What Are My Cloths Made Of?
To begin with there are two main categories of fabric, sustainable and synthetic.
Sustainable fabrics tend to be recycled or natural materials that aim to reduce harm through environmental impact (including the use of pesticides), production or fiber properties.
Below is a list of some of those fabrics.
Bamboo is moisture-wicking, absorbent, breathable, and soft. It's resistant to mold, mildew, odor and bacteria.
Bamboo is moisture-wicking, absorbent, breathable, and soft. It's resistant to mold, mildew, odor and bacteria.
Hemp is a very durable, breathable material with four times the strength of cotton. It filters UV light and is naturally resistant to bacterial growth.
Linen is made from flax. It's very strong, dries faster than cotton and it's both absorbent and breathable.
Organic cotton is produced without toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or GMOs. It's known to be hypoallergenic and softer than non organic.
Reclaimed fabric (aka deadstock) is leftover fabric from manufacturers or any type of material, including vintage fabric purchased secondhand which would otherwise be thrown out.
Linen is made from flax. It's very strong, dries faster than cotton and it's both absorbent and breathable.
Organic cotton is produced without toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or GMOs. It's known to be hypoallergenic and softer than non organic.
Reclaimed fabric (aka deadstock) is leftover fabric from manufacturers or any type of material, including vintage fabric purchased secondhand which would otherwise be thrown out.
Recycled polyester is made from plastic water bottles that have been broken down into fibers.
Silk comes from silkworms, which are resistant to pollution and easy to grow. It's both strong and durable as well as hypoallergenic, mold and mildew resistant. It's insulating properties keeps moisture close to skin and it's smooth texture won't irritate skin.
Silk comes from silkworms, which are resistant to pollution and easy to grow. It's both strong and durable as well as hypoallergenic, mold and mildew resistant. It's insulating properties keeps moisture close to skin and it's smooth texture won't irritate skin.
Wool can be a sustainable fabric depending on how it’s produced. Wool is incredibly insulating while still being breathable.,
Lyocell is a form of rayon. It consists of cellulose fiber, made from dissolving pulp then reconstituting it by dry jet-wet spinning. It's soft and considered hypoallergenic and is often used as a substitute for silk or cotton.
Modal is a semi-synthetic material made mainly of beech trees. It's a naturally occurring yet human-made fabric that is a form of rayon. It's soft, durable, breathable, water absorbent, and stretchy, making in good for sensitive skin.
Modal is a semi-synthetic material made mainly of beech trees. It's a naturally occurring yet human-made fabric that is a form of rayon. It's soft, durable, breathable, water absorbent, and stretchy, making in good for sensitive skin.
Synthetic fibers are the result of research by scientists to improve on natural fibers and animals. They tend to be less expensive, more available, have more durability with good elasticity. Unfortunately they don't tend to absorb moisture well so they can be uncomfortable when the weather gets hot. Also there is concern about the chemicals that are used in the finishing processes of these synthetic fibers.
Here is just a short list of some of the most common.
Polyester cloth was invented in 1941 and today it's one of the most widely used synthetic made from petroleum based products.
Nylon is a synthetic material made from petroleum based products. It's durable, strong and has great elasticity.
Acrylic fabric is derived from coal based and petroleum chemicals.
Spandex, Lycra, Elastane is a polyether-polyurea copolymer invented in 1958 that can stretch to 5-8 times it's regular size.
Olefin is a polypropylene or polyethene fiber created in 1957. It's known for it's strength as well as its mildew and stain resistance.
Synthetic leather is made from PVC, polyurethane or polyamide.
Polyester cloth was invented in 1941 and today it's one of the most widely used synthetic made from petroleum based products.
Nylon is a synthetic material made from petroleum based products. It's durable, strong and has great elasticity.
Acrylic fabric is derived from coal based and petroleum chemicals.
Spandex, Lycra, Elastane is a polyether-polyurea copolymer invented in 1958 that can stretch to 5-8 times it's regular size.
Olefin is a polypropylene or polyethene fiber created in 1957. It's known for it's strength as well as its mildew and stain resistance.
Synthetic leather is made from PVC, polyurethane or polyamide.
Synthetic suede is made from polyester microfiber.
Synthetic fur is pile fabric blend of polyester, modacrylic and acrylic fibers.
Polyester and Artic fleece are made from polyester (such as polyethylene terephthalate or other synthetic fibers). It's known for it's light weight, it's ability to block outside humidity while allowing internal moisture to evaporate.
