegan and eco-friendly alternative to leather. Made from post-farming waste, Piñatex is an easy-care material with high recycled content.
The production of Piñatex starts with the separation of natural fibers from pineapple leaves sourced from the Philippines. After it has been washed and dried, a molecule called pectin is removed to achieve a softer and pliable material. Then it is processed into a non-woven mesh before shipping them out to Spain for the finishing touches to give it that leather surface.
Plant-based fabrics are growing in popularity because of their versatility, strength, softness, and ease of care. Piñatex is great for making shoes, bags, wallets, and even seat covers.
You might have heard of a few of these, but not all sustainable textiles have made their way into the mainstream. And even if a textile is well known, you may not understand how it stacks up in terms of sustainability.
Most fabrics harm the environment, with conventional cotton being one of the worst. With sustainable fabrics, companies can reduce their fashion footprint while still providing customers with quality options in an ever-growing market of environmentally friendly apparel.
While sustainable fabrics are more expensive than conventional options, the availability of these is relatively limited. As a result, prices tend to be on the higher end. But by limiting your clothing choices to just sustainable fabrics, you’ll be taking a big step in the right direction towards reducing your eco footprints, and that’s going to have a great impact over time. If you’re someone who wants to look good without sacrificing sustainability, organic cotton is the right choice for you.
We can only hope that the fashion industry will continue to recognize the importance of using natural fibers in their clothing. The resources our planet has to offer are limited enough as individuals continuously contribute to their depletion. Thankfully, sustainable, vegan, and eco-friendly fabrics like the ones listed above are making it easier for the fashion economy.
Hopefully, you’ll prioritize purchasing sustainable clothing the next time you go shopping with the help of this article. Be sure to check out ZALORA’s Earth Edit to find sustainable clothing choices for you.