My Transition to Natural and Organic Clothing
The transition from synthetic clothing to more natural, organic clothing has been an on-going and slow process that I have been working on for years, but it’s becoming more of a priority now. Like anything, we unravel in our own time. Clothing was not at the top of my priority list, but as I continue to grow and my version of “integrity” upgrades with me, I can feel more than ever how important it is to make sure the things I live and move in, are helping me thrive.
Stepping out of the artificial clothing world is important in many ways, but it’s easy to ignore the role that clothing can play in interfering with our health and vitality as a natural being.
Look no further than footwear to see the ways in which fashion has totally messed up our health via the body’s natural biomechanics. Heels, narrow toe boxes, and hard synthetic materials that disconnect us from the earth are surely one of the most misunderstood reasons why our bodies ache. When it comes to clothing, it’s really mind-blowing to think that our pores are covered with synthetics (often derivatives of plastic) all day, especially in sensitive areas or during more sensitive times. Having breathable, natural, organic materials on our bodies is good for us; it’s also good for the planet. “Fast fashion” is destroying the ecosystems we live in, dissociating us from our choices and the reality that we vote with our dollar any time we spend one.
If you’re interested in the topic or in making better choices yourself, this article is for you. This will likely be the first of a few blog articles exploring the subject since it’s a fascination that I’m finally taking the time to dive into.
And trust me, I get it. Lululemon leggings are great. I still wear mine sometimes, but I refuse to invest any more money in clothing made from super synthetic materials. So, I’m writing this in my phasing-out era. I’ll share why and some of the brands I’m excited to be slowly integrating into my wardrobe instead.
First up, let’s explore some of the reasons why synthetic clothing is not where it’s at.
1. Chemical Residues in Synthetic Clothing
Synthetic clothing, crafted from materials like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, can present health challenges due to the chemical components used in their creation and the way they interact with our bodies. The process of producing synthetic fibers involves petroleum-based chemicals, which may linger on the fabric even after production. Continuous contact with these residues through our attire can lead to skin irritations, rashes, and allergies, particularly for those with delicate skin or pre-existing conditions like eczema.
2. Breathability and Temperature Regulation Concerns
Furthermore, synthetic clothing can disrupt our body's natural ability to regulate temperature and maintain breathability. Synthetic materials tend to be less breathable than natural fibers such as cotton, linen, or wool, trapping heat and moisture against our skin. This creates a hospitable environment for bacterial and fungal growth, potentially resulting in skin infections and undesirable odors. Additionally, the trapped heat and moisture can cause discomfort and worsen pre-existing skin conditions.
3. The Environmental and Ethical Impact of Fast Fashion
Fast fashion, characterized by rapid production and high turnover of inexpensive clothing, exacerbates the problems associated with synthetic materials. The industry's focus on producing cheap, disposable garments often leads to compromised quality and a disregard for the environment and workers' rights. Fast fashion contributes to excessive waste, as discarded clothing ends up in landfills, polluting the environment with non-biodegradable materials. Additionally, this industry model often relies on exploitative labor practices in order to maintain low production costs. By supporting sustainable and ethically-produced clothing, we can make a positive impact on both our health and the environment, and advocate for fair treatment of workers in the fashion industry.
4. Investing in Quality Organic Clothing for a Healthier and Sustainable Lifestyle
Fast fashion, driven by the constant pursuit of profits and short-lived trends, often results in either subpar quality garments or exorbitant prices for toxic products. The industry's emphasis on quick and inexpensive production methods can lead to poorly constructed clothes that wear out quickly, requiring frequent replacements and contributing to a cycle of waste. Moreover, the materials and chemicals used in the manufacturing process can have negative impacts on our health, as well as on the environment. By choosing to invest time and resources in high-quality organic clothing, we not only prioritize our own well-being but also make a conscious decision to support a more sustainable and ethical lifestyle. Organic clothes, made from natural fibers and produced without harmful chemicals, are not only kinder to our skin but also have a longer lifespan. This allows us to cherish and utilize these garments for years to come, reducing waste and promoting a healthier relationship with our wardrobe and the world around us.
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Now that we’re on the same page about swapping out the cheap quality (but often expensive) synthetic stuff, let’s explore some of the key things to look for when buying natural.
Does it Have to Be Organic?
