The fast fashion industrial complex has been under fire for years because of their impact on the environment. Now, consumers often demand more eco-friendly options. They want the brands they use to be in line with their own values, and sustainable fabric is a part of that. Here’s what you need to know about the trend of eco-friendly fabric options.
The Difference Between Traditional and Natural Fabrics
Natural fabric refers to material that is made from fibers produced by plants or animals. Examples of a natural fabric include cotton, silk, linen, and wool. Synthetic fabrics, which are very common traditionally, are produced by humans through a chemical synthesis known as polymerisation. Generally speaking, these processes are similar to that of plastic production. The majority of synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon, or nylon can be regarded similarly: like a plastic fabric.
On the other hand, natural fibers for clothing have obviously been around since humans first started wearing clothing! Even today, many of the fabric production processes used have not changed for hundreds of years. Using natural fibers means that we can support traditional production methods that tend to be more sustainable, more eco-friendly, and less energy-intensive than production for synthetic items.
The truth is that washing and caring for all linens – even natural fiber materials – will lead to microfibers entering the waterways and eventually making their way to the ocean. Increasingly, though, scientists are becoming more concerned about the number of long-lasting microplastics from synthetic fabric. A single instance of machine washing polyester clothing can release up to 700,000 fibers that can potentially damage the environment. Furthermore, synthetic fabrics can take decades to biodegrade and make up almost 8% of solid waste in landfills.
Sustainable fibers, on the other hand, take care not to add any chemicals during the natural production process (although of course, sometimes this is necessary). For a material to be more eco-friendly, producers take care to use only natural or eco-friendly dyes. Fabric-producers who focus on sustainability also care about social and environmental benefits. Therefore sustainable fabrics tend to be less toxic than synthetic material and are kinder to both the wearer and the environment.
Shop for Sustainably Made Fabrics
The fact is that all fabrics require some degree of resources to produce. How can you choose fabrics that are sustainably made? How can you even know which options are available?
For starters, pay closer attention to the label on the linens or clothes you use. Base your decisions on your values and what is important to you. For example, maybe you are impressed by brands that limit their carbon footprint. Or, if you want to ensure that no animal products were used in producing the fabric, you could look for plant-based fabrics and recycled synthetics. Similarly, if you only want to use linens that biodegrade, you’ll want to look for that note on the label. However, you also need to keep in mind your own unique needs like allergies or how long you need the items to last.
Though no single fabric is 100% sustainable, look for options that are made from natural or recycled materials, aim to reduce harm through the production process, fiber properties, or overall environmental impact, or contribute to the reduction of waste. Brands may also prioritize water conservation, lowered carbon emissions, and soil regeneration. You’ll find that “sustainable” is a term used broadly to refer to a group of fabrics made with environmentally friendly materials and processes.
Here are some of the more popular fabrics that are considered sustainable. Keep these in mind the next time you’re shopping for linens.
- Bamboo
- Econyl (a popular alternative to virgin nylon)
- Hemp
- Linen
- Modal
- Organic cotton
- Reclaimed (deadstock)
- Recycled polyester
- Silk
- Lyocell (rayon derived from cellulose fibers)
- Wool
It’s important to keep in mind that companies honestly focused on sustainability will not be shy about telling you so. A truly conscious brand will make transparency a top priority and you should be able to find a section or page on their website dedicated to the fabrics they use. For example, at Sunham, sustainability and innovation are embedded within our culture. We create products, services, and processes that meet the needs of the current generation, without compromising the needs of future generations. Learn more about our sustainability practices here.
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