With fast fashion being more popular than ever, we often forget how our clothing choices affect our health. The materials that come in contact with our skin and the chemicals used to make them can greatly affect our health.
In this article, we'll go over the risks of wearing toxic fabrics and why you should avoid them. We'll also help you choose healthier and more sustainable clothes.
Our goal is to empower you to make smart choices that care for both your health and the environment.
Key Highlights
- Choosing the right fabrics to wear can have a significant impact on your health and the environment.
- Natural fibers like organic cotton, bamboo, linen, and wool are breathable, hypoallergenic, and gentle on the skin.
- Toxic fabrics like polyester, acrylic, nylon, and acetate are often made with harmful chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin.
- Look for clothing made with natural dyes and minimal processing to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals.
- Embrace slow fashion by choosing quality over quantity and repairing and reusing clothing whenever possible.
Why Choosing the Right Fabrics Matters
Our skin is our largest organ, and it helps protect us from outside threats. But, our skin can also absorb some substances, letting them enter our bloodstream.
Natural fibers, which come from plants or animals, are often praised because they let air in and don’t cause allergies, making them a preferred natural fabric choice. They go through very little chemical processing.
On the other hand, synthetic fabrics are usually cheaper and last longer, but they are made using lots of chemicals. This can leave harmful residues in the final product. Over time, these toxins can build up in our bodies, and this buildup might lead to different health problems.
What Makes a Fabric Healthy or Toxic?
The fabrics we wear can affect our skin and health. Antimicrobial fabrics can help prevent the growth of bacteria, making them a better choice for skin health.
Synthetic fabrics, made from petroleum-based fibers, can trap heat and moisture. This creates a place for bacteria to grow. It can make skin issues like dermatitis, eczema, and allergies worse.
Also, some chemicals in synthetic fabrics can act as endocrine disruptors. Many of these chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors (EDCs), interfere with the body’s hormonal systems.
Found in products ranging from food containers to clothing, these chemicals can penetrate the body through skin contact or ingestion, potentially causing serious health effects like reproductive issues, metabolic disorders, and even developmental problems.
Why Choosing the Right Fabric Matters
Choosing the right fabric is important for health and the environment. Regular fabrics often use harmful chemicals.
These include pesticides used when growing cotton and harsh dyes used to color the fabric. These chemicals can harm our water, damage nature, and increase greenhouse gases.
Using eco-friendly fabrics made from organic materials and dyed with natural dyes can reduce our impact on the planet. Natural dyes from plants, fruits, or insects are a better choice than synthetic dyes. They also create bright and lasting colors. By buying from brands that focus on sustainable practices, we help make the fashion industry greener.
4 Healthiest Fabrics to Wear
Let’s look at four of the healthiest fabrics you can wear. These fabrics will keep you healthy while making your wardrobe more eco-friendly.
1. Bamboo
Bamboo fabric comes from the fast-growing bamboo plant. It is great at wicking moisture, so it keeps you cool and dry. It also fights odors because of its natural antimicrobial fabric properties. Plus, it feels soft and nice on your skin.
Bamboo fabric does well in temperature regulation. It keeps you warm when it’s cool and allows for breathability when it’s warm.
It's for all these reasons that we've chosen bamboo as our fabric of choice for our clothing and bedding collections.
2. Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is a natural fabric grown without harmful pesticides and fertilizers. It stands out as a comfortable and skin-friendly fabric.
Growing organic cotton helps keep the soil healthy. It also uses less water and creates a safer environment for farmers and nature. Organic cotton is hypoallergenic, making it a great option for people with sensitive skin. I
3. Linen
Linen is made from flax fibers and is well-known for being strong. It has a unique texture and breathes well, which means it allows good airflow. It helps keep you cool in hot weather.
Linen is also great at absorbing moisture. It pulls sweat away from your skin and dries fast. This makes it perfect for people who sweat a lot or live in humid areas.
4. Wool
Sourced from sheep, wool is a natural insulator, providing warmth in cold climates. It’s naturally water-resistant, odor-resistant, and biodegradable. Merino wool, renowned for its exceptional softness and temperature-regulating properties, is a popular choice for base layers and winter wear.
4 Toxic Synthetic Fibers You Should Avoid
Let's now look at some of the toxic fabrics you should avoid:
1. Polyester
Polyester is a popular synthetic fabric that comes from petroleum. Recycled polyester offers a more sustainable option by reducing energy use and diverting plastic waste from landfills.
It is cheap to make, so it’s often found in fast fashion. However polyester does not break down easily, adding to the issue of textile waste.
When we wash polyester, it releases tiny plastic fibers into our water sources. This can hurt marine life and even find its way into our food. Also, making polyester needs a lot of energy and water, which creates a large impact on the environment.
2. Acrylic
Acrylic is made from a chemical called acrylonitrile, which is known to be carcinogenic. This man-made material feels soft and has a texture like wool. However, making acrylic involves harmful chemicals that can dirty the air and water.
Also, acrylic does not break down easily and can take many years to decompose in landfills.
3. Nylon
Nylon is a commonly used synthetic fiber. People like it because it is strong and does not wrinkle easily. But making nylon uses a lot of energy. It also needs a lot of petroleum which causes harmful emissions to be released into the air.
Also, the production of nylon often includes heavy metals and other toxic chemicals. These can pollute water and hurt ecosystems. Since nylon does not break down naturally, it adds to the problem of textile waste. This makes nylon an unsustainable choice over time.
4. Acetate
Acetate is a semi-synthetic fiber made from wood pulp. It goes through a lot of chemical processing that uses toxic chemicals like acetic anhydride and acetone. These substances can harm both people and the environment.
Acetate fabrics often get treated with formaldehyde resins. This treatment makes the fabrics resistant to wrinkles, but it makes them even more toxic.
Choose Bamboo for a Healthier You—and a Healthier Planet
Your clothing choices play a significant role in both your health and environmental impact.
Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon may be cheap, but they often contain harmful chemicals that can be absorbed through your skin. Opting for natural, eco-friendly fabrics like bamboo can protect you from toxins while keeping you comfortable and stylish.
At Earthly Threads, we specialize in bamboo clothing that is soft, breathable, and hypoallergenic. Bamboo not only helps regulate body temperature, but it’s also antimicrobial—keeping you feeling fresh all day.
