Clothing plays an integral part in your overall wellbeing; however, certain fabrics could actually be doing more damage than good.
Most clothing fabrics contain synthetic fibers containing toxic chemicals, which leach into water, air and soil over time and pose serious health hazards.
Polyester
Polyester is one of the most frequently used fabrics for clothes and home products, such as home furnishings, plastic bottles, food packages, electrical insulation materials and leisure suits from 1970s leisure suits – and may even be found lurking somewhere in your closet! It can even be found in old recording tape.
synthetic fiber produced artificially and often manufactured from polymers derived from petroleum-derived substances like coal, oil and water.
Fabric can be quite durable and easy to care for when constructed from this material, since it doesn’t pill or tear easily and dries quickly – all while being quick drying so as to provide ease in maintenance and cleaning.
Polyester’s versatility extends beyond its composition alone; it can also be combined with cotton, wool and other natural fibers to produce a softer and more comfortable fabric. Blended fabrics tend to be less susceptible to wrinkles and rips than pure polyester versions while being more resilient against molds and mildews.
If you want an environmentally-friendly fabric, try finding items made from natural fibers like cotton or linen. Not only are these more body-friendly fabrics than others but they are also significantly less costly than their alternatives.
Polyester fibers differ significantly from natural ones in that they trap heat, leading to uncomfortable feelings when you wear it and reduced breathability resulting in sweaty feet and bodies. Polyester can make you hotter and sweat more, contributing to uncomfortable heat trapping conditions and potentially increasing sweat production.
Polyester fabrics also tend to emit an offensive odor that can become quite distracting over time, potentially due to chemical elements in them or even just exposure to outside air. This odor could come directly from polyester itself or due to other chemicals present.
These chemicals have been linked with skin irritations, allergies, headaches and sore throats as well as hormone disruption and liver disease.
Avoiding polyester can be hard, but one way is to buy clothes made from more eco-friendly fabrics. Always read labels before purchasing clothes to identify what materials were used in their production.
Acrylic
Acrylic clothing fabrics can be dangerous due to the toxic chemicals used during its production process, which have been linked with cancer, skin irritation, allergies and headaches as well as increased breast cancer risks among postmenopausal women.
These hazardous chemicals are not easily recyclable or biodegradable, which makes them hard to recycle or dispose of safely in landfill sites. Furthermore, their volatile nature means they are often not properly filtered resulting in explosions when not handled appropriately; that is why organic fabrics should always be considered when buying clothing.
Synthetic textiles are often produced using chemicals derived from petroleum or coal sources, contributing to global pollution issues. Acrylic fiber production in particular has proven detrimental, with gasses released during the process contaminating nearby ecosystems while harming workers.
This is particularly pertinent because many production facilities that create acrylonitrile chemicals are unregulated or monitored by authorities, producing toxic substances while often failing to filter both air and water used for processing.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Environmental Protection Agency has also linked residual monomers found in this fabric type with cancer.
Because of these risks, it is wise to select clothing made from natural fabrics such as cashmere, cotton, silk, linen or wool instead.
If you want clothing made of organic fabric, check for certification from organizations like Fair Trade Alliance or National Organic Program on its label. Choosing organic clothes not only benefits the environment, but can also benefit both you and your health.
Another option is purchasing secondhand clothes. Thrift shops often provide inexpensive items that have already undergone rigorous tests and proved themselves reliable and durable.
Keep in mind that acrylic garments tend to shrink and stretch under normal wear and care, leading to permanent distortion in knit fabrics with loose or open constructions. To preserve their condition and ensure good shape for longer, try washing with warm water before placing in a low temperature cycle dryer without overheating the garments.
Nylon
Nylon fabric is widely used for clothing applications. It can be spun and woven to produce different styles of cloth for more interesting and durable designs, while remaining more affordable than materials like silk or wool.
Polyester fiber has been around for decades, used extensively to manufacture clothing and other items including hosiery, ropes and nylon fishing nets.
Nylon fiber can be spun and woven into many different fabrics ranging in thickness. Common uses for nylon include making socks and underwear; additionally it’s widely used in swimsuits, windbreakers and sportswear applications.
Though polyester may be an economical and convenient fabric choice, it is neither sustainable or eco-friendly – being nonbiodegradable and made of nonrenewable fossil fuels which poses serious environmental threats to our planet.
Emitting harmful toxins that could have serious implications on our health, it’s best to opt for more eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton or linen where possible.
Nylon fabric is non-biodegradable, making it an undesirable material for clothing purposes.
Production of nylon can also be highly polluting and utilizes chemicals that can have devastating environmental consequences. Furthermore, its disposal poses great difficulty and poses risk to nearby ecosystems.
Plastic trash is not biodegradable or water soluble; therefore it will end up in our ocean ecosystems as part of its existence.
Material such as cotton is also highly flammable and should never be worn when cooking or engaging in any activity that involves heat, such as when cleaning with chlorine bleach solutions. This is particularly dangerous if the fabric has been treated with chemicals like chlorine bleach to create flame retardant properties.
Nylon fabric can be difficult to dye successfully and is more prone to pilling than other fabrics. When dyeing nylon it is not recommended using hydrogen peroxide as this could damage its integrity and lead to irreparable damage of its fibers.
Cotton
Cotton fabric has long been used to craft clothing. Its durability makes it extremely popular with clothing consumers, while it also boasts antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties, making it suitable for people with sensitive skin or allergies.
Cotton fibers undergo extensive processing to remove wax, protein and other materials such as adhesive wax. What remains is pure cellulose which forms layers to give cotton its unique properties of strength, durability and absorbency.
Cotton’s cellulose is an intricate polymer composed of twenty to thirty layers of interlocked, coiling ribbon-like filaments known as cotton fibers that play an essential part in manufacturing fabric we all know and love.
Cotton’s natural properties make it a breathable fabric that helps you remain cool in warm weather and warm when temperatures drop. Plus, its care is straightforward: simply launder or dry-clean to get maximum performance out of every piece you own!
Cotton doesn’t emit unpleasant odours when washed in the washing machine like most synthetic fabrics do, making it an incredibly versatile fabric used to craft everything from jeans and shirts to workwear, dresses and sportswear.
Also, organic cotton fabric is among the most eco-friendly available today, being biodegradable and returning back into its native soil as a rich source of nourishment.
Coconut is also an extremely eco-friendly fabric because when washed it does not release microplastics into the environment – something synthetic fabrics do. Therefore, using organic fabrics helps combat microplastic pollution – one of the largest environmental threats today.