In recent years, we have heard more and more about ecological fashion. The followers of this movement have come to change the production and consumption habits of the textile and fashion industry with the aim of reducing their environmental and health impacts. This is indeed an important issue, since the textile industry is the second most polluting industry after oil.
What is ecological clothing?
An ecological garment is a product designed to reduce the ecological footprint that can be generated by the manufacture of clothing. It also aims to reduce its environmental impact throughout its life cycle. Eco-responsible, eco-fashion uses materials that consume little water and pollute little, as well as a delivery process that limits the use of transport as much as possible. The raw materials used come from chemical-free cultivation. This protects the environment and the health of those who produce them and those who wear them. Today, more and more designers and brands are embracing the concept. And some even offer anti-itching and eco-friendly clothing lines.
Natural plant and animal fibres
One might think that all types of vegetable fibre are environmentally friendly, since they are biodegradable, renewable, breathable, hypoallergenic, comfortable and soft, but in reality not all of them are. For example, growing cotton requires a lot of water and highly polluting pesticides. For an eco-friendly garment, it is better to use vegetable fibres such as organic cotton, linen or hemp. Their crops consume less water and use less or almost no pesticides for some. Moreover, hemp is naturally antifungal and antibacterial to combat itching. On the animal side, materials such as mohair and alpaca made in France are to be preferred. In addition to being eco-friendly, they are very soft, which avoids rubbing sensations.
Artificial fibres
Contrary to what one might imagine, there is a totally ecological artificial fibre. This is the Lyocell process. It is a biodegradable and 100% cellulosic fibre made from wood pulp, treated with a non-toxic and recyclable solvent. To help you make the right choice, apart from knowing ecological textiles, there are labels that guarantee the eco-responsibility of the treatments and the authenticity of the materials used for greater transparency.