Recently, the fashion industry that has always been related to environmental degradation and ethical issues in the past is needing sustainability. Faced with growing consumer demand for eco friendly alternatives, sustainable fabric materials have become essential components of a greener future in the world of fashion. Apart from contributing to reducing the environmental expenses of garment production, these materials also provide ethical as well as durable alternatives for designers and consumers. In this blog, we’ll discover the top sustainable fabric materials that are driving eco-conscious fashion’s revolution.
1. Organic Cotton
Because it is grown in an environmentally friendly way, organic cotton has become an industry frontrunner in sustainable fabrics. Traditional cotton is grown with lots of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, but organic cotton relies on natural methods such as composting that maintain the fertility of the soil and minimize overall carbon output. No synthetic chemicals used, so it’s safe for both the farmers and environment. As well, organic cotton requires significantly less water: up to 91 percent less, between the fields and the finished product than conventional cotton. It is a perfect choice for eco friendly brand and consumers who seek out biodegradable and skin friendly fabrics. Also, the softness and versatility of organic cotton have made them, in turn, a staple in the production of t-shirts, underwear and casual wear.
2. Hemp
Hemp is widely considered it is one of the most sustainable fabrics available today. Hemp plant is also fast growing, requires very low water and no chemical fertilizers, pesticides whatsoever. Hemp also replenishes the soil by replenishing its nutrients, and there is nothing left behind to deplete the earth. With that in mind, adding to its eco-friendly appeal, it’s resilient enough to thrive in many climates. Hemp is really sturdy fabric that’s breathable and gets softer with time, so the lifespan of your clothing is further prolonged. It is an excellent choice for anyone that wants to reduce waste. Naturally resistant to mold, ultraviolet light and mildew, hemp is a popular source material for outdoor and activewear.
However, despite these benefits, the adoption of hemp fabric on the global scale has been slower than anticipated, simply because it takes a complex and lengthy process to turn hemp into a soft, wearable mesh. While these challenges have yet to be addressed, advances in the textile technology are overcoming these challenges slowly and making the application in the fashion industry broadly possible.
3. Tencel (Lyocell)
Another eco-friendly fabric making the rounds these days is Tencel, which is also known as Lyocell. Tencel is produced from wood pulp, predominantly from sustainably managed eucalyptus forests, and is made from an entirely closed loop system. Almost all of the solvents and water used to make HGD are recycled, keeping the manufacturing process as waste- and environmentally damaging as possible. You will be glad to know that Tencel is also biodegradable, which, in combination with its low pile height and crease resistance, makes it a great fabric to reduce landfill waste.
Tencel not only brings environmental benefits it also presents practical benefits for fashion designers and consumers alike. It is very breathable, very soft and very moisture wicking, and then there is why it’s also known as a great athletic wear piece, why it’s great as sleepwear, great as intimate apparel. Much like other fibers, Tencel is natural and allows color to be retained which makes the material oner amenable as it is.
4. Linen
Linen is a natural fibre known as flax, and the cultivation of the flax plant as linen has a low environmental impact. Grown in poor soil and needing less water than many crops, flax can also be grown. Linen fabric is one that is known for it’s strength and longevity, it is also biodegradable and this sustainability also extends with it’s production process. Linen has been known and used as a textile for thousands of years and speaks to why it remained popular.
Aside from being eco-friendly, linen is exceptionally breathable and naturally moth and bacteria resistant (which means less need for chemical treatment). As a result, it’s best for warm weather clothing as it provides and passes through excellent airflow and moisture management, keeping the wearer cool and dry. Linen also becomes softer with each wash, as a bonus, making linen garments ever more comfortable with their long and lasting life.
5. Bamboo Fabric
Bamboo is another fabric that gets touted as a sustainable option simply because the bamboo plant grows so quickly and is virtually ‘environmentally footprint free’. Bamboo is an attractive alternative to more resource intensive crops like for example cotton or beef, because it takes little water, doesn’t need any pesticides and grows very quickly. There are many bamboo fabrics out there, however, not all are created equally. The method of converting bamboo into fabric can be very different. Grown by mechanical processes, bamboo linen conceivably maintains its eco friendlyness due to its retaining no harmful chemicals. However, whereas more common bamboo viscose or rayon is made through chemically intensive processes that destroy its sustainability, hemp cellulose is not.
Bamboo fabric is soft and lightweight and breathable when processed using eco friendly methods. In addition, it is naturally antibacterial, which would work perfectly for producing activewear, socks, and undergarments. Bamboo fabric is highly moisture wicking, meaning the bamboo fabric ensures the wearer will be kept dry and comfortable even while doing strenuous work.
