Non Toxic Fibres for Fabric and Textiles

There are two types of Sustainable fabrics/fibres, natural fibres and futuristic & innovative fabrics. Below both types are analysed further.

Natural Fibres

• Recycled Cotton

Cotton is referred to as \’White Gold\’, because of how lucrative it is in developing nations, like Uzbekistan.

Cotton is one of the commonly used fibres and is light and breathable. But unfortunately Growing conventional cotton has been problematic since it requires pesticides. Whereas Organic cotton is grown to minimise the environmental impact and has become an alternative to replace conventional cotton.

Sad truth about the plant is that conventional cotton is the thirstiest crop in the entire world. It takes 2700l of water to produce a t-shirt, and that is the amount of water one person drinks for 900 days. It uses a massive 16% of the worlds insecticides. When it comes to the farmers , they start to get diseases, illnesses and even birth defects because of the pesticides. The saddest thing is that in some developing countries like Uzbekistan and India uses children to hand pick to do this backbreaking work.

Organic cotton yield fewer fibres than GMO cotton (genetically modified organism), but requires more plants so that means it more lands to produce. When it comes to organic cotton fibres producing t-shirts it requires a lot of processing and dying, which are also very chemically intensive.

Brands start to offer organic options, example Primark launched its very first organic denim jean.

Where to buy organic cotton products ?

Beaumont Organic – It is a UK based company and is a slow fashion brand. The brand has it\’s own charitable foundation which supports people in Fiji.

Miakoda – It is a plant based lifestyle clothing company. They sell Ultra-cosy active & loungewear. They support different shapes and sizes. The garments are manufactured in an ethical factory in NYC. Their packaging materials are 100% recycled and has zero waste initiatives, for example – shipping boxes are 100% recycled post-consumer + post-industrial content and packing tape (the tape used to seal boxes) is made out of renewable + biodegradable cellulose backing with a high-performing natural rubber adhesive.

• Organic Hemp

Hemp is grown all around the world and is used in food, fabrics, Cosmetics and building materials. As it requires less water it naturally fertilises the soil as it grows and also does not need pesticides.

One main advantage is that hemp keeps you warm during winter and cool in summer. It is one of the oldest fibres/most sustainable fibres and turns out to be a very strong fabric, but it gets softer each time washed.

• Organic Linen

Linen grows in poor quality soil and wants a little amount of water and pesticides. Every part of the plant is used as well as fully biodegradable and is moth resistant.

This dates back to 8000BC, Egyptians used it as a currency and it formed an integral part of mummifying. At one point it was used in a form of battle armour called Linothorax.

Where to buy organic linen products ?

Oh Seven Days – This brand is based in Istanbul and was started to promote slow fashion and the power of circularity.

MATE the label – This shop manufactures their products locally to reduce the carbon foot prints. Has a low impact on dyes and is GOTs certified.

Mara Hoffman – Uses eco Friendly materials including GOTs certified cotton, recycled nylon and recycled polyester. This brand has an extended size collection.

Futuristic & Innovative Fabrics

• Tencel

This fabric is created by dissolving wood pulp and is a light cellulose fabric. Produced by an Austrain company Lenzing AG.

The chemicals used to produce the fibre is recycled this way it reduces dangerous waste. This fabric is great to create an activewear collection because of the moisture-wicking and antu-bacterial properties.

• Piñatex

This is used as an alternative for vegan leather as it is cruelty-free, made with pineapple fibres. Ananas Anam manufacturers this fibres and it was featured in vogue in 2017. 

As this fibres are products produced by food it reduces and helps the farming communities that grows pineapples.

• Econyl

Created by Italian firm Aquafi. To make this fabric they use synthetic waste such as industrial plastic, waste fabric and fishing nets from the ocean, recycling and regenerating them into a new nylon yarn that is exactly the same quality of normal nylon, but is more Sustainable than that. This process needs less water than the traditional nylon.

It is said that washing econyl clothing in a traditional way can wash away small plastic bits that will eventually end up in the ocean. So it is best to use this fabric for items that are not washed often like in shoes, bags or by using up a Guppy Bag..

• Qmonos

Made out synthetic spider silk and is a fusion of spider silk genes and microbes. This known to be five times stronger than steels and is the the toughest fibre in nature, while also being light. Qmonos is extremely biodegradable and is flexible than nylon.

When creating this fabric no spiders are harmed as it is more Sustainable and is ethically an alternative to silk and nylon.