What's the What with Natural Fibers?
A deep dive into why I donated 90% of my wardrobe and what our clothes are being made of these days.
5/8/20241 min read
Not long ago, I spent an entire day (well, two naptimes at least) sorting through my extensive wardrobe with a discernment I'd never before applied to my clothing. I ended up giving away nearly every piece of clothing I owned to our local thrift shops. These were not cheap articles that I was casually disposing of, but high-quality items that I had enjoyed and worn for many years, but each and every item was manufactured with more than 50% artificial fibers. They were made of things like polyester, nylon, spandex, or acrylic that I had been learning more and more about. Once I'd done my research on these fabrics, I couldn't bury my head in the sand any longer.
What has happened to the quality of our clothing? What are these artificial fibers made of? What are the impacts of wearing these fabrics? What impact do these fabrics have on the health of our planet and the cleanliness of the water we drink? Is this a legitimate concern or a crunchy cultural fad? Let's take a closer look at some of these fabrics and arguments and you can decide for yourself.
What is Polyester?
Invented in the 1940s by two British chemists, John Rex Whinfield and James Tennant Dickson, polyester has become one of the most popular modern fabrics. Lauded as a cheap, wrinkle-free, and easily washable alternative to natural fibers such as cotton and wool, this petroleum-derived synthetic material has rapidly become