From the recent article that we talked about the pollution from artificial-fibre clothes releasing toxic Microplastic that spread around the world, which we can solve by switching to natural-fibre clothes, whether it be choosing from 100% cotton, 100% organic cotton, linen, silk, handwoven fabrics, etc.
But, sometimes when we cannot avoid using synthetic ones as Sportswear Spandex or Water-Sports, that we already have the solution by changing to alternatives, such as, bamboo, flax, hemp, Lyocell, Modal, and Tencel, that is chemical-safe certified.
The reason why the certificates or symbols have to be granted is because these alternative fabrics, that made from plants which cannot normally be spun into threads, need processing to dissolve plant's tissue, trunk, bark, and leaf prior to making yarns.
There are several processing. Some involve a great amount of chemicals, some with extremely high heat, that are certainly not good for the environment.
Moreover, with the high concentration of chemicals, no matter how natural fibre it is, it will not be able to decompose naturally, while releasing harmful chemicals to the nature.
For the clothes made from Recycled Plastic, or Recycled Synthetic-fibre, actually there can be a lot of dangerous chemical substances in the process to make those plastic waste become soft and comfortable, suitable enough for clothing. Mixing with additional new synthetic fibres may also be needed in order to make the fibre good enough for weaving.
The research found that this kind of clothes is contaminated with high level of chemicals, and is not biodegradable. That means, it can be even more harmful to the environment.
Choosing natural-fibre clothes that are biodegradable, and also chemical-safe certified, is the guarantee that what you wear is safe for both yourself and the nature.
Recently, there are researches of creating clothing that is not only biodegradable, but at the same time can become a fertiliser benefiting trees and plants.
Furthermore, there are studies of new fibres that use less natural resources, water, soil, and take up less land for growing, for the future society.
1. Milk
In fact, a fibre from cow milk has been invented since the 1930s. but with great toxic chemicals involved.
Nowadays, with technological advancement, we have the innovation that does not use chemicals anymore. The thread is as soft and smooth as silk, and dry faster than cotton.
2. Coffee Ground
It can be made for winter clothes, but is better an outerwear because to maintain eco-safe, the textile is not very soft and smooth. The advantage is it can keep your warm, a nice protection from cold weather.
Even more advantageous is that, even if it is used coffee ground, it can be reused as well.
3. Wine
Never thought, don't you?
Remember that wine is also made from the nature. The way it derives from grape meaning that it is concentrated enough for the today's innovation to spin it into thread.
Even though it would be preoccupied with dyes from different types of wine, the hues are beautifully unique.
The only downside is that there may be some wine odour left, but some washes should fix the problem.
4. Kelp
This kind of thread is one of the latest innovations, very efficient, and may be the best one for the environment.
The experiment found that species of Kelp that consist of Alginate, a type of sugar-bond substance, can be powdered, and dissolved again into water-based gel, which natural dyeing can be mixed in this process (such as, carrot juice, cumin extract, mango peel, indigo, etc.), before spinning into yarn, thread, and finishing as clothes.
The good news is that there are plenty of these species of kelp in the nature. They can also grow and reproduce very fast. No need to water. No fertiliser wanted. You do not have to worry about pests. Definitely not required chemicals, and no hectares of land are used to grow as those conventional fibre crops.
Moreover, the researchers also improve and utilise the new kinds of bacteria that can dye the fabric. This discovery will be the breakthrough for dyeing industry because normally, since the beginning, dyeing demands the most chemicals. Even if there are health-safe or in trace amount that is eligible for organic certification, it is still considered chemical.
Or even Soy Ink, it cannot be used as the total ingredient for dyeing. In fact, only 10% of the total dyes is typical.
This new dyeing bacteria is definitely biodegradable, and affirmed as not affecting the ecosystem, will be the new dimension of eco-friendly fashion world in our near future.
Currently, these alternative-fibre clothes may not be usually launched, in high price, or have less designs to choose from, but there will be more coming soon. If we change, there will be even more. Just support them. Think of our future, our children, and this beautiful one of a kind planet.
We always believe that,
One Small Change
-can make-
One Big Difference
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