It’s not that simple to explain what is sustainable fashion as the word sustainable in the fashion industry has been a bit overused and has a vague meaning. Well, we got your back because we’ve summed it up for you! To explain it briefly, sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is designed, manufactured, distributed, and used in ways that are environmentally friendly. Sustainable fashion prevents you from consumerism. By doing sustainable fashion, we can wear what we have until it wears out, thrifting (secondhand shopping), and swap or borrow from family and friends to help the environment. Not only by doing those, but we can also help the environment by buying clothes we need that are made of eco-friendly fabrics which now are widely produced by brands and clothing manufacturers all over the world. Read ahead to find some examples of eco-friendly fabrics.
Organic Cotton
Grown without any toxic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers as well as processed with no chemicals, organic cotton is known to be the most natural fabric. It is proven by how it is processed, organic cotton farming uses 62% less energy and 88% less water than conventional cotton. Thus, seen from how it is processed, the output garment of organic cotton is chemical-free and safe for the environment.
Silk
Produced by silkworms that live and only consume mulberry tree leaves which are resistant to pollution and easy to grow, silk is known to be incredibly soft. Silk is also great for the skin because it has antibacterial properties and is safe for the environment because it is completely compostable. The production process of silk allows the silkworms to live a natural life to evolve into butterflies eventually. Even when domestically bred, they are bred under natural conditions with no fungicides, sprays, or insecticides, making the silk fall into the eco-friendly fabrics category.
Recycled Polyester
Recycled polyester is PET (the chemical used to create polyester) from plastic water bottles that have been broken down into fibers. The recycled fabric keeps plastic out of landfills and can be recycled many times over, making it one of those eco-friendly fabrics. This fabric can be crafted into any kind of clothes. From thin and light activewear manufacturing to thick and fluffy sustainable coats.
Recycled polyester can be recycled so many times before it finally degrades into something that needs to be discarded.
Bamboo
Being a fast-growing, naturally regenerative crop that is very low-maintenance, it only needs very little water, fertilizer, or pesticides, and sequesters a large amount of carbon dioxide. Bamboo’s popularity is soaring because it is often praised as a sustainable material and eco-friendly fabric when mechanically processed. When properly made, bamboo is incredibly absorbent, comfortable, and moisture-wicking, making it remarkable within sustainable communities as one of the eco-friendly fabrics.
ECONYL
Have you ever heard of this eco-friendly fabric? ECONYL is a product introduced in 2011 by Aquafil. It is recycled nylon which is made using a closed-loop system and doesn’t require as much water. This fabric is a famous alternative to virgin nylon. It uses synthetic waste from ocean and landfill waste, such as abandoned fishing nets, industrial plastics, and fabric waste which then formed into new nylon fabric. Many eco-friendly swimwear suppliers and brands are now using ECONYL as their fabric.
Apple Leather
Also known as apple skin, apple leather is a bio-based material made using the leftover pomace and peel from the fruit juice and compote industry. When properly cared for, fabrics made from apple leather are very durable and long-lasting yet very soft. The fabric is created by taking apple waste and reducing it to a powder. Once processed, it is then combined with polyurethane and coated onto a cotton and polyester canvas. As an eco-friendly fabric, apple leather is perfect for hard-wearing small accessories or an alternative for leather phone cases.
The fabric is unique because the renewable resource is from nature, making it safe for the environment and mother earth.
Tencel
Being harvested from trees such as primarily birch, beech, spruce, and eucalyptus that are fully compostable and biodegradable, Tencel is one of the most eco-friendly fabrics out there. The fabric is a type of rayon derived from cellulose fibers that come from tree pulp. The process of making Tencel is through a closed loop using reused chemicals that are less dangerous to humans and the environment.
Many love Tencel because this fabric can be blended well with other fabrics, or on their own.
Linen
Not only is one of the most biodegradable and eco-friendly fabrics suitable for when it’s summer season, but linen also has existed for a very long time. European culture made linen into bed sheets as a family heirloom because it was a luxurious fabric, and it was also used as a currency by the Egyptians. People love linen because it is very absorbent yet antibacterial, making it perfect to be made into bed sheets!
Why is linen so eco-friendly? Because the fabric is made from flax, a plant that can be grown without fertilizer and planted in areas where most other crops can’t bloom. When not dyed, linen is fully biodegradable with its natural colors including ivory, ecru, tan, and gray.
