One might think of materials that sound natural like cotton, hemp, or even bamboo, but are they really sustainable?
The most sustainable materials use 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? We need to analyze some of the most sustainable fabrics that exist to have a clearer picture on the subject.
A garment that never goes out of style and that we offer to be made of woven is men's pajamas. On our website El Búho Nocturno we offer a wide collection of pajamas that will surely please you. Whether for their fabric, their design, or their fit.
List of Sustainable Fabrics
Below is the necessary information about some of the most sustainable fabrics currently available on the market.
Recycled Cotton:
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Making Old Clothes Look 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 usage 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, providing colors with less environmental damage load. However, it should be noted that the system is not perfect. The clothing must be collected and processed, and the recycling process can weaken the fibers.
Recycled Nylon:
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A Net Profit?
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 cannot yet be avoided, and as a non-natural material, recycled nylon will eliminate polluting 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 now completely 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 pajamas at a low cost.
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, it 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. Flax is often used to make loose and breathable shirts, pants, and dresses; and on some special occasions pajamas. It is lightweight, durable, and resistant to both moths and bacteria.
Although it is not as sustainable as recycled fibers, when considering land and water use, there is no need to worry about microfiber pollution.
Hemp:
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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 reemerge.
Fruit Leathers:
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Sweet Alternatives For Vegans
Innovative companies have turned to fruit waste to make everything from shoes to handbags. 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 they also support rural farming communities in the Philippines.
In Denmark, The Apple Girl manufactures Apple Leather using waste from cider and juice products. In the Netherlands, Fruitleather Rotterdam's preferred fruit for their vegan leather is mango.
Wood Pulp Fiber:
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An Ancient Resource Joins New Technology
Companies with new techniques are turning to wood as another plant-based source for manufacturing. Some fiber names that are already considered common in the market are Tencel™, which is used to make everything from a kind of denim or jeans to underwear and pajamas, and Burla Viscose, developed as artificial silk.
The companies that manufacture them obtain and process sustainably, and the results are completely 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 should be cautious, as bamboo products often undergo a lot of greenwashing. Although bamboo can be grown organically, this is not always the case. Most of the bamboo on the market is chemically processed or uses large amounts of water.
If you want to use bamboo, you need to look for woven made of bamboo that is certified organic, with dew and natural color.
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 up and bring spider silk products to market. The Japanese company Spiber partnered with The North Face to create the limited edition Moon Parka in 2019, so from now on we need to be more attentive regarding this new fabric 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 second-hand. Material innovation is an important part of the fashion industry of the future, but for the average consumer, the local second-hand store remains the most sustainable option.
There is a large amount of information about sustainable fabrics and many new companies that manufacture extraordinary materials. So the next time a new garment is needed, one should look for an eco-friendly option instead of settling for fast fashion.