Wear More Sustainable Clothes
Another viable option to combat pollution and protect sea life is wearing more sustainable clothes.
Fibers in most textiles are farmed using conventional, non-organic methods. These methods rely heavily on pesticides that are harmful to the environment, wildlife, and even our health. The most common example is cotton.
Cotton represents about 55 percent of the fiber used in clothing and textile production. Over 60% of the cotton production happens in third-world countries, where 100 million people farm to guarantee some form of livelihood.
However, the intensive farming methods in cotton production overuse water and pesticides to meet demand, which is unsustainable for the wellbeing of our planet. On the other hand, awareness has grown, and companies have been pushing more sustainable products into the market. Yet it’s not enough to reform the textile sector in third world countries or fight pollution.
For instance, organic cotton, which is by far more sustainable than conventional cotton, represents 0.5 percent of total cotton production according to a market report released by textileexhange.org. That is simply because it’s not beneficial for farmers from a business standpoint.
I don’t fully understand the reason why, but if I were to guess, it’s probably because fast-fashion is more appealing to the consumer. The prices made from conventional cotton are incredibly cheaper, and thus everyone can buy it more frequently. In hindsight, sustainable clothes tend to be more expensive, and thus there’s not as much demand for it.
Regardless, as ethical individuals, we should support in any way we can. And even if it means buying less, but buying textiles with more quality, I don’t believe that’s a bad trade-off.
Organic Cotton
We already know conventional cotton is one of the most water and chemical-intensive crops to grow, thus the massive impact it has on the planet. As such, we should turn out attention to organic cotton. Organic cotton minimizes environmental impact by removing the use of pesticides and other chemicals in the production process. Plus, its crop rotation system reduces soil erosion and increases soil fertility, by allowing the nutrients to return to the soil.
Clothes made from organic cotton are the most common of natural fibers, so you’re able to find them more abundantly in t-shirts, and even underwear. A well-known brand that ethically produces clothing made from organic cotton is Vege Threads. Be sure to check them out if you get into conscious fashion.
Organic-Linen
Linen is an ancient, sustainable fabric made from the stem of the flax plant. While you frequently see it being used to create home textiles, it’s also a viable option for fashion products, as well. It requires less water than cotton, and it’s sturdier. With each wash, linen becomes more durable, and as an organic fabric, it’s super breathable and biodegradable.
Conscious Clothing is a brand know for its linen-made clothing, which is 100% ethical.
Organic Hemp
Hemp is one of the oldest fibers in the world.
Despite coming from the cannabis plant, hemp is one of the most sustainable options on the market.
One of the coolest aspects of hemp is how it only requires a small amount of land and water to grow while being fairly resistant against pests and diseases without the use of pesticides. Hemp can be used to create several clothes, but be sure to get choose clothes using natural dyes, to avoid the negative effects of chemicals on your skin and the environment.
Ecoture is a brand that uses hemp in the production of their clothes, and they follow the ethical and sustainable standards most vegans are in love with.
Pinatex (Pineapple Leather)
Pineapple is a wonderful fruit, and I’d include it in your diet
You may also consider it for different motives, like wearing the leaves of the pineapple plant on your feet. Yes, Pinatex is one of the most sustainable vegan leather alternatives on the market. Pinatex can be used for shoes, wallets, bags and other products where leather is often the first choice.
Interesting Fact: Pinatex now provides pineapple farmers with an extra source of income — considering pineapple leaves are no longer wasted and can be sold for Pinatex production.
Cork
I’m familiar with cork because the cork tree exists abundantly in Portugal, as it represents 50% of the world’s cork harvest.
The Portuguese name for cork tree is “sobreiro”, and brands using cork for their products are most likely sourcing cork from western Europe. To harvest cork, the outer bark of the tree is delicately removed to prevent any damage, which allows it to replenish so that it can be harvested later in the future.
Cork is a fine option for bags and wallets, and it tends to be as flexible and durable as regular leather. Cork is also water-resistant, renewable and completely recyclable. It’s long been used for household items.
A well-known brand that specializes in the creation of cork-made products is Corkor.
Tencel (Lyocell/Modal)
Tencel is the brand name for the fabric Lyocell (or Modal).
Lyocell is a light and versatile cellulose fiber obtained from dissolving wood pulp. As a fiber, it is often used to produce active wear due to its moisture-wicking and anti-bacterial properties that prevent sweat from saturating the fabric.
Tencel also requires less water and energy than conventional cotton, which makes it a more sustainable option. On the other hand, Tencel is fabricated with petrochemicals that are used in a closed-loop cycle to minimize waste.
The ethical and sustainable activewear brand Vyayama heavily uses Tencel (instead of nylon or polyester) and minimizes the use of harmful substances in their supply chain.
Why I’m Not Suggesting Polyester.
There’s an added danger to polyester, besides its negative environmental footprint.
While I still have clothes that contain polyester, I’m against its use for one reason.
Polyester-made clothes placed in a washing machine release miniature particles called microplastics. These microplastics flow through waterways and end up in the oceans. That results in marine animals involuntarily ingesting those tiny particles, which may lead to a digestive blockage that prevents them from consuming prey, and in many cases die from starvation.
Don’t feel pressured into completely changing your lifestyle. Once you take care of your diet, then you can slowly think about other things. I too think sustainable fashion is expensive, and it may take a while to revamp my wardrobe.
An easier way to enrichen the vegan lifestyle comes next.
