Why Natural Fiber Clothing Matters and How to Care for Natural Fabrics
When building a sustainable wardrobe, fabric choice is incredibly important. The textile that your garment is made from can be a key indicator of how sustainably or ethically it was produced. We briefly touched on the importance of natural fiber clothing in the How to tell If a Clothing Brand is Ethical and Sustainable article, but in case you needed a refresher, here’s why natural fiber clothing matters and how to care for individual fabrics
Why Should You Switch To Natural Fiber Clothing?
Natural fabrics tend to have a smaller environmental impact than synthetic fabrics (the exception is cotton). They take less energy to produce and can more easily be reused cyclically. Natural fiber clothing also tends to feel better against the skin, breathe more easily, and is less likely to cause allergic reactions.
Additionally, synthetic clothing is a huge contributor to plastic pollution. With each wash, micro plastics (small bits of plastic less than 5 mm in length) are released into our oceans. This negatively impacts marine life and similarly, might have negative implications for humans (a definitive conclusion is not out yet). Natural fibers, comparatively, do not contribute any micro plastics to our environment and decompose at a faster rate, which leads to less pollution overall.
Here Is The Most Commonly Seen Natural Fibers In Garment Production And How To Care For Them
You’ve probably heard about the impracticality of cotton by now. It’s an extremely thirsty crop that takes a lot of pesticides to commercially grow. There are, however, several good reasons behind why cotton is so highly demanded. Cotton is a versatile, breathable, durable, and easy-to-care-for fabric. It’s soft and hypoallergenic. It’s easy to dye and can be used for many different purposes.
To wear this fabric mindfully, always opt for organic cotton from clothing brands that have been accredited by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Cotton also has a long history of labor exploitation and companies with certifications from the Fair trade Initiative or Better Cotton Initiative could be working to combat that.
How to Care for Cotton:
As you probably already know, cotton really isn’t that fussy. It’s a durable fabric that can withstand many wash cycles. That being said, shrinkage is something that tends to happen with cotton garments. Prevent this from happening by washing your clothes on the cold setting (yay, better for the environment anyway) and air drying.