Cart
The clothes you’re wearing right now, do you know what they’re made from? Do you know the correct way to care for them? Further, do you know how environmentally intensive they are to create?
We wear clothes literally every day, yet most of us have never spent time reflecting on what actually goes into the manufacturing process. Different fabrics need to be cared for in different ways, and have distinctive environmental impacts depending on what they’re made of, and the process in which they are made!
LINEN
Linen is a plant-based fabric, made from flax which can be grown on rough terrain that is unsuitable for food production. This process involves soaking the flax crop in rivers on waterways, and results in a high amount of pollutants making their way into the waterways.
HOW TO CARE FOR IT: As a general rule, linen can be machine washed on the delicate or short cycle with a cold-water wash and rinse. However, you will extend the life of your fabric if you hand wash your linen clothing in cold water.
COTTON
Cotton is a natural plant-based fibre that makes up a quarter of all fabric used in clothing, furniture, and other textile blends, such as rayons and synthetics. It is durable, breathable, biodegradable, and highly versatile. However, in production, cotton uses a tremendous amount of water – according to the United Nations, around 3% of global water use is attributed to cotton production. Additionally, despite it being a natural fibre, it is the most pesticide intensive crop in the world, and it takes up a large portion of agricultural land.
HOW TO CARE FOR IT: For best results, you should machine wash your cotton garments in cold or warm water. However, you should not use hot water as it may shrink the cotton. Tumble dry on a law setting, then promptly remove the item from the dryer to avoid wrinkles.
WOOL
Wool is an animal product and is arguably the most environmentally friendly fabric. It is tough, wrinkle resistant and resilient. Wool can also replace many water-resistant synthetics and polyester fleeces that feature prominently in outdoor gear without fear of microfibre shedding.
HOW TO CARE FOR IT: Before putting your wool garments in the washing machine, you should first soak them in cold water. When in the washing machine, always use a cold-water cycle.
POLYESTER
Polyester currently dominates the clothing industry and is found in 60% of clothing. It is popular for its durability and comfort; however, it is important to remember that it’s a plastic that is manufactured from crude oil. Every time we wash polyester, it releases plastic microfibres into waterways, contaminating lakes and oceans. Further, making polyester uses large amounts of water for cooling, along with lubricants which can become a source of contamination.
HOW TO CARE FOR IT: To wash polyester, start by turning the garment inside out. Then, wash it on your machine’s permanent-press cycle using warm water, since your cold water doesn’t effectively remove stains from polyester. Dry your garment on low heat in a dryer or allow it to air dry.
VISCOSE
Viscose is the generalised term for a regenerated, manufactured fibre. Viscose is often advertised as a sustainable alternative to cotton or polyester and is popular in the fashion industry as a cheaper and more durable alternative to silk. As a plant-based fibre, it is not inherently polluting or toxic. However, as a result of its growing popularity and the fast fashion industry, it is often manufactured cheaply, with a process that is very energy, water and chemically intensive.
HOW TO CARE FOR IT: When caring for viscose clothing, always refer to the garments care label for special instructions. Before placing it in the washing machine, you should first hand wash the items in cool water. Hang them out to dry rather than machine drying them.
