Recently, we've seen a green shift in the fashion industry. Although there's still a long way to go, many brands are embracing eco-friendly clothing .
Sustainable fashion isn't a passing fad. It's a way of life and a sign of respect and care for the environment. Therefore, choosing specific sustainable fabrics and materials for this type of fashion becomes essential. In the following article, we delve into the main fabrics and materials for eco-friendly clothing .
Characteristics of sustainable materials for clothing
Eco-friendly fabrics and materials for sustainable clothing always have a number of common characteristics.
- Respect for nature: The fashion industry is the second most polluting, but eco-friendly fashion seeks to reverse this reality. The materials are respectful and sustainable, reducing the environmental impact. Waste production is reduced, and fabric recycling and reuse processes are used. In addition, they eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and reduce water consumption.
- High quality: These fabrics and materials are of excellent quality, so the garments last longer than fast fashion. Furthermore, garments made with these sustainable fashion fabrics are typically made using an artisanal manufacturing process.
- Social and labor commitment: This is irrefutable. These sustainable fashion materials must be protected by a social and labor commitment, which guarantees fair and decent working conditions.
- Fair trade: These fabrics or materials for eco-friendly clothing are also characterized by fair prices, with the aim of benefiting the entire production chain. From the farmer to the clothing manufacturers, including the brands.
Main sustainable fabrics and materials for fashion
So, what sustainable fabrics and materials are used in this type of responsible fashion? Here are some examples:
Organic cotton
One of the main sustainable materials for eco-friendly fashion is, without a doubt, organic cotton . This fabric is very beneficial for you and the environment, even though it only represents 1% of cotton textile production worldwide. It also uses 91% less water than conventional cotton.
In addition to being pesticide-free and dyed without harmful substances, it's durable, elastic, hypoallergenic, and ideal for people with skin conditions such as dermatitis or atopic dermatitis. In fact, it's very soft to the touch and allows the skin to breathe. This makes it warm in winter and cool in summer.
Likewise, if it is organic cotton with GOTS certification , it is guaranteed that both environmental and labor rights are respected in its production.
Linen
Linen, for its part, is one of the most widely used and valued natural raw materials in sustainable fashion. Linen is breathable, cool, and also absorbs sweat. Therefore, it's a super-comfortable fabric for the summer season. Because being comfortable and cool at 40 degrees is priceless!
In addition, among its benefits, it is worth adding that it is a hypoallergenic fabric and promotes blood circulation in the body.
Hemp
Did you know that hemp is one of the most eco-friendly and oldest plants? This fiber is extracted from the interior of the cannabis plant's stem, so its origin, in addition to being completely natural, requires no fertilizers, pesticides, and very little water to grow .
Hemp is characterized by its flexibility, water resistance, and chemical-free cultivation. Therefore, it couldn't be missing from this list of sustainable materials for fashion.
Tencel
Tencel is a sustainable material, whose natural origin is linked to cellulose . Indeed, to produce Tencel, it requires the wood pulp of eucalyptus, pine, beech, or fir from environmentally sound forests.
Plus, it's a biodegradable fiber and has a very soft finish, a great option that also facilitates breathability.
What are the most commonly used materials in sustainable fashion?
The goal is to promote fashion that is respectful and environmentally friendly. Because even though this ecological message is gradually taking root in society, many large fashion companies still pollute rivers and oceans with toxic wastewater.
Therefore, among the most widely used sustainable materials and fabrics in eco-fashion, we can highlight more environmentally friendly raw materials or recycled and recyclable materials, thus promoting circular fashion.
Fashion says a lot about us. It identifies us as individuals, revealing our personality and values.
At Elisa Muresan , we only use vegan, eco-friendly, and recyclable materials when making garments like these sustainable women's t-shirts and eco-friendly sweaters . Are you joining this change?
