One might think of materials that sound natural like cotton, hemp, or even bamboo, but are they really sustainable?
The most sustainable materials employ a circular or closed-loop system, recycling waste and putting it back into production. They must be durable, ethical, and affordable. Cotton likes to call itself “the fabric of our lives,” but should it be? Some of the most sustainable woven fabrics need to be analyzed to have a clearer picture of the topic.
A garment that never goes out of style and that we offer to be made of sustainable woven fabric are men's pajamas. On our website El Búho Nocturno we offer a wide collection of pajamas that will surely please you. Whether for their woven fabric, design, or fit.
List Of Sustainable Woven Fabrics
Below is the necessary information about some of the most sustainable woven fabrics currently on the market.
Recycled Cotton:
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Making Old Clothes New Again
Used to make everything from t-shirts, pajamas to jeans, cotton can be found in almost every wardrobe. It sounds natural, and it is, but not all cotton is the same. Cotton crops consume water and are prone to pests. Organic cotton does not use pesticides, but it accounts for only 0.7% of total cotton production and still does not solve the water use problem.
Through a mechanical process, cotton materials are broken down and then re-spun to make new garments. This saves water and energy, and much of the material has already been dyed, giving you colors with less environmental damage load. However, it should be noted that the system is not perfect. Clothes must be collected and processed, and the recycling process can weaken the fibers.
Recycled Nylon:
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A Net Gain?
Nylon is a synthetic fiber found in everything from fishing nets to pantyhose, and of course the pajamas made worldwide. It does not break down easily, making it infinitely recyclable. As an elastic and durable material, recycled nylon is ideal for tight-fitting garments and high-performance sportswear.
However, some environmental production costs still cannot be avoided, and as a non-natural material, recycled nylon will release contaminating microfibers.
Recycled Polyester
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From Bottles To Models
If only all plastic waste could be turned into clothing! Well, with recycled polyester, this is already totally possible.
Recycled polyester fiber (rPET) is made from post-industrial and post-consumer waste. It is used in a wide variety of garments, including sports t-shirts, collared shirts, winter jackets, and low-cost pajamas.
However, as with any recycled synthetic material, the environmental cost of processing and the microfibers released during use and washing must be considered.
Linen:
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Natural And Fresh Since 8,000 B.C.
As a natural fiber from the flax plant, this is biodegradable and has been used for thousands of years. As a plant, flax does not need much water to grow and can thrive even in poor soils. All parts can be used, generating little waste. Linen is often used to make loose, breathable shirts, pants, and dresses; and on some special occasions pajamas. It is lightweight, durable, and resistant to both moths and bacteria.
Although not as sustainable as recycled fibers, when considering land and water use, it is not accurate to worry about microfiber pollution.
Hemp:
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High-Quality Woven That Grows Like a Weed
Hemp is another natural eco-friendly woven that has been used for thousands of years due to its durability and tendency to grow almost effortlessly. As a plant, it replenishes the soil, absorbs carbon dioxide, and provides a high yield. Hemp material has many of the same properties as linen: it is biodegradable, lightweight, strong, and naturally antibacterial. Hemp clothing, which can be anything from t-shirts to dress pants, even blocks ultraviolet light.
Hemp has suffered due to its association with marijuana in the U.S., but it is beginning to make a comeback.
Fruit Leathers:
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Sweet Alternatives For Vegans
Innovative companies have turned to fruit waste to make everything from shoes to wallets. Based in London, Ananas Anam produces a material they called Piñatex from pineapple leaf fiber. They are not only environmentally sustainable in their "cradle to cradle" approach but also support rural farming communities in the Philippines.
In Denmark, The Apple Girl manufactures Apple Leather using cider and juice product waste. In the Netherlands, Fruitleather Rotterdam's favorite fruit for their vegan leather is mango.
Wood Pulp Fiber:
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An Ancient Resource Meets New Technology
Companies with new techniques are turning to wood as another plant source for clothing. Some fiber names already considered common in the market are Tencel™, which is used to make everything from a kind of denim or jeans to underwear and pijamas, and Burla Viscose, developed as artificial silk.
Companies that make them obtain and process sustainably, and the results are fully biodegradable.
Bamboo:
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Untapped Sustainability Potential
Many materials are already made from bamboo, and bamboo is a great source because it can be grown quickly and organically, and if untreated, it is biodegradable. However, consumers must be cautious, as bamboo products suffer a lot of greenwashing. Although bamboo can be grown organically, this is not always the case. Most bamboo on the market is chemically processed or uses large amounts of water.
If you want to use bamboo, you must look for bamboo woven that is certified organic, dew-treated, and naturally colored.
We can offer you men's bamboo pajamas. The softness they provide is incredible, try them because you won't want others.
Spider Silk:
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Sustainable Fabric Of The Future?
Although it is called spider silk, no spider is harmed in the process. Rather, spiders, with their ability to create a super strong silk without the addition of heat, serve as inspiration for this lab-made fiber. The resulting material is incredibly strong and requires very little energy to process. However, the challenge has been to scale and bring spider silk products to market. The Japanese company Spiber partnered with The North Face to create the limited release Moon Parka in 2019, so from now on we must pay closer attention to this new woven material.
Everything Bought Secondhand Remains Number One
As great as these sustainable materials sound, the most sustainable material of all remains something that can be bought or obtained secondhand. Material innovation is an important part of the fashion industry of the future, but for the average consumer, the local secondhand store remains the most sustainable option.
There is a great deal of information about sustainable fabrics and many new companies making extraordinary materials. So next time you need a new garment, you should look for an ecological option instead of settling for fast fashion.