5 reasons to choose sustainable textiles
Posted by Team NZNC on 7th Jun 2021
Choosing to buy clothing and accessories made from sustainable textiles, is definitely a bit of a lifestyle choice.
You’ve got to switch on your consciousness to things you might not have before...
Instead of thinking about whether you simply like the look of something first, you generally think about where it is coming from.
Not only do you want to be aware of how the material was sourced, you may also want to question whether it was produced ethically.
Of course, shopping sustainably doesn't mean that you’re not going to consider what an item looks like. It’s not going to lead to you walking around in a burlap sack! Fortunately, sustainable fashion is becoming more and more mainstream, and by no means is it unstylish.
So let’s jump into what sustainability really means...
What are sustainable textiles?
In order for something to be sustainable when producing clothing, homewares and other textiles, the overall environmental impact needs to be minimal.
Fibres need to be pesticide free, made in closed loop systems or with a focus on recycling and/or reducing the overall water and chemical waste.
FYI in fashion close-loop means it has maximum usability, minimum environmental impact, waste generation and efficient use of natural resources. Being designed, manufactured, and handled using a method that keeps the clothing in circulation for as long as possible. You may have heard it referred to as ‘circular design’.
Often low impact/natural dyes are chosen over those that use chemicals. Firstly, because the toxic waste is bad for the environment, and secondly because it is actually much better for the skin. Everyone benefits!
Already you have a good understanding of the benefits of going sustainable, but here are 5 key reasons to choose sustainable textiles.
1. It’s better for the environment
We’ve already explored this in some detail. But we’d say this is probably the biggest benefit - and for good reason. If we want to live on this planet for a long time, we need to keep it happy and healthy.
Man-made textiles produce more greenhouse gases, which we all know by now is a major problem. They also add to landfills - filling them with plastic-based, chemically dyed fibres which do not decompose. However, all the toxic substances that manufactured the products are excreted into our land and waters.
Now that’s not to say sustainable textiles have zero impact. Of course they do. Natural fibres do decompose, over time. Woollen clothes for example will release methane and CO2 into our atmosphere, but at a lower and slower rate. Plus they don’t pollute the environment in the same way.
The best way we can combat this level of impact is through ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. According to reports from the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling clothing would have an effect equivalent to removing one million cars off the road every year.
2. It’s better for you
If you could see what went into some of your clothing, we’re pretty sure you’d feel less inclined to put it on…
You might know someone who really struggles with allergies and constant itching. They probably blame it on the washing powder they use, and just can't seem to find one that works. Well, it’s highly likely that the clothing they are washing is full of irritable substances and no perfectly PH balanced powder is going to alleviate that discomfort.
Do you pay attention to what you eat? Checking what bad-for-you processed stuff to avoid? You probably think about that a lot more than what you wear, or the bed sheets you sleep in…
If you have prolonged contact with textiles made using harmful chemicals, these can actually be absorbed into the bloodstream. Your skin is a vital organ. The biggest one you have, you should treat it like you would those inside your body.
Natural fibres - produced sustainably - will inevitably be manufactured without the use of these damaging compounds. They are far better for you than synthetic fibres or those containing chemicals.
Another awesome benefit of natural fibres is the way they act with the human body. We are talking about temperature and the diverse fluctuations it goes through. This makes for great active, leisure and workwear: keeping you warm, wicking moisture and offering breathability.
3. It’s better for others
Do you think about who made your clothes? Where the fibres were sourced? It’s easy to ignore, but it’s happening all over the world. Unfairly paid, inhumane conditions, and demand that can’t be met by mass-manufacturing companies…
We won’t go into too much detail, but it’s important to be conscious of the impact fast-fashion produced unethically can have on our fellow humans.
By choosing sustainable textiles, you can really add to the positive impact on the people that help to produce them.
That’s a win in our books.
Swanndri's Oxford long sleeve waffle henley features rib cuffs and is perfect for around the house or layering over a tee.
The Primaloft Thermoplume insulation used in our Lakeside jacket provides an excellent warmth to weight ratio.
4. It’s fashionable
It’s such a big myth that sustainable fashion can’t be stylish. Yet it’s a common objection (or should we say excuse).
Brands who produce fast fashion are very good at putting the emphasis on trends. We get dictated to about what we should be wearing, and we have done for as long as we can remember.
But is this really fashionable? Isn’t it more so to coordinate your own personal style?
Sustainable fashion designers often have a focus on creating timeless looks, high-quality made, and can be worn in a variety of ways - allowing the wearer more opportunity to craft their own personal style.
5. It’s future-proof
We cannot continue to produce unethical, unsustainable textiles. If we do, the impact will likely become irreversible.
Everyone is responsible. As a consumer, if you choose to shop more sustainably, manufacturers will have to listen. It’s very much a supply & demand business.
Sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s a lifestyle. The more we learn to adapt to it, the better impact we can have on our planet, our people and what’s to come.
Our own sustainable textiles
At New Zealand Natural Clothing, our philosophy is “Wear with Confidence”.
Choosing to opt for our sustainable offering, you can be confident that you're contributing to the reduced impact on the environment, and the people who manufacture the products. Plus, you know it’s high-quality made and will last.
Our products are made in New Zealand, from New Zealand sourced natural fibres. We are out there to show that we can create luxurious garments while keeping it Kiwi.
By using merino wool and possum fur, we ensure you look good, and feel even better. These natural fibres come from our backyard. In fact, New Zealand is the only place in the world that possum fibre can be harvested.
In New Zealand, the bush-tail possum is a non-native animal introduced from Australia that has had a devastating effect on our country’s flora and fauna. Because of this the species is targeted for eradication regardless of whether we use their fur.
New Zealand's conservation efforts are improved by the market for possum fur through providing an income to skilled trappers. We are proud to be a part of ensuring that the collection of furs is done in a humane manner. And it removes unnecessary waste.
Our external suppliers are also very eco-conscious, ensuring that any necessary chemical use is kept to an absolute minimum and waste is managed effectively.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for in store or online we can order it in for you.
Kit yourself out for the hot months with natural fibre garments designed for all seasons!