Amid growing concerns about the textile industry’s environmental impact, concerns have also been repeatedly raised about synthetic fabrics. Many manufacturers and brands focus on phasing out synthetic materials with recycled versions, claiming high environmental benefits and superior performance. Is recycling plastic waste to make more synthetic fabrics the answer for a more sustainable textile industry, or just a greenwashing effort? So, we had to ask: How sustainable are synthetic fabrics?

Amid growing concerns about the environmental impact of the textile industry, the spotlight is shifting toward natural fabrics as potential eco-friendly alternatives. Plant-based fibers such as linen, kapok, and ramie have garnered much attention for their sustainability attributes. But are all natural fibers equally sustainable, or are some potentially a bit greenwashed? So, we had to ask: How sustainable are natural fabrics?

Active people like you are taking a serious look at your athletic wear since the apparel industry contributes 10% of global emissions and is the second biggest polluter of our environment. Arc’teryx is a brand known for making sturdy outdoor apparel and gear, and has recently become trendy with young urbanites. So we had to ask: How sustainable is Arc’teryx?”

Wood is generally a sustainable material, largely thanks to carbon uptake by timber trees. However, when demands have led to the overexploitation of a certain type of wood, the sustainability of the timber becomes questionable. So, we have to ask: Which types of wood are the least sustainable?

Wood is generally a sustainable material, largely thanks to carbon uptake by timber trees. Besides, wood is renewable, though renewal rates vary among plant species. The environmental impacts of using wood also depend on transportation and forest management. So, we have to ask: Which types of wood are the most sustainable?

PLA (polylactic acid) is often hailed as a solution to the many problems caused by conventional fossil-based plastic. As a material made with bio-based plastics, PLA fabrics often come under the halo of renewability, biodegradability, and compostability, but are these qualities truly earned? So, we had to ask: How sustainable are PLA fabrics?

Polyamide was the very first entirely polymer fiber, invented as an alternative to silk. This strong, elastic material offers a long lifespan for items like stockings. Yet, virgin polyamide is typically produced from crude oils, bearing many adverse environmental impacts. So, we had to ask: How sustainable are polyamide fabrics?

Though kapok fiber has long been harvested and used, its entrance into textile production is more recent, facilitated by technological advances to overcome its shortcomings as an inelastic, short fiber. Kapok fabrics are in the spotlight for being the new green textile, but are they truly sustainable, or is there some greenwashing occurring? So, we had to ask: How sustainable are kapok fabrics?

Wood is a material preferred by most environmentally-conscious consumers. And understandably so, because wood’s renewability and biodegradability are superior to materials like fossil-based plastics. Yet, not all wood comes from the same forests. The world of sourcing wood can be murky, and turning wood into textiles can be chemical-intensive. So, we had to ask: How sustainable are wood-based fabrics?

Velour first came into use as a velvet-like fabric that exchanged silk for cotton and simultaneous double-layer weaving for simple pile knitting. Consequently, velour is less shiny and plush but more affordable than velvet. Velour’s price is lowered further by its use of more recently invented synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon. Yet, such a price cut tends to come with an environmental cost. So, we had to ask: How sustainable are velour fabrics?

Mohair fiber is long, lustrous, strong, and resilient, making it a desirable textile material. Specifically, its resistance to odors and stains helps reduce the washing frequency, saving energy and water. Yet, the industrial farming of Angora goats to provide raw materials for mohair wool fabric raises many ecological and ethical concerns. So, we had to ask: How sustainable are mohair wool fabrics?

Alpaca is often considered one of the finest animal wools. Its resistance to odor helps reduce the washing frequency, saving energy and water. Yet, the growing demand for alpaca wool raises ecological and animal-right concerns, not unlike the sheep and goat wool industries. So, we had to ask: How sustainable are alpaca wool fabrics?

The soft, shiny acetate fabric is often used in fancy clothing, from wedding dresses to graduation gowns. But is this silk-like material equally glamorous when it comes to sustainability? Acetate is, after all, a thermoplastic material made in a chemical-intensive process. So, we had to ask: How sustainable are acetate fabrics?

It might surprise some that jute is second only to cotton as the most produced plant fiber. One reason is probably that the material is often known as burlap and is more commonly used for industrial bagging and wrapping. However, as the search for sustainable textile alternatives intensifies, jute fibers are steadily gathering attention for being a sustainable fashion staple. Still, we had to ask: How sustainable are jute fabrics?

The sparkling sequins worn at glamorous parties and prestigious events (like the Olympics) are hard to miss. Yet, one might overlook the fact that these fabrics embellished with shiny and often plastic-based coins come at huge environmental costs. So, we had to ask: How sustainable are sequin fabrics?