What are the most sustainable clothing materials?

Sustainability as it refers to clothing materials, means the fabrics were manufactured in a way that it doesn't compromise the ability of future generations to continue to do the same. Luckily, the fashion industry has come up with alternative solutions to manufacture sustainable clothes, and today we can choose from different sustainable materials. The top sustainable clothing materials can be manufactured any number of times without negative e consequences to our environment. The use of sustainable materials helps reduce CO2 emissions and avoids the use of harmful chemicals and other substances that have a negative impact on our environment. This article will review the different sustainable fabrics available both from natural and synthetic sources, so you can make an informed decision when buying eco-friendly clothing.

Natural Fibers

The most sustainable materials are of course from natural origins if, and only if the manufacturing process is strictly regulated to avoid harmful practices that damage the environment or the people working around to manufacture them. An even better option than natural fibers is recycled natural fabrics.

One of the most sustainable clothing materials is organic hemp. This fabric material is extremely versatile and it can be used as food, building materials, and to manufacture fabrics. The resulting clothing material is suitable for all seasons and becomes softer the more it’s washed. Hemp can be grown organically without the need for chemicals and is a very low-maintenance plant that requires little water to sustain itself.

Another sustainable natural fiber is organic cotton which is very eco-friendly when grown organically. As opposed to conventional cotton, organic cotton requires less water and does not use pesticides or chemicals. Always make sure your cotton is GOTS certified. Find out our sustainable running clothes on the website.

Recycled Materials

Recycled materials can come from either natural or synthetic materials. As of now, we feel there is a greater need for recycled synthetics materials than natural fibers, and here’s why. Synthetic fibers may take generations to decompose while synthetic fibers only take a few months. With so many synthetic materials used today across many industries, it seems logical to make recycling a top priority. The process of recycling synthetics is much more ecofriendly than manufacturing the fabrics from scratch and it avoids the introduction of new oil-based materials into the environment. At The Running Republic, all of our clothing, for example our sustainable leggings, is made from sustainable recycled materials, mainly recycled polyester (rPET) and nylon (econyl).

Innovative Fabrics

There are lots of innovations being explored to substitute unsustainable fabrics; this topic deserves an article on its own. The innovative sustainable clothing materials include fabrics made from pineapple leaves, banana fibers, mango leather, and many others. Tencel is another innovative and sustainable alternative that is made from eucalyptus trees. Its production takes place in a closed-loop system in which water and solvents are recycled.