Some natural materials for clothing can end up being toxic due to the way they are processed. For example, some natural fibers are treated with chemicals during the manufacturing process to enhance their performance or appearance. The use of these chemicals can result in toxic byproducts or residues that can be harmful to the environment or to human health.
One example of this is the use of pesticides and insecticides in cotton farming. Cotton is one of the most widely used natural fibers in clothing, but its production is associated with high levels of pesticide use. Exposure to these chemicals can have negative health effects on farmers, workers, and local communities, as well as on the environment.
Similarly, the processing of wool and other animal-based fibers often involves the use of chemicals such as sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, and chlorine bleach. These chemicals can release harmful gases and byproducts into the air and water, leading to pollution and environmental damage.
Toxic chemicals used in textile manufacturing can also affect you too. For example, some dyes and finishes used in clothing production can contain heavy metals or other toxic substances that can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled as dust. This can lead to skin irritation, allergic reactions, and other health issues.
So although natural is absolutely a good step out of synthetic land, some natural materials for clothing can become toxic due to the use of chemicals in their processing. To minimize the impact of textile production on the environment and human health, it’s ideal to choose natural fibers that have also been sustainably grown and processed using eco-friendly methods.
That being said, going natural is a great first step. Certified organic stuff dyed with natural pigments is (in my opinion) worth investing in for the long run, but if that’s not viable right now, you can start with just natural materials. The first, and I would say, probably the most important step is ditching the synthetic. These are the bearers of our biggest problems, like preventing our skin from breathing, not to mention the toxins.
Like anything in life, rarely do we go from 0-100. If you read this article and think, “ok, I need to get 100% certified organic, all-natural clothing made with only natural dyes” … odds are you’ll be overwhelmed and do nothing. But if you start to think about what you wear most and how little by little you can swap out synthetic for natural, and over time invest in some organic pieces too, the task is more manageable and realistic.
Natural Materials 101
Cotton: a soft, breathable, and durable plant-based fiber widely used in clothing and textiles.
Wool: a warm and insulating fiber obtained from the fleece of sheep, goats, or other animals.
Linen: a lightweight and breathable fabric made from the fibers of the flax plant, often used in warm-weather clothing.
Silk: a luxurious and smooth fabric made from the cocoon of silkworms, prized for its softness and sheen.
Hemp: a strong and durable fiber obtained from the hemp plant, often used in sustainable and eco-friendly clothing.
Leather: a durable material made from the skin of animals, commonly used in shoes, jackets, and accessories.
Bamboo: a soft and sustainable fiber made from the bamboo plant, often used in clothing due to its moisture-wicking and antibacterial properties.
Cashmere: a soft and warm fiber obtained from the undercoat of cashmere goats, prized for its softness and warmth.
Jute: a rough and strong plant-based fiber used in clothing, accessories, and home decor items.
Ramie: a strong and lustrous fiber obtained from the stem of the Chinese nettle plant, often used in summer clothing due to its lightweight and breathable nature.
Alpaca: a soft and warm fiber obtained from the fleece of alpaca animals, often used in sweaters and winter accessories.
But Wait…
Many of these materials aren’t black and white when it comes to being natural. This is because many of them require significant processing to turn them into clothing material. There is still a lot of greenwashing going on, and I also find it helpful to understand the in’s and out’s to then make better (not always perfect) choices.
Some examples of such materials include:
Rayon / Viscose: Rayon, or viscose, is made from cellulose fibers, typically extracted from wood pulp. While the base material comes from a natural source (trees), the chemical process used to create rayon is heavily industrial and uses hazardous chemicals, which can be harmful to the environment and workers.
Bamboo: Although bamboo itself is a natural, fast-growing plant, transforming it into a soft, wearable fabric requires a chemically-intensive process similar to the production of rayon. The final product, bamboo rayon or bamboo viscose, is not as 'natural' as it might initially seem.
Lyocell / Tencel: Lyocell, often known by the brand name Tencel, is made from wood pulp using a similar process to rayon and bamboo fabric production. However, it uses a closed-loop process, meaning the chemicals used to break down the wood pulp are recycled and reused, reducing the environmental impact.
Modal: Modal fabric, like rayon and lyocell, is made from spun cellulose from beech trees. The process of breaking down the cellulose and creating fibers involves various chemicals, making modal not entirely natural.
