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Published : 14/02/2020 08:00:00
Categories : Fabric Guide
The first thing that comes to mind is that we’re talking about how fast a piece will wear down or tear, but that’s not right! The points that fall under sustainability are how eco-friendly a piece is, how ethically it was made, and how friendly to the environment its production is.
Consider any fabric:
First, we want to know if it was ethically produced.
Where was it made?
We might want to know the fuel expended in shipping – its carbon miles (or kilometers, but that’s a bit of a mouthful).
Will the fabric stand the test of time?
Can it be recycled?
These are all great questions – but the first and foremost question any consumer should be asking is, “What is it made from?”
All fibers are divided into natural and synthetic.
Natural fibers are those produced by plants or animals that can be spun into a fabric – such as silk, wool, hemp, bamboo or cotton.
Synthetic fibers are made from chemicals consisting of superior properties to natural fibers such as cotton or silk. Synthetic textiles are made from either inorganic products or a mixture of organic ones and chemicals.
It seems simple: Natural fabric is better. But natural does not always equal sustainable.
Often the production of natural fabrics causes just as much harm to the environment as the production of synthetic ones.
So, let us look at some of the fabrics below and examine their eco-friendliness, their production process, and their uses, as well and pros and cons.
UNSUSTAINABLE FABRIC | SUSTAINABLE FABRIC | |
ALPACA |
| |
BAMBOO |
| *** Bamboo fabric can be considered more sustainable if it is produced using a mechanical rather than a chemical process. The mechanical process is the same eco-friendly process used to make linen fabric from flax or hemp. |
CASHMERE |
| *** from an eco-perspective, cashmere is long-lasting and highly durable |
COTTON |
| |
COTTON |
| |
HEMP |
| |
LINEN | *** cheap linen is treated with chemicals in fast-fashion retailers |
|
MODAL *** some people question modal eco-friendliness | *** can be dyed with harsh chemicals (many containing heavy metals) |
*** Lenzing Modal® is made from sustainably harvested beech trees and is bleached with an environmentally friendly method |
NYLON |
| |
POLLYCOTTON |
| |
POLYESTER |
| |
RAYON |
| |
RAMIE |
| |
SILK (Natural) |
| |
SILK VEGAN (Peace Silk) |
| |
SOY FABRIC | *** watch out for soy blends with polyester and inorganic cotton |
|
TENCEL (Lyocell) | *** not all Tencel fabric is made from sustainable wood, and can also be dyed with high-chemical dyes |
|
WOOL |
| |
WOOL |
| |
RECYCLED POLYESTER |
| |
RECYCLED |
|
Of course if you look hard enough, no fabric is ever truly and fully sustainable. The production process of sustainable fabrics is more expensive, but clothes made from them will often have higher quality, and overall last longer.
In any case, this chart should help you make a more deliberate decision on what fabric to use for your next project))
Editor's note:
Fabric information sourced from New Classic’s The Ethics of Fabrics and goodonyou.eco