SUSTAINABLE FABRICS
While there doesn’t exist a ‘dream fabric’ that’s both eco-conscious and can be used for all fashion purposes, there are several options that are considered more safe and sustainable. Here is a selection of our favorites that replace culprits including polyester, nylon and acrylic that take decades to biodegrade. Cadre Style is doing our part to decrease the 92 million tons of waste added annually to landfills by the fashion industry. Feel good and do good by wearing sustainable fabrics can be more easily decomposed like organic cotton, linen, Tencel™, cashmere, wool, modal, jute, bamboo and hemp.
LINEN: One of our favorite sustainable fabrics that always looks timelessly chic is linen. Made from flax which doesn’t require fertilizer, it can be planted almost anywhere, and produces no waste, means that natural linen is biodegradable. Just stay away from harsh and harmful dyes.
ORGANIC COTTON: Nothing feels softer on the skin than organic cotton. Produced without synthetic fertilizers, toxic pesticides or genetically modified seeds (GMOs) means the process from cotton to cloth is a sustainable one. To be certain, keep an eye on verified certifications and transparency.
MODAL: Allow us to introduce you to modal, a semi-synthetic textile composed of wood pulp, mainly from beech trees. While the pulp is natural, the production process involves a very small amount of chemicals. On a positive note, the amount of sodium hydroxide is lower than that used for rayon viscose and the result is a soft fabric often used for pajamas and underwear.
SILK: One of the most luxurious fabrics that always feels good on the skin, silk is produced by silkworms whose diet consists of only mulberry tree leaves. This plant is resistant to pollution and easy to grow, making silk production low waste and sustainable. For the most ethical production methods that don’t harm animals, make sure it’s Peace silk.
BAMBOO: A fast-growing, regenerative crop with no fertilization required, bamboo is a favorite material among sustainable brands. When produced properly and without chemicals involved, bamboo is comfortable, highly absorbent, and moisture-wicking. Like with all these eco-conscious fabrics, transparency in the production methods is the key.
