Plastic pollution is poisoning our oceans and land, injuring marine life, and affecting our health. Earth Day 2020 is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to change human attitude and behaviour about plastic. We learnt recently from our friends at Oceanic Global these devastating facts…
You may be surprised to learn that the clothes that you are wearing could contain potentially harmful chemicals!
Chemicals can sometimes be present in clothing in dangerous levels, and sometimes when this becomes evident the items in question will be recalled. This is something that has been observed in the press recently. Primark has recently recalled thousands of flip-flops due to the presence of a carcinogenic (cancer causing) substance*, and Dr. Martens took their new vegan boots out of stores nationwide when an undisclosed harmful chemical was discovered in trace amounts*.
Addressing the reasons why there are chemicals in our clothes, the harm that these chemicals can pose to our health, and how to avoid this problem, are three questions that we are going to answer today!
At the very beginning of the production process, the fibres that are grown to later become fabric will more than likely have been sprayed with pesticides. This helps to keep the crops healthy and pest-free, but traces of the chemicals are then present in the fabrics. Furthermore, during the manufacturing process, the fabrics may be sprayed with additional chemicals. This is done in order to make them resistant to problems such as odour and creasing. Chemicals are also used during the dying process, even though many of these dyes are commonly known to be extremely carcinogenic.
Regulations within the clothing industry are not at all strict when it comes to the use of chemicals. In fact, manufacturers are not even required to share information regarding which chemicals have been used on a fabric.
The carcinogenic properties of certain chemicals used on clothes is arguably the biggest cause for concern. Alarmingly, a substance known as formaldehyde can be found all too often in clothing garments. Not only is this chemical carcinogenic but it can also irritate the skin and the respiratory system.
Chrysene, which is the chemical that was found in the Primark flip-flops, is often used in chemical dyes and is known to have the potential to cause cancer. Exposure to chrysene can harm the skin and the eyes, and should be avoided where possible.
Metals are found in countless textiles and this can be dangerous for several reasons. When these metals are present in high concentrations then the garments can actually become radioactive! It is estimated that after approximately 500 hours of wearing such a garment, then the risk of injury becomes serious.
The adverse effects of the chemicals often found in clothes can be different for different people. Low levels of these chemicals may present no real danger at all, but frequent over-exposure should certainly be avoided where possible.
When you are shopping for new clothes always opt for those that are made from organic materials. Cotton and wool are fabrics that are increasingly made in an organic way. Additionally, try to avoid synthetic fabrics as the use of chemicals is fairly prevalent. Also, if the garment that you have your eye on is being advertised as crease-free or resistant to odours then it is likely to have undergone some chemical processing.
If you are seriously committed to avoiding chemicals in your clothing then you can always research an individual brands approach to using these chemicals. If a company has nothing to worry about when it comes to the presence of harmful chemicals then they will usually be happy to answer your questions!
[Physical]
The global clothing industry is a multi-trillion dollar business, and much of its growth is due to eco-fashion. At the beginning of clothing as we know it, humans donned clothes simply to stay warm, a far cry from the reasons behind the fashion choices of today. Today we buy clothes to match the seasons, but we also buy different garments for different occasions, moods, events and more!
It has been said that the sportswear aspect of the clothing industry has contributed massively towards the ongoing growth of the industry on the whole. This includes all kinds of items that you might wear to the gym, to yoga, or on the track, as well as a whole other host of items for every other kind of physical activity you can think of.
More people are becoming fashion conscious with their activewear choices, but more excitingly, people are also becoming more eco-conscious in their fashion choices in general.
Many designers are striving to show the world that not only do they understand the consequences of mass-produced apparel, but also that they are committed to finding alternative sustainable options.
One of the larger problems, when it comes to encouraging sustainability within the clothing industry, is that many brands want to find the cheapest production cycle possible in order to push up profits. This level of globalised manufacturing has seen the industry expand its potential for sales, without accountability to the workers or to the planet developing at the same time.
Unless more of a balance is struck between the cost of production, the price of sales and the types of fabrics being utilised for fashion, then this discord is only going to continue to grow.
As people increasingly seek sustainable materials for their fashion choices, it is clear that people are also seeking to better understand the social impacts of their purchases. Where is their clothing coming from? How is it produced? Is anyone being exploited along the way?
Ethical practices within the apparel industry are sure to take a front seat in the future of fashion. And, this will not only equate to fairer employment practices around the globe, but will also contribute to relieving the pressure on our already over-burdened planet.
Although there clearly already exists an interest in ethical clothing choices, many still base their purchasing decisions on the price of a product, and are therefore not always aligning their beliefs with their actions. It seems that the answer to this issue will have to come from the clothing industry itself if a harmony between the two concepts is to be truly created.
As more independent retailers emerge in the fashion world, the potential for innovation also grows, and new concepts and practices are born. Here at PAMA London we are excited to be a part of this growing pool of brands who are not afraid to not only take a stride towards genuine sustainability, but to base our entire philosophy on this concept!
Creating fashion with a conscience is at the heart of everything that we do, and we are confident that we can continue to inspire others with our efforts and our message.
Independent retailers on the whole seem to have a tendency to locally source their materials, or at least source them in a more eco-responsible way than the more well-known players do. As people increasingly look to shop from independent retailers, the sustainability concept of the industry will also be enhanced – adding up to exciting things for the future of fashion!
The first part of namaste comes from "namaha," a Sanskrit verb that originally meant "to bend." Bending is a sign of submission to authority or showing some respect to some superior entity." Over time, "namaha" went from meaning "to bend" to meaning "salutations" or "greetings." The "te" in namaste means "to you," Deshpande says. So all together, namaste literally means "greetings to you." In the Vedas, namaste mostly occurs as a salutation to a divinity.
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