6. Recycled Polyester (rPET)
Recycled polyester, or rPET is a synthetic fiber that is made from plastic bottles and other post consumer plastic waste. This fabric is innovative as it decreases the need for virgin polyester—a non renewable raw material that comes out of petroleum. rPET extends plastic waste’s secondlife, reducing the environmental impact of plastic pollution, preventing plastic from entering landfills and oceans.
Durable, water resistant and tough, it is one of the most popular recycled polyesters, used for activewear, jackets and outdoor gear. But it’s worth mentioning that polyester—the recycled or not kind—can shed microplastics into the ocean when washed. This means that while recycled polyester is a first step toward more sustainable fabric fabrics, efforts still have to be made to address microplastic pollution via developments in laundry technology and fabric design.
7. Cork
In recent years, however, cork has become a solid choice as a green material for fashion accessories like bags, shoes and belts. Cork oak trees can regrow after each harvest and because the harvest is from the bark, not the tree trunk, it is a renewable resource. Besides their environmental benefits, cork trees also help to absorb carbon dioxide.
So it’s lightweight, water resistant and durable, so it’s great alternative to leather. Environmentally friendly product process as well as a unique, natural, wood-like texture contribute to the attractiveness of cork in fashion. As the biodegradable and renewable resource, cork is an evil free and sustainable option for the eco friendly customer.
8. Piñatex
Piñatex is a fabric created with the pineapple leaf’s fiber, a product of the pineapple farming industry. This is an eco friendly technological replacement to the already established leather. As a response, Piñatex also produces with minimal water usage as well as avoid the use of harmful chemicals, while traditional leather tanning processes are resource intensive and often rely on other harmful chemicals.
Piñatex is not only eco-friendly, but strong, light and flexible. It is a favorite for footwear, bags and accessories thanks to its unique texture. Piñatex is cruelty free and biodegradable so the sustainable fashion movement is being supported by providing a leather alternative with eco friendly and ethical values.
9. Qmonos (Synthetic Spider Silk)
Synthetic spider silk, or qmonos, is a cutting edge sustainable textiles development. The fabric is intended to mimic the amazing properties of natural spider silk, with an unprecedented strength and elasticity. Qmonos produces through a fermentation process using microorganisms, using an eco friendly alternative to the conventional synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester.
While its commercial development is still in its early stages, Qmonos is poised to change the face of the fashion industry thanks to its biodegradable, high performance fabric, which is also made with renewable materials. It is strong enough to be used to make strong, durable garments, but is still light enough to be flexible for the wearer.
10. Orange Fiber
Another novel sustainable fabric is orange fiber, made from byproducts of the citrus industry, namely orange peels. This fabric is a luxury lightweight copy of silk similar to silk. Orange fiber helps everything from the sustainability side to waste reduction by using food waste that otherwise would go to the landfill.
Going chemical free in the production of this orange fiber only reinforces the appeal of this as a sustainable textile. This biodegradable fabric can be used to make beautiful, soft, breathable, and comfortable to wear garments.
11. Recycled Nylon
Post consumer and post industrial waste can all become recycled nylon: fishing nets, fabric scraps and industrial plastic. The ability to provide a sustainable alternative to virgin nylon and at the same time reduce the amount of plastic waste in the oceans and landfills makes this fabric such a great choice. It is strong, stretchy and resistant to water and recycled nylon makes it perfect for swimwear, activewear, and outerwear.
While very sustainable, recycled nylon still has the problem of shedding microplastics while we wash it in the same way as we do for recycled polyester. While yarnmakers like DuPont are working to cut the environmental impact of recycled nylon, it’s a promising part of the sustainable fabric world.
12. Alpaca Wool
Alpaca wool is a cruelty free, ethical alternative to conventional wool, and a sustainable option for those of you who love animals. Alpacas are native to the Andes and their grazing doesn’t damage the land, so are low environmental impact animals. Hypoallergenic, soft and biodegradable, the wool that they render the textile from is a popular and sustainable material from which to knit and wrap.
Warm, durable, and water repellent, alpaca wool is also the stuff cold weather garments are made of. Because it’s a natural fiber, alpaca wool is recyclable and compostable which cuts its overall ecological footprint.
Conclusion
While the fashion industry continues to evolve, sustainable fabric materials now occupy a niche within this shift toward eco conscious living. All from organic cotton and hemp, to fancy things like Piñatex and…orange fiber, these are moving the fashion industry toward using less from an environmental perspective.
Each of these sustainable fabric materials has a particular one (or all) of the following advantages with respect to water savings, biodegradability, low chemical use and overall environmental friendliness. Natural fibers like hemp and linen to ground breaking innovations, such as recycled polyester or Piñatex, the fashion industry now has more sustainable options than it ever has, in response to the increased desire for eco-friendly fashion.
