As a fabric, hemp is breathable, warm, moisture-wicking, antibacterial, and can be easily blended. It’s a very durable fabric that becomes softer with washing and wear, and it’s biodegradable at the end of its life. Beyond that, the hemp plant doesn’t require a lot of water, and it can produce two to three times more fiber per acre than cotton. It actually replenishes the soil it grows in rather than extracting its nutrients. All this is to say that from a sustainability perspective, hemp is the best option we have. As a fabric it’s breathable, durable, lightweight, absorbent, antimicrobial, moth-resistant, and cool (as in it lowers your body temperature in summer, as opposed to cotton). In terms of sustainability, it requires far less water than cotton and doesn’t require any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Bonus: It’s biodegradable, too. Yes, there is a burgeoning organic market for cotton, but that doesn’t solve the water issue. And although organic cotton isn’t grown using pesticides and herbicides, it often comes at a premium many people can’t afford. However, it has a dark side. The process of turning bamboo into fabric is very chemically intensive, and it produces a fair amount of waste. This makes bamboo much less sustainable than you might think at first glance. That said, The Leather Working Group is currently working to provide resources for more sustainably sourced leather that is naturally tanned with environmentally friendly agents and dyed using natural vegetable dyes that don’t end up further polluting our waterways. Designers are now playing around with recycled leather, and there are plenty of new “plant-based” leather innovations coming into play like Pinatex and mushroom leather that are a lot more sustainable, so watch this space. By 2050 there could be more plastic in the ocean than sea life. Statistics like this make me think that there’s no reason for our clothes to pump more plastic microfibers into our environment, and I’m sure you’ll agree. It is worth mentioning, though, that recycled polyester, or rPET, is now being used more often, especially in activewear, swimwear, and outerwear. rPET is made from post-consumer recycled plastic such as water bottles, containers, and secondhand polyester garments. The use of rPET reduces the use of oil, reuses waste, and cuts out the need for the virgin polyester industry. So there you have it! Ultimately, fashion and our use of textiles go hand in hand. So while choosing what fabrics you wear is important for the environment and sustainability at large, what’s more important is to consume less and buyer better quality pieces—ideally ones that are made out of natural fibers like hemp, linen and organic cotton that can biodegrade at the end of their life. Check out these five clothing brands that are championing more sustainable production practices. When she’s not working in marketing she spends her spare time hunting down ethical and sustainable fashion brands, because she believes ethical fashion doesn’t mean style has to suffer and the world we live in should be one where everyone has equal opportunities to live life on their terms.
