Natural Threads

Your hair may not be natural, but your clothes should be!

Sustainable fashion, also called eco-fashion, is design philosophy growing in popularity. The goal is to create a system of dressing the masses which can be supported indefinitely in terms of human impact on the environment and social responsibility. Some companies like our Marin County Coyuchi create natural linens that you essentially rent and they will take them back at the end of your use. Eileen Fisher is also starting to employ this Circular Design model. There are a lot of brands out there to choose from who are trying to be more sustainable. Upping your style to do less harm is really a personal choice. I recommend natural fibers as much as possible as Microfibers are causing a big problem for the environment and for human and animal health.

Great style is timeless and so is the planet let’s not let fashion kill it.

Synthetics that account for a growing portion of our wardrobes release micro-fibers in the wash which linger in the environment and our waterways. They are too tiny to be filtered out so they end up in our streams, rivers and seas causing real havoc. These microfibers are particularly dangerous as they bond to chemical pollutants in the water, such as DDT and PCB. The textiles from which they are shed are often treated with waterproofing agents, stain and fire-resistant chemicals, and synthetic dyes that are also harmful to organisms that ingest them which in turn we ingest when we eat the fish or animals that have been exposed to them. We all appear to be consuming microfibers in food and drink. A research review published last year indicates that some of the microfibers floating in the air are settling in our lungs and our organs.

Synthetic textiles shed these tiny plastic fibers during their making, wearing and especially washing. Millions of these fibers, which can be 60 to 100 times finer than your hair, escape with the wastewater from washing machines. They also fall off as we move around (although in lesser numbers). We are breathing them in and we are drinking them—micro-plastics have been found in 83 percent of drinking water. The scope of the problem is a little intimidating but there are things you can do.

You can choose to make a fashion statement by selecting natural materials more often and trend set for good style that does more good than harm. Microfiber cloths are like the drunkard at the party making a big mess of everything. Other good ideas are to hang things to dry, wash fewer times, use a Guppy bag or Cora Ball for microfiber loads or install a washing machine lint filter. Full loads and liquid soap also help reduce the amount of microfibers that are shed. Check out The Story of Microfibers on Youtube.

Best Practices :Natural Fibers, Classic Cuts, Long-Lasting, Fair and Ethical, Local Makers, Natural Dyes, Second Hand, Vintage, Timeless, No Polyester, No Microfiber, Fewer Pieces of Better Quality.

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