What's in your clothes? 6 Toxic Chemicals you should know about

Have you ever wondered what chemicals are in your clothes? Do you know what they do to your body? When you wear clothing, not only do you want to make sure it looks good, but you want to know that the materials being used are safe and healthy for you. In order to stay safe and healthy, here are 6 toxic chemicals in clothing you should know about.

1) Phthalates

Phthalates are a class of chemical softeners and plasticizers. They’re common ingredients in perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, nail polish, soaps, detergents and even children’s toys. Phthalates have been linked to a number of health issues including birth defects.

2) Chlorine

Not only is chlorine used to bleach our cotton, it’s also toxic to us. It’s a respiratory irritant and even lethal in large quantities. If your clothes smell like chlorine after washing, that means they likely contain synthetic fibers or chemicals that release formaldehyde, which can trigger allergic reactions. Read labels carefully and be wary of anything with fabric softeners, as these are often carcinogenic too.

3) Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, which means it has been linked to increased cancer risk. Studies have found links between formaldehyde exposure and leukemia, nose and throat cancers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) says there is enough evidence to classify formaldehyde as a human carcinogen. A Consumer Reports study found that some men’s dress shirts contained more than 5 parts per million of formaldehyde—over 500 times higher than what California regulators consider safe for occupational exposure in factories.

4) Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs)

PFCs are common chemicals found in outdoor and indoor furniture, cookware, carpeting, clothing, fast food packaging (including microwavable popcorn bags), non-stick pots and pans. These chemicals aren’t only found on products but also contaminate water sources around factories that manufacture these products. PFCs get into human blood from breathing contaminated air, drinking contaminated water or touching PFC-contaminated surfaces.

5) Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs)

These chemicals are used in detergents, paints, cleaners and waxes. They're also found in disposable diapers, surface wipes and as additives to fabric softeners. NPEs easily break down into nonylphenol (NP), which is a hormone disruptor that can cause problems during pregnancy by interfering with fetal development.

6) Flame retardants

Flame retardants are a group of chemicals used to reduce fire risks. However, these chemicals are not just toxic for us but also for environment, and these toxic substances can be found in house dust and even breast milk. The best thing to do is to avoid clothing that contains polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) or other brominated flame retardants. Look for no-flame labels on clothing. Also avoid any clothing that contains foam padding.

Negative fibers

All types of fibers that are identified as toxic are on our blacklist. We will never put them into our products as these are neither good for us humans, nor for the environment the fibers eventually return to.

Conclusion

Many companies use toxic chemicals in their clothing manufacturing process, and consumers need to understand the potential dangers of these chemical additives. This blog post provides a brief overview of six harmful chemicals that may be present in the garments they purchase. If a consumer has any doubt as to whether or not a certain garment is toxic, he or she can send it off for testing at an accredited lab.

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Making Fashion Circular: Natural Fibers

In an effort to create fashion that’s more sustainable, designers and clothing companies are now using natural fibers like wool and cotton, which can easily be recycled or reused after use. You may not have heard about this trend, but it’s one of the biggest in sustainable fashion today. Read on to learn more about the role natural fibers play in making fashion circular!

Like Harvey Spector, we like to raise the bar high as it's evident to us that the status quo doesn't work for our economy nor society, at least not in the long run. We believe that circular fashion starts with what goes into our products, the fibers, and that they should eventually return to nature as a nutrient not as poison.

What are natural fibers?

Natural fibers are a large group of plant and animal-based materials that can be spun, woven, or twisted into yarns, threads, fabrics, etc. They are naturally grown through processes of agricultural waste, biotextiles (plant-based), or even recycled animal fiber; without fossil fuels or petrochemicals. In other words, most natural fibers don’t have any negative impact on our Earth and they also have a regenerative nature to them. As more industries become aware of these facts, more consumers will begin seeking out fabric made from these sustainable resources. The fashion industry is an especially interesting one to watch because it plays such a huge role in people's daily lives and purchasing decisions. When we consider how much people spend on clothing each year, it becomes clear that there's some room for change here! If we decide as consumers and citizens to look for clothing made from circular products like natural fibers, we'll help send a message that new technologies aren't necessary—we've had alternatives all along. This push will encourage businesses across many industries to rethink their current methods and inspire them to pursue innovative ways of using only renewable resources when manufacturing their products. We're definitely excited about watching how it all unfolds!

The advantages of using natural fibers

Plants grow fast, and because they biodegrade over time, they add organic matter to soil. Moreover, unlike synthetic fibers, natural fibers also contain valuable micronutrients such as calcium and magnesium. As a result of their high water content and porous structure, they are more breathable than synthetic fabrics. They can reduce your energy consumption—all you need is a clothesline! Furthermore, clothing made from natural fibers is lightweight.

Why use linen?

