2/14/24: Beyond the Fabric: Hidden Risks of Conventional Clothing

Hi my friend,

👚 Beyond the Fabric: Hidden Risks of Clothing

Our clothes are seen as an extension of our personalities…but do they hide a potential threat to our health and the environment?

Conventional clothing, with its dependence on synthetic fibers, chemical dyes, and pesticide-laden materials, is a shadow our society needs to face.

🧪 Chemical Cocktail on Skin: Most dyes used in clothes are synthetic chemicals, with questionable safety. They can contain heavy metals, trigger allergies, irritate skin, and even be carcinogenic. They don’t stay confined to the fabric…but can leach into skin and waterways, poisoning the environment and accumulating in our bodies.

♵ Plastic in Disguise: Nylon, polyester, acrylic – these common fabrics aren’t natural, but derived from petroleum and plastic. Their production releases pollutants, consumes fossil fuels, and creates microplastics that contaminate oceans and enter the food chain.

🧵 Pesticides in Threads: Conventional cotton isn't innocent – its farming is notorious for a heavy reliance on pesticides, which not only harm farmworkers and ecosystems but leaves residues on fibers themselves, potentially seeping into our skin.

👕 Fast Fashion: "Fast fashion" refers to society’s relentless churn of cheap, trend-driven garments which rely on the most harmful practices, prioritizing speed and cost over sustainability and ethics. The result? Mountains of discarded clothing polluting landfills and releasing microplastics, while unethical labor practices exploit workers in developing countries.

So what to do?

🦋 Nature's Answer – Organic Fibers: But there’s hope. A quiet revolution is brewing in the realm of sustainable clothing, championed by organic alternatives. GOTS-certified organic cotton – grown without harmful chemicals – offers protection to your skin and Earth. Hemp requires minimal water and boasts anti-bacterial properties. Bamboo and linen may also be great options (or if you aren't vegan, responsibly sourced local wool).

Choosing organic fibers isn't just about a personal detox and protecting ourselves from hormone disruptors; it's a vote for a healthier planet. It supports responsible farming practices, and minimizes pollution.

***On a personal note, I recently began switching my entire underwear collection over to NADS organic. Underwear is the smartest place to start because of proximity to reproductive organs, considering the hormone disrupting potential of conventional materials.

Gentlemen (and ladies who have men you care about), with NADS it means no toxic dyes, BPA, pesticides near the ‘family jewels’. Check it out HERE. And get 15% off with code ‘ECL’.

To a healing future,

Rob

P.S. Another great brand with organic cotton options and natural fibers at affordable prices (and free shipping and full-year return policy) is Quince. I sleep on their bedding too!