There are so many types of fabric out there and, I understand, it is easy to get lost when it comes to how to choose the right cloth. We might like the design and the colour but, aren't we easily fooled and manipulated into very fast world of consumption habits?
There is a lot written about how cheaply produced fabrics, or in that matter, any other goods, have negative impact on our global environment. It is a very long subject and perhaps I'll leave it for another blog as a topic headline.
In this blog I'l love to introduce you to sustainable, lasting fabrics that would serve you in most natural way.
NATURAL FIBRES
Organic linen. Linen is derived from the flax plant that requires minimum water and pesticides, and even grows in poor-quality soil. Every part of the plant is used, and nothing gets wasted. Linen is naturally moth resistant, fully biodegradable and very strong fabric. In addition to being good for the planet, linen is also quite light and can withstand high temperatures, absorbing moisture without holding bacteria.
Organic hemp. It has been cultivated for hundreds of years and like linen flax it requires very little water, no pesticides, and naturally fertilises the soil it grows in, making it much better for the environment than other crops. Hemp, as one of the oldest fibres in the world, helps keep you warm in winter and cool in summer, and gets softer with every wash.
Recycled cotton. Cotton is most common and most used fabrics, especially here in UK. Even thou the cotton has been used for a long time in the industry, the organic cotton has been booming in the past few years. If you are looking for the most sustainable cotton, go recycled. Recycled and upcycled cotton is made using post-industrial and post-consumer cotton waste. It has the potential to help reduce water and energy consumption.
All these fabrics mentioned above, I am sure you will agree, feels better on a skin. People with sensitive skin or with allergies will greatly benefit from using organic textiles either in clothing or home furnishings. By wearing these natural fabrics our bodies would feel less stress, and we generally would carry 'feeling good' factor mentally and emotionally.
I will never forget when my son's friend came round and sat on our sofa covered in linen, of course, and the first thing he said; 'Oh, that feels nice'. Well, he was only 10 y.o. at the time and, obviously what does he know about the complexities of the fabric world. But in my eyes, the awareness of 'feeling good and natural' has been born in that child, frankly, naturally.
So in my epilogue of this post, I'd like to invite you to our own awareness in making the right choices for ourselves and for the environment. Choose natural, conscious living,
