Why buy eco-friendly clothing?

Thanks to the advent of “fast fashion”, the clothing industry has become one of the most wasteful industries today.  Many modern fabrics, like polyester and acrylic, are made from plastic and are not biodegradable.  Even worse, as trends are so quick to go in and out of style, about 85% of all textiles produced in the U.S. are either burned or end up in landfills.  To put that in perspective, the average American throws out about 81 pounds of clothing every year!

However, the clothing industry doesn’t just produce landfill waste.  About 8000 different chemicals are used by conventional clothing manufacturers to create textiles and dye synthetic fabrics.  That results in literally tons of pollution.  In fact, the textile industry is responsible for about 20% of the world’s industrial waste water and 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

As dire as those sounds, there is good news.  Today, with the burgeoning interest in greener living, there has been a growth in sustainable clothing choices.  From organically grown hemp to bamboo, clothing made from natural fibers is becoming increasingly popular.  Upcycled and recycled synthetic fabrics, like recycled polyester, is another excellent ethical clothing choice that can greatly reduce your carbon footprint and breathe new life into previously worn textiles.

But as popular as recycled polyester and hemp clothing are, organically grown cotton is one of the best textile choices for conscious fashion.  Today, “conventionally grown” cotton is one of the top GMO crops in existence and about 95% of cotton worldwide is grown by conventional means.  Farming this type of cotton requires large quantities of pesticides, herbicides and other toxic chemicals, as well as water waste.  However, times are changing and organically grown cotton is starting to replace conventional cotton, especially among eco-conscious consumers.

Considering the many benefits of organic cotton, it’s no surprise why.  Unlike conventionally grown cotton, all-natural, organic cotton is highly regulated and is grown without toxic herbicides or pesticides.  What’s more, organic cotton isn’t processed with harsh chemicals when it’s made, which makes it more durable and also just right for sensitive skin.  That’s why we’ve chosen to create our product line out of all-natural, 100% organic cotton.

If creating a more eco-conscious lifestyle and reducing your carbon footprint is important to you, considering your fashion choices is one important part of greener living.  Like anything else, it may not happen overnight, and building a sustainable wardrobe doesn’t mean you need to throw out all of your old clothes.  But making deliberate decisions while shopping and choosing more sustainable swaps as often as you can are two proven ways to help combat climate change, pollution and wasteful fashion practices. 

So, instead of getting caught up in fast fashion this year, try curating a more environmentally friendly wardrobe by choosing classic staple pieces and all-natural textiles.  The planet will thank you for it and we know you’ll fall in love with the supple, soft textures and fabulous look of all-natural fabrics.