With its popularity rising, linen is quickly becoming one of fashion’s most popular natural fibers. A common misconception is that linen is a type of hemp, but it’s actually made from flax—the same plant that produces linseed oil. Linen has been around for centuries, with records showing it was being used as far back as 3,000 B.C., during Egypt’s Dynastic period and in ancient Rome. In fact, early Christians who were fleeing persecution in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) first brought linen-weaving to Western Europe. From there, demand for linen only grew: The Crusaders brought it back home to England and France after they had successfully recaptured Jerusalem from Muslim control; medieval monks are known to have developed ways to bleach and dye white linens so they could be given as shrouds; later, Queen Elizabeth I would use a beautiful Linen Portrait to show off her favorite clothing material; George Washington insisted his soldiers sleep on nothing else when he led them through cold winter nights at Valley Forge; Ulysses S. Grant would wear a full suit of pure white linen while directing battles in Northern Virginia against Robert E. Lee.

European linen

The fabric's long European heritage makes it the ideal material for making sustainable clothes. Linen can be reused, recycled and remanufactured multiple times, because its fibers are naturally smooth, strong and resistant to mold. As a sustainable fiber, linen also has superior moisture-wicking properties that keep wearers cool in the summer and warm in the winter. And because linen is so strong and durable, garments made from it can be repurposed over many years of use.

How does linen work for circularity?

The United States Department of Agriculture has found that a single one-pound (0.45 kg) cotton T-shirt releases 17 pounds (7.7 kg) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during its lifetime—and that’s without considering additional sources of pollution from pesticides and fertilizer. The reason for cotton’s significant environmental impact is simple: production requires extensive amounts of land, water, and chemicals. By contrast, linen requires no pesticides or chemical fertilizers to grow. Plus, when it decomposes in an industrial composting facility, it breaks down completely in just 20 days. It doesn’t really get more circular than that! Plus...the fabric won't shrink! I did buy small & it's fine being casual with different outfits. I washed before first wear & there was no shrinking. It does have a nice drape & feel like silk with very nice luster!

Examples of how to make fashion circular with linen

Linen is a bast fiber. This means that it is made from a woody stalk and processed naturally, without chemicals. When linen garments are thrown into a compost pile, they break down into humus—the nutrient-rich top layer of soil that allows plants to thrive. And unlike other natural fibers, linen doesn’t have to be bleached white in order to dye fabric. In fact, unwashed linen actually looks better with age as its natural golden hue becomes more pronounced over time. Linen can also be washed at home or at your local dry cleaner—allowing you to reuse or recycle plastic hangers multiple times! To learn more about how to make fashion circular with linen, check out our page for The Flaxible Jacket.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading. We hope that you’ve enjoyed our posts on the circular economy, and we encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter so that you don’t miss out on future articles! Just click here . We can’t wait to share with you more information on how natural fibers help manufacturers follow a circular fashion business model!

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We're looking for your feedback! We'd love to know if you found the information we shared useful. If you did, what are some other topics that might be worth writing about? If not, why not? What areas do you feel like we could improve upon? Do you have any content that can help us write more clearly and concisely on these issues (blog posts, industry articles, books, etc.)? As always, we welcome your thoughts and suggestions!

Why we only source Positive Fabrics

Fibers are the core ingredients of our wardrobe.

As we are on a mission to make fashion compostable, it is quintessential to choose the right materials.

What do we define as the right materials? That’s what I’ll shine a light on in this post! Buckle up and let’s dive into the world of positive fibers.

Garbage in = Garbage out Before we dive into our definition of Positive Fabrics, let’s first understand what Negative Fabrics are.

Imagine that a piece fabric is like a bowl of spaghett.

Illustration by Elisa Pelizza for Positive Fibers

The sauce is like the dye to give the fabric a distinct look and feel. Conventionally to respond to the trending colors of a specific fashion season.

Have you ever wondered : “What’s in the sauce ?!”

We do everyday.

The sauce should be made of 100% organic ingredients or else it’s not a healthy and positive sauce.

As convential fabrics contain negative fibers, in reality the dish looks rather like this :

Illustration by Elisa Pelizza for Positive Fibers

The fibers are contaminated by toxic chemicals. The result is a Negative Fabric.

Would you wear this now?

We are staying away from such fabrics. Far, far, away.

Good in = Good out

I don’t know what the opposite of the word Garbage is so I decided to go with Good.

Now imagine that the fabric of your next garment is made from responsibly sourced ingredients (including the water used in the process).

This is in a (coco)nutshell what our definition of a Positive Fabric is.

A fabric that is so clean that you could eat it, or at least the worms in the soil can and will.

Illustration by Elisa Pelizza for Positive Fibers

Are you as excited about the future of textiles as we are ? Feel free to share this with your friends, followers, and other fans !

Let’s make fashion compostable 💚🌿♻️

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