Microfiber is extremally fine (about 1/3 the diameter of cotton fiber) and is generally a blend of polyester and nylon.
One of the articles I found was from bbcearth.com "Six fashion materials that could help save the planet" by Lucy Jones. She explains that consumers now buy a surprising 60% more clothing than just 15 years ago, and that the industry estimates that the average life span of those cloths is between 2-10 years. With items like t-shirts and underwear lasting just 1-2 years. World wide it's estimated that just 12% of clothing materials are recycled. (Yes this percentage surprised me too.) The problem, she says is that these fabrics are made from blends of different materials that need to be separated. (for more from this article check out the link here: bbcearth.com)
If you are interested in learning more about the chemicals in our clothing I would suggest checking out this article from CBC News, "Experts warn of high levels of chemicals in clothes by some fast-fashion retailers". Or this one from Total Health Magazine and an article written by Gloria Gilbere, Dahom, PHD "Consumers Beware: Toxins Lurking in Your Clothing"
On the positive side there are some great new fabrics being researched and developed. For example
Evrnu, a textile technology firm has "developed the first denim made of regenerated post-consumer cotton waste." They work with everyone within the supply chain to create both customizable and recyclable fiber. Another product called Mylo, from Bolt Threads is a synthetic leather fabric made of mushroom roots. And from Ananas Anam comes Piñatex, a patent pending material made from pineapple leaf fiber.
Polyester and Artic fleece are made from polyester (such as polyethylene terephthalate or other synthetic fibers). It's known for it's light weight, it's ability to block outside humidity while allowing internal moisture to evaporate.
Microfiber is extremally fine (about 1/3 the diameter of cotton fiber) and is generally a blend of polyester and nylon.
One of the articles I found was from bbcearth.com "Six fashion materials that could help save the planet" by Lucy Jones. She explains that consumers now buy a surprising 60% more clothing than just 15 years ago, and that the industry estimates that the average life span of those cloths is between 2-10 years. With items like t-shirts and underwear lasting just 1-2 years. World wide it's estimated that just 12% of clothing materials are recycled. (Yes this percentage surprised me too.) The problem, she says is that these fabrics are made from blends of different materials that need to be separated. (for more from this article check out the link here: bbcearth.com)
If you are interested in learning more about the chemicals in our clothing I would suggest checking out this article from CBC News, "Experts warn of high levels of chemicals in clothes by some fast-fashion retailers". Or this one from Total Health Magazine and an article written by Gloria Gilbere, Dahom, PHD "Consumers Beware: Toxins Lurking in Your Clothing"
On the positive side there are some great new fabrics being researched and developed. For example
Evrnu, a textile technology firm has "developed the first denim made of regenerated post-consumer cotton waste." They work with everyone within the supply chain to create both customizable and recyclable fiber. Another product called Mylo, from Bolt Threads is a synthetic leather fabric made of mushroom roots. And from Ananas Anam comes Piñatex, a patent pending material made from pineapple leaf fiber.
Could you ever have imagine leather from mushrooms or material from pineapple leaf fibers? It's pretty amazing. My hope is that people will continue to create safer and more sustainable options in the future.
Sources:
commonobjective.co/article/what-are-our-clothes-made-from
thegoodtrade.com/features/sustainable-clothing-fabrics
wwd.com/business-news/business-features/fabrics-the-future
bbcearth.com/news/six-fashion-materials-that-could-help-save-the-planet
masterclass.com/articles/fabric-guide-what-is-modal-fabric
printful.com/blog/guide-to-cotton-polyester-and-blended-fabrics/
sewguide.com/synthetic-fabrics-fibers/
sewport.com/fabrics-directory
Wikipedia
alouettesilk.com/blog/the-benefits-of-silk/
organiclifestyle.com/organic-cotton/benefits-of-organic-cotton-vs-bamboo-fabric
Sources:
commonobjective.co/article/what-are-our-clothes-made-from
thegoodtrade.com/features/sustainable-clothing-fabrics
wwd.com/business-news/business-features/fabrics-the-future
bbcearth.com/news/six-fashion-materials-that-could-help-save-the-planet
masterclass.com/articles/fabric-guide-what-is-modal-fabric
printful.com/blog/guide-to-cotton-polyester-and-blended-fabrics/
sewguide.com/synthetic-fabrics-fibers/
sewport.com/fabrics-directory
Wikipedia
alouettesilk.com/blog/the-benefits-of-silk/
organiclifestyle.com/organic-cotton/benefits-of-organic-cotton-vs-bamboo-fabric
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