What Is Clean Clothing
You may have started hearing the terms clean clothing or non-tox clothing more often. Similar to how people talk about clean beauty or clean eating, clean clothing refers to the materials used to make what we wear and how those materials are grown and processed.
At its simplest, clean clothing means garments made from fibers that have not been heavily treated with pesticides, herbicides, or harsh chemical processes. Many conventional fibers are grown using large amounts of agricultural chemicals. Clean clothing focuses on fibers and plants that are grown with fewer inputs and processed in ways that reduce chemical exposure.
Why Fiber Matters
Many textile fibers begin as plants, and how those plants are grown makes a big difference.
One major example is conventional cotton. Cotton farming uses a significant amