Almost ¾ of clothes contain some sort of synthetic material (polyester, spandex, acrylic).

AKA plastic.

These materials are non biodegradable and release tiny pieces of plastic into our environment - contaminating our water and our food chain.

They are often treated with toxic chemicals known to cause infertility, reproductive and endocrine disruption. Some are even linked to cancer…

So why are we still using them?

When I was in grade 5, I started a petition to get recycling bins in my school. Like a politician, I made my rounds during recess.

I didn’t care if the kids were older, younger or didn’t understand. “Sign here”. I would tell them, pointing with my finger.

You see, it’s not uncommon for children to have this passionate desire to change the world.

But as we grow older, we loose this special gift. We stop believing we can make a difference and start shifting the blame of our problems onto others. Wether it’s the government, big corporations or the church.

You see, I’ve been on this holistic journey for 5 years now. I try my best to live in alignment with nature, and believe in the importance of a healthy mind, body and spirit.

Some of my daily rituals include:

• eating whole, organic foods

• avoiding microplastics

• using toxic free soap and beauty products

• relying on natural remedies instead of pharmaceuticals

But how can I preach this message, when I'm wearing plastic clothes?

Honestly, I can’t say I did know.

I'd heard of sweat shops, toxic chemicals and the pollution associated with clothing.

But somehow. I managed to convinced myself that my clothes... were different?

I said things like "it's the companies responsibility. Nothings going to change until they do".

Fast forward to last week.

When I saw the tag peering out the side of my favourite - might I add expensive jacket.

"100% POLYESTER"

What?

Up until this point, I was shopping at reputable clothing stores (or so I thought).

and I had this preconceived notion, that expensive meant better quality. And if a brand claimed to be sustainable.

That was good enough for me.

As the story goes, I checked every tag in the house from my tea towels to the bed sheets.

And guess what? Aside from a few shirts, everything had plastic!

Mind boggling… right?

It seems like plastic is everywhere now days…

and just like processed foods - these clothes are junk.

A Marketplace investigation found that out of 38 samples of children's, adult's and maternity clothes and accessories, one in five items had elevated levels of chemicals — including lead, PFAS and phthalates

You may be asking yourself “what did you do? did you throw everything out?”

Not exactly.

Instead I did over 20 hours of research.

So I could write this.

For people like you.

Because realistically, who has time to look into this stuff?

Most information is scattered all over the place, making it nearly impossible to know the full truth.

By the end of this newsletter you’ll no only understand how fast fashion can harm you, others and the environment. You’ll have all the tools you need to start building your own timeless, high quality wardrobe.

P.S. I’ve attached a FREE clothing material guide at the bottom of this newsletters (in case you want to dive deeper into fabrics). I even ranked the materials from best to worse, to make buying sustainable clothing as easy as possible.

What’s the difference between synthetic and natural fibre clothing?

Synthetic Fibres

• made from petroleum based materials (originating from crude oil)

• non-biodegradable and shed microplastics into the environment

• often involve toxic chemicals that are harmful to our environment and factory workers

• toxic industrial waste

• less breathable and more likely to cause allergic reactions

• treated with chemicals like formaldehyde, flame retardant and PFA’s

Natural Fibres

• made from plants or animal sources

• biodegradable

• can involve large amounts of water depending on how it’s managed

• breathable and generally considered hypoallergenic

• typically treated with less chemicals (making it a great option for people with sensitive skin)

Now that we’ve covered that, let’s dive deeper.

(1) Where was it made?

Unfortunately slaves still exist, they’ve just changed the word to sweat shops workers.

As consumers the only price we see is the one on the tag.

But your clothes have other costs.

Like the health of factory worker.

"factories in Bangladesh tell us about women with bladder infections due to a lack of bathroom breaks and managers forcing women to take the contraceptive pill. The lack of a living wage amplifies issues like denial of maternity leave, inadequate sanitation, and sexual harassment in the workplace." 

If the tag has a third world country on it - put it back on the shelve.

It most likely supports unethical labour practices.

By supporting fast fashion brands we are enabling these brands to continue.

Trust me, if the money stops pouring in these companies will change.

When we purchase fast fashion, we are often participating in a system that leads to the chronic exploitation and humiliation of some of the world’s most vulnerable inhabitants. 

(2) Is the price to good to be true?

I get it, there's nothing like finding yourself a good bargain.

But usually that red tag item is cheap for a reason.

Even if it’s 100% cotton.

Beware of super cheat prices.

Think about it this way - how are these brands are making money off a 7$ shirt?

You’re clothes have other costs.

The opposite is also true. This 285 dollar jacket is 100% polyester.

It’s really baffling when you think about it.

You are paying almost 300$ for plastic.

Meanwhile this 100% natural fibres (wool and Liocell) jacket is only 65 dollars more.

A timeless piece you could wear for years to come.

(3) Is the company transparent?

Companies that value sustainability and ethical practices will tell you! It’s in their best interest to let you know exactly what they stand for. If they aren’t open and honest, chances are - they have something to hide.

Look for disclaimers like “fair trade certified” or certified “100% organic”.

(4) Does the item have a super power?

Does it claim to be wrinkle free, waterproof or stain resistant?

In order to achieve a label like this, the clothes must undergo serious chemical processing.

These chemicals are no joke.

and have been linked to cancer, reproductive and fertility problems, endocrine disruption and autoimmune disease (to mention a few).

(5) Does the brand have any environmental initiatives?

The production of clothes is very taxing to our environment.

The chemicals and dyes used degrade the land and cause water pollution. Not to mention they are very toxic to humans and surrounding wildlife.

For example the Buriganga river in Bangladesh is so polluted that its water appears pitch black, except during the monsoon months, and emits a foul stench throughout the year

And it’s not a one and done deal either.

Clothes made from synthetic material are non biodegradable and contribute to landfill pollution.

When you wash synthetic materials, tiny pieces of plastic break off into our water system. Eventually contaminating the environment and our food chain.

“We all live downstream.” - David Suzuki

So give yourself 1 year.

Change your wardrobe…

and make the clothes you wear reflect you’re values.

I’ll even make it extra easy for you! I’ve created a FREE clothing checklist. This way you’ll know exactly how many of each item you’ll need to build your own sustainable wardrobe!

Fashion is a creative force. It has the power to persuade, to influence, and transform. When fashion truly embraces transparency and sustainability, other spheres will follow. We’re on a journey towards a more sustainable future. - Emma Watson

I also strongly recommend you check out the FREE “good on you” app - supported by Emma Watson. They’ve rated over 3000 brands for sustainability and make it really easy to find good quality clothes!

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