Ethically, non toxin clothing

The clothes you wear matter. Growing up, I never thought about what I wore. If the shirt was cute, the jeans fit and the shoes were in style, I didn’t think twice. I didn’t think about the material I was putting on my skin. I didn’t think about where those clothes were coming from. I didn’t think about the story behind the purchase. The last year, God’s been slowly helping me realize what it means to live more naturally and more ethically.

At the beginning of this year, I started getting into essential oils and carrier oils. I started making my own bath and beauty recipes as well as homemade household cleaners. It’s no surprise that the Lord starting challenging me on the clothes I was wearing.

Did you know it takes approximately 30 seconds for your skin to absorb

That means, I’m putting all these cancer causing materials onto my skin, sweating in these clothes, and sleeping in them!! Oh my gosh, that is not good!!

Toxins:

1. Polyester is the worst fabric you can buy. It is made from synthetic polymers that are made from esters of dihydric alcohol and terpthalic acid. 

2. Acrylic fabrics are polycrylonitriles and may cause cancer, according to the EPA.

3. Rayon is recycled wood pulp that must be treated with chemicals like caustic soda, ammonia, acetone and sulphuric acid to survive regular washing and wearing.

4. Acetate and Triacetate are made from wood fibers called cellulose and undergo extensive chemical processing to produce the finished product.

5. Nylon is made from petroleum and is often given a permanent chemical finish that can be harmful.

6. Anything static resistant, stain resistant, permanent press, wrinkle-free, stain proof or moth repellant. Many of the stain resistant and wrinkle-free fabrics are treated with perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), like Teflon.

I don’t know about you but I don’t want any of those chemicals on my body. I look for organic and natural materials. Cotton and linen are my go to. My rule of thumb is: look on the tag on the inside. If it doesn’t have a tag saying what it’s made of; don’t buy it. I’ll never forget cleaning out my closet and seeing 4 tags. All in different languages and overall listing a man made chemical material. No thank you!

There’s so much more I’m still learning. I will say I’ve learned this: what you wear matters. Just because it may be the style that’s in right now, doesn’t mean it’s worth your health. I refuse to live the way I used to live, buying clothes made of toxic materials and supporting industry’s that don’t offer fair trade or treat their employees good.

Some tips:

1. Raid your closet. Go through each piece of clothing. Look at the tag. Is it ethically made? Is it made of toxic materials? (Can you pronounce the name of material it’s made of) is there more then one tag? (Most likely your supporting an industry you probably shouldn’t be- do your research before you buy).

2. Shop secondhand. You can find so many ethically made, beautiful pieces of clothing for cheap!

3. Rule of thumb: if there’s no tag stating the material it’s made of don’t purchase item. Make sure there is a tag stating what the material is. Even if you really like the item, it’s not worth risking your health over.

4. Buy materials made of: Cotton, linen, wool or silk. Cotton and linen are my go to.