The Top Sustainable and Eco-friendly Fashion Materials

Although the talks have been for decades to initiate changes, it was only the pandemic time that brought the action. The definition of fashion has changed a lot. The foremost reason is that people have realized they can be more cautious towards the environment during the pandemic. If we talk about the fashion industry, it is generally understood that it contributes the most to greenhouse emissions. The sector is responsible for pollution, wastage, and massive water consumption. 

It's always possible to start something new that can positively impact your lifestyle and hence help in a certain way to save the planet. Today designers have started including sustainable fashion materials in their clothing lines. This blog will discuss some of the best and top eco-friendly fashion materials that can help the environment and ultimately enhance your lifestyle towards sustainability and veganism. 

Top Sustainable and Eco-friendly Fashion Materials:

Below we have mentioned the list that includes environmentally friendly materials for clothing-

1. Cork leather-

Cork leather is a sustainable material that is an emerging option for leather. However, it is less common than recycled plastic but is becoming much more popular. Cork leather is derived from oak trees and is extracted naturally from parts of the trees. It is the most basic alternative to animal leather because it is entirely renewable. Cork leather is used in making wallets, bags and footwear. Cork leather is 100% natural, and most of its production occurs in Europe, especially in Portugal. 

It takes around 20 years for a cork tree can be harvested; the bark can be taken when the oak tree is about 60 cm in circumference. The harvesting process is repeated only after nine years, as it takes many years for the cork to reproduce. The people who are specialized in removing the pin are called extractors. After being harvested, the cork is allowed to dry naturally for six months. After which, it is cooked and steamed to make the fabric more elastic; it is then pressed by applying heat and pressure. These blocks are then cut into thinner pieces to make clothes and accessories. The cork material is highly flexible and light so that it can be processed into various unique designs and accessories. 

This leather's fantastic features include being water-resistant, lightweight, soft and durable. It is mainly used to make handbags, shoes, wallets, clothes, furniture, and wall covering.

2. Econyl-

Econyl is among the recycled fashion materials made using synthetic waste such as industrial plastic, fishing nets, and waste fabric to recycle and reproduce in new nylon. That is of the same quality as nylon—making starts with collecting waste, such as fishing nets from the water bodies, which are taken for pretreatment, where they are sorted and shredded into smaller pieces to form only. 

The shredded material then goes through the regeneration plant, where they are put into a chemical reactor to go through the depolymerization process. Here, nylon is formed into textiles. The nylon is extracted, polymerized, transformed into yarn, and finally converted into textile products. The eco-friendly regeneration process creates a closed loop and consumes less water, resulting in less waste. 

Econyl has all the properties of nylon, which means it can be used in all the products where nylon six is used, which includes accessories and apparel. 

3. Pinatex-

Pinatex is a natural alternative to leather made out of cellulose fibre derived from pineapple leaves. Because it is formed from a food by-product, it ultimately reduces waste and helps the labourers in the farming community that grows pineapple. Whenever it comes to vegan materials fabric, pinatex is the first choice. It is so because it is a cruelty-free choice that is also sustainable and natural. 

The pinatex is made by weaving together pineapple leaf fibre to create a non-woven product. It is made partially from waste that does not need additional land, water, or pesticides. In the production of pinatex, any toxic chemical or heavy metal is not used, which is generally used in animal leather production. 

The pinatex is so versatile that it can be used for making anything from a watch strap to a jacket. Moreover, it is also used in the automotive industry for making leather seats. 

4. Linen-

Linen is made from flax fibre, one of the most widely used sustainable and vegan materials all around the globe. The cellulose fibre is derived directly from the flax stem and spun into linen threads. For flax plant irrigation, rainwater is sufficient, which grows successfully in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. 

The linen is made from the cellulose fibre that grows within the stalks of the flax plant. The flax is prepared to be harvested for its fibres when the stem begins to display yellow, and the seeds look brown. The branches of the flax plant are pulled up with the root instead of cutting from the bottom. 

Linen is a solid fibre that also has high absorbency, which makes it ideal for fashion fabrics, home fabrics, and even canvas. The linen fabric in clothing is used mainly in the summer season because it is lightweight and can help the body to stay calm.

5. Recyclable cotton-

Cotton is a material that can be recycled both from pre-consumer and post-consumer cotton waste. The pre-consumer waste is generated during the production of yarn, fabrics, and textile products. However, post-consumer waste comes from discarded textile products after consumption. 

Being one of the most commonly used fabrics, cotton plays an essential role in the ecosystem. However, growing cotton needs resources like water, pesticides, and insecticides. But at present, cotton production is unsustainable, thus being a cause of severe drought in some areas along with causing polluted water bodies. Hence, recycled cotton can be seen as a more sustainable option for organic cotton. Moreover, recycling cotton is a great way to reduce the ecological impact. Each ton of cotton which is recycled can save gallons of water.

Famous designers and brands are using recycled cotton as one of the fast fashion materials for making clothing, accessories, bags and shoes. Recycled cotton is merged with new cotton because of the lower quality of the recycled one. In addition, recycled cotton is combined with various fibres for developing textiles and sustainable products. 

In Closing Comments : 

Unsustainable fashion results from poor fabric choices; many materials used to make human clothes are derived from animal skin. Ultimately, these clothes release harmful chemicals and remain in the environment for thousands of years. By choosing sustainable and environmentally friendly materials, you can fill your wardrobe with clothes and accessories that are safe for the planet, including plants and animals. In the above blog, we have discussed some of the finest fabrics used to make clothes, accessories and other products. 

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