4 ethical fabrics you should be excited about and why

If you had told me even a year ago that I’d be describing fabric as ‘exciting’ then I’d have told you that you must have been talking about the American Football Quarterback, Drew Chris Brees, and not this Chris Brees. And yet, here we are.

After seeing three huge football clubs (Juventus, Manchester United, and Real Madrid) recently adopt recycled kits made from ocean plastic, I thought it was time to see what else was out there and to celebrate these new innovations. Here’s where my adventures led me…

1. Pinatex

Ever thought about wrapping yourself in a pineapple? Me neither. But now you can! Pinatex is made from the leaves of our favourite tropical fruit, and not only stops these leaves going to waste (apparently 40,000 tonnes of these leaves are wasted every year!), but also creates a leather alternative which is cheaper, doesn’t use toxic chemicals, and avoids the animal welfare concerns which the leather industry raises. So if you fancy grabbing yourself some tasty tropical trainers, head over to Po-Zu and check out their Pinatex collection.

2. Recover

This exciting little material is made from our old clothes. Cotton from our recycled clothes is broken down, and then reformed into a range of different types of cotton, which can be used to make new clothes. They’re all about closing the sustainability loop and re-using what we would otherwise throw away – what an amazing vision.

3. Tencel

Tencel is the brand name for Lyocell, a silky and smooth material made from cellulose fibres extracted from trees. The production process used by manufacturers Lenzing means that there is very little waste produced, and it’s carbon neutral! The key here is to look for Lenzing Tencel as their processes are far superior to other forms of Lyocell. Check out Know The Origin’s online store (or a pop-up near you) for some Tencel goodies.

4. Capilene

If you’ve been looking for ways to cut down on your plastic use then this beaut of a material could give you a way to pay-it-forward. It is a polyester made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles! How amazing is that! It also uses less water and energy than regular polyester production, and can be used in performance materials like Patagonia’s baselayers – perfect for the more adventurous among you.

But why should we bother looking up these fabrics when we next need some clothes?

Well as God’s children we get to revel in the beauty and intricacy of His creation, and so it’s a joy that we can protect that creation, and nurture it. By supporting these fabrics we are ensuring that no further harm is done to the planet (or to animals), but that the towering oak tree, the busily buzzing bee, and the cheeky chimpanzee all have the opportunity to thrive.

Of course, by supporting these fabrics we also get to support brilliant people around the world who create this amazing stuff – often putting the quality and sustainability of what they’re making in front of profit for themselves.

We get to love people, love the planet, and worship God by simply changing the clothes we buy.

What an incredible opportunity.

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