What Are the Most Sustainable Fabrics to Fill Your Eco-Friendly Wardrobe?

 

Ever considered the fabric used to create the clothing you are wearing? Perhaps you do not like the way some materials feel. Maybe you do not give it any thought at all.

In order to keep up with market needs, makers of fast fashion rely on virgin synthetic materials, which are quick to create and inexpensive. Consequently, the fashion industry has been accused of seriously harming the environment.

Conscious fashion can involve many different things. However, shopping for sustainable fabrics is one of the methods to make a more mindful purchase. 

Top 4 sustainable fabrics you need to consider

1. Organic cotton

One of the most prevalent textiles in the world is cotton. This plant-based fiber is a wardrobe must since it is lightweight and breathable. However, traditional cotton farming requires a lot of water and chemicals, which might be harmful to the environment.

On the contrary, organic cotton is cultivated without the use of pesticides or other synthetic chemicals. Hence, this cotton fabric is far more eco-friendly than conventional cotton.

To verify if your cotton is organic, check whether it is GOTS-certified. 

Moreover, you can choose recycled cotton if you want to take sustainability a step further. Post-industrial and post-consumer cotton waste is used to create recycled or upcycled cotton.

2. Organic linen

Another plant we have grown for millennia is linen. Linen comes from the flax plant, a crop with a wide range of uses. When it comes to sustainability, it is essentially equivalent to hemp.

It needs minimal upkeep and decomposes naturally if left untreated. Plus, there is little plant waste since linen fabric production uses every component of the plant.

Moreover, it absorbs moisture without retaining germs, is light, and can tolerate high temperatures, in addition to being beneficial for the environment.

3. Organic hemp

One of the most sustainable fabrics for clothing now in use is hemp. It requires minimal water and neither pesticides nor fertilizers to grow. This "sober relative" of marijuana is a plant with a wide range of applications, including food, building supplies, cosmetics, and textiles.

Hemp, one of the oldest fibers in existence, keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter and grows softer the more you wash it.

Moreover, the soil can benefit from hemp as well. So, it is frequently used for crop rotation when the ground needs extra nutrients.

4. Silk

Silk is produced by silkworms that exclusively eat the easy-to-grow, pollution-resistant leaves of the mulberry tree. Due to the features of this plant, producing silk is a waste-free process. 

Moreover, chiffon fabric is also produced from silk which becomes another eco-friendly material.

Final thoughts!

Choosing poor fabric is a major contributor to unsustainable fashion.

Many fabrics used in our garments are harmful to both animals and humans. Not to mention that they have been releasing dangerous chemicals and microplastics into the environment for centuries. Thus, they harm the total ecosystem.

So, by including sustainable fabrics in your wardrobe, you can make a statement for a better future.