Fashion Fabrics of the Future
From fashion fabrics to cotton, there are endless ways we are leaving our footprints in a lousy manner on our environment. But, is there any remedy and hope for a better future? Apart from the discussions of consuming less and recycling, if we have to buy new fabrics, is there any way to do that without putting sustainability at risk?
The good news is there is some hope and to find out how? Keep reading this blog.
It is just a splendid example of how beautiful innovation can be. On one hand, this fabric is prepared from waste materials. On the other hand, it leaves no toxins during its processing. Pineapple leaves from the forests of the Philippines are being used to make animal-free leather. Only the fallen off leaves are used and processed to derive leather from them. While it may seem counter-intuitive, leather made this way leaves no toxins behind, unlike animal leather processing does. What you get is refined leather now being used in upholstery in many modern-day hotels.
It is a sustainable fabric although many animal rights groups and organizations claim that adequate welfare standards are not met. While it may seem unethical to many, the fact is that wool is a renewable, durable, and reusable fabric. Some farmers are using practices that sequester carbon from the environment. This wool is resilient, does not catch fire, and is water-repellent. The fact that it has matchless longevity means that it reduces the need for the replacement of fast fashion fabrics.
Cotton, though a natural fiber, is a water-hungry crop and requires a lot of fertilizer and pesticides to sustain. The environmental impact of producing cotton is immense and also adverse. One way to minimize this impact is to use fabrics made from organically produced cotton. Organic cotton does not require the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. On the other hand, it thrives through the use of natural practices. A conscious consumer would definitely go for fashion fabrics made from organic cotton. It is a business niche that many start-ups are focusing on.
Linen is a natural fiber that we obtain from flax plants. It is very durable, absorbs water, and keeps your body cool. It is being used by cultures as far back as Egyptians. However, these days EU countries produce almost one-third of the total linen produced in the entire world. When grown in geographically suitable areas, it is good for soil health, requires less water, and does not need fertilizers and pesticides to survive.
Conscious consumers worry a lot about the material of the fabric. The reason for this is that the material gets washed off little by little in washing machines and the wastewater produced contains a significant amount of material residues, which are mostly in the form of plastic. These nano-particles of polyester and other petroleum fibers are very toxic for aquatic life and do not degrade.
The remedy to this situation is to use natural fibers such as hemp and cellulose. Fashion fabrics produced from these fibers are biodegradable and do not last long when they are thrown away with the wastewater.