Cupro: Cupro is a "regenerated cellulose" fabric made from cotton waste. Its production process involves dissolving cotton linter (the small fibers adhering to cotton seeds after the ginning process) in a solution of copper and ammonia, which is then spun into fibers. This chemical process also disqualifies it from being fully natural.
While these materials aren't entirely natural due to their chemical processes, they can be more sustainable options than synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon, especially if managed responsibly. As with any fabric, the environmental impact depends not just on the material itself but how it's sourced, processed, dyed, transported, and eventually discarded.
Ditch Vegan Clothing
Vegan clothing, often hailed as a compassionate and eco-friendly choice, is a deceptive form of greenwashing that conceals the dark side of synthetic and toxic materials. The production of these so-called "vegan" fabrics, such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, heavily depends on fossil fuels, significantly exacerbating our carbon emissions crisis. These materials are not only full of hazardous chemicals that endanger human health, but they also wreak havoc on our environment. Synthetic fabrics, due to their non-biodegradable nature, are major contributors to microplastic pollution, posing a severe threat to marine life and fragile ecosystems. It is high time we confront the truth: vegan clothing is not the sustainable alternative it claims to be. To protect our planet, we lean into traditional, all-natural materials, including animal skins (leather) and furs (like wool). Being mindful of how these materials were harvested matters, but when done properly, they can ensure nose-to-tail honoring of the whole animal and promote human health by keeping us warm via breathable, non-toxic materials.
In other words: “vegan leather” is plastic. NO THANKS!
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All Natural & Organic Clothing Companies
Here are some organic and natural brands to look into that I either personally wear or have heard great things about and will be investing in!
PACT ORGANIC
This brand has all the basics, but that actually looks great. I like pact because they’re predominantly made from organic cotton. Some stretchier stuff contains a little elastane, but these pants (for example) are 89% organic cotton. They also have 100% organic cotton leggings, and their pact sweatpants are 100% certified organic cotton too.
WAMA Underwear
These organic underwear (and bras) are made from organic hemp and cotton and contain 3% spandex.
BOODY
I discovered BOODY when I was living in Australia. They are made mostly from bamboo viscose (more on viscose earlier in the article). I still have a few of their thongs that I’ll throw on as bathing suit bottoms for maximum sun exposure, but since I bought them many years ago, the company has expanded significantly into loungewear and activewear.
Home of Wool
Although they don’t make clothing, I had to include Home of Wool when it comes to natural fabrics because this company makes incredible products from wool, organic cotton, and silk. From custom wool mattresses, to blankets, pillows, camping gear, and even yoga mats— Home of Wool is an incredible company
Code FULLYHUMAN gets you a rad discount on all their products.
Affaires
A special shout out to Affaires, an Australian-based bag company started by a beautiful friend of mine.
From their site: “Our fabrications have been carefully selected based on their ability to retain both softness and strength, to allow your bag to form a trustworthy vessel to carry all of your things. We only work with 100% natural fibres derived solely from plants, making them recyclable, renewable and biodegradable from seed to bag.”
Even their woven tags are made from GOTS certified organic cotton … Say no more!
What About Footwear?
Shoes are a tad more complicated, and I’ll be writing an entire article on optimal footwear very soon. For now, a few options include old school mocassins, and (albeit some synthetic materials for sure) the Earth Runners are a great option that actually earths your feet thanks to their copper plug and conductive laces. Your feet touch mostly the GOTS cotton bedding, and overall these are great for natural foot movement (zero drop + no toe box!).
Hot Tips!
Buy secondhand! Some of my nicest pieces of natural organic clothing were purchased secondhand. It takes a little more time, but I found a $200 Hemp Temple organic hemp and cotton dress at a second-hand store in Margaret River for $6. Enough said!
Check the ‘sale’ and ‘clearance’ sections on the abovementioned websites. I scored a pair of Indigo Luna leggings for $21 and a pair of their shorts for $21 as well.
Try a buy-swap group on Facebook. To be honest, they’re a bit annoying to me (too many people, you really have to check often and be on it super quick), but still a neat option, especially to learn about new organic clothing brands
Final Words
This ‘transition’ can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. Tune into what your body is calling for from the inside out. Fashion can confuse us into thinking we need to perform to be validated or loved; I know I spent a while grappling with that in my younger years, but today, prioritizing natural fabrics that my skin can breathe in and slowly introducing more organic wear into the mix.
