SOURCING

Cotton is a sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable fiber that yields many benefits to both the environment and the consumer. Some of the advantages of cotton include:  a  benefits to animals and insects by avoidance of harmful ingredients such as toxic chemicals and GMOs. Cotton also has positive impacts on soil balance, water usage, natural defoliation and the reduction of environmental footprints. Cotton is a very important fiber and it is sustainable in the making of fashion garments.    

Wool, known as the oldest textile in history, is also a renewable resource woven from natural animal-derived fibers. Like cotton, wool is very sustainable, and it's both biodegradable and compostable. If customers correctly recycle wool, it does not end up in landfills which allows it to biodegrade in a short amount of time. Another plus: it can be washed much less frequently than other fibers because of its anti-odor and natural antimicrobial abilities. Overall, wool is a very sustainable fiber with longevity. 

Polyester is a fabric found in many clothing items; unfortunately, it is not sustainable and further, the method of  polyester manufacture dramatically hurts the environment. Polyester is made by mixing ethylene glycol,  a substance derived from petroleum and terephthalic acid. Neither biodegradable nor sustainable, polyester also uses a lot of water during the manufacturing process.  To address the sustainability issue, researchers have developed different ways to replicate the feel, features and fit of polyester with more environmentally-friendly alternatives; one such alternative is PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate), made from recycled water bottles.

Nylon was first used during World War II in order to manufacture military products. Later on, it was used to replace silk due to a shortage. Nylon is made of crude oil, making it a very strong fabric. Although it is strong, it affects the planet negatively. It is not biodegradable because it uses up a lot of water, energy, and creates greenhouse effects. To create a more sustainable nylon fabric, companies are beginning to use recycled plastic instead of new plastic. Although nylon is not sustainable, there are ways to recycle it and lower its negative impact on the planet.  

Silk is a naturally produced fabric by the larvae of a moth. It is one of the more sustainable fibers because it is biodegradable, a renewable resource, and does not use a lot of water, chemicals, nor energy. The production of silk originated in China, starting with the trade industry. Now, fast fashion companies all over the world are making artificial silk in order to sell to customers. True silk is made in the old fashion days and ethically sourced. Silk is a fabric that has been used for millennia, but is still very relevant and in demand.  

Linen, one of the most biodegradable and stylish fabrics in history, was first used by Europeans  who produced it from flax plant fibers. A cost-effective natural resource, linen can grow with little water and even in poor soil.  When linen is labelled s "organic," this means that a third-party has confirmed that no harmful dyes were used during the production of the fabric. Linen is a very sustainable fabric as long as extra dyes and coloring are not used.