I found myself at an early age feeling better when cotton and wool touched my skin instead of synthetics like polyester and nylon. Once I graduated from chiropractic college and learned much about the wholistic approach to living, natural fibers were almost all I would wear.
Fast forward to the emphasis we now have on eco-conscious living and take a look at eco-products from nature’s treasure trove. Organic cotton has gotten a lot of attention and captures much of the market at the present time. However, it isn’t the only option in eco-friendly clothing. Enter the duds made with fabrics created from sustainable and surprising materials.
Soy products are pretty much everywhere but did you know that soy proteins, a byproduct of soybean oil production, are woven into a light jersey-like material that drapes softly over the body with a bit of a stretch?
Enter bamboo! Using the pulp of the fast growing plant, the soft fabric has natural anti-bacterial properties and whisks sweat away from the body. Another pulp that is fast becoming popular is wood pulp fabric. Cellulose, the stuff that forms plant cell walls, is extracted and spun into light-weight and wrinkle –resistant material called Tencel or Lyocell.
Finally, corn sugars are fermented into polymears the woven into a fiber known as Ingeo. Durable and biodegradable its becoming popular in everything from T-shirts to carpets! Exciting stuff to be sure so keep your eyes on the eco-friendly to adorn your body.
