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Sustainability: The Future of Fabrics

By Sitex Corp   /    Wednesday, March 2, 2016   /   , , ,

When choosing what you are going to wear, the style and fit are the obvious attributes to focus on. But how and where–and from what materials–that clothing is made is important too. Sustainable alternatives to more widely available conventional fabrics are considered the next frontier for fashion companies that are looking to diversify their options as well as lower their environmental impact at the same time. As consumers are increasingly considering the sustainability of their purchases, is it possible to make a sustainable and high-performance fabric, or are these things mutually exclusive?

What constitutes as sustainable fabric?

Broadly speaking, the answer lies with in amount of resources necessary to produce the raw materials needed for the textile, production considerations, and the final end-of-life scenario. Textiles considered sustainable tend to use less land/water than their counterparts, produce little waste, need few chemical treatments, and are either biodegradable or able to be recycled into a new raw material at the end of their lifespan.[1]

Sourcing fabrics of high quality that also offer clear sustainability gains often face challenges to main the features and fabric standards in terms of comfort and durability. However, a conscious choice can be made by choosing natural textiles grown using methods with low impact on the environment (organic soil fertilizers, etc.), and choosing synthetic textiles that incorporate partial or whole recycled materials.

Natural sustainable textiles

Early clothing textiles were for centuries either plant or animal based. Cotton and flax (used for linen) were very popular, and their plants flourished as an agricultural product. Animal fibres including wool, leather and silk would be tanned, woven, felted and spun into luxurious and durable goods. But where is the future going?

Hemp often scores points for its durability and rapid growth without excessive use of water and pesticides. It does not dye as well as cotton, and not everyone appreciates its linen-like and sometimes scratchy feel. But manufacturers, including Colorado-based EnviroTextiles, are introducing more updated textures that look like denim or wool.

Similarly, new fibres such as Seacell (made from seaweed and wood pulp) and Jute (a soft, shiny vegetable fibre) are known to make non-polluting, biodegradable, and durable fabrics, and could soon come to a department store shelf near you.[2]

Recycled sustainable textiles

When it comes to scale, synthetic fabrics are showing more promise. The era of more collaboration and less patent litigation, at least when it comes to developing more ecologically friendly textiles, offers hope.

Levi Strauss has lead the charge as one of the more iconic brands to become an environmentally conscious clothing crusader. With its recent “Waste” line[3], each pair of jeans includes an average of eight recycled bottles within the denim fabric, all without sacrificing the quality and durability synonymous with the Levi’s name. To date (since the collection launched in Spring 2013), they’ve used 11.9 million recycled bottles for products such as skinny jeans and trucker jackets. Similarly, Klopman International, a leading fabric manufacturer, has developed a new range of products made from recycled polyester, sourced from PET plastic bottles that would have otherwise ended up in waste landfills.[4]

Making the sustainable choice

The most common definition of sustainability is ‘processes and products which meet the needs of today’s society, without compromising resources of the needs of future generations’. But with the size of the global textile industry, and increased awareness about its massive environmental impact, sustainable textiles are indeed the future of fabric.

At SITEX, we pride ourselves in being great business partners with our customers, and that includes using green and sustainable practices to help everyone become a little more environmentally friendly. If you’re looking to reduce your impact, give us a call about uniform rental and laundering services from the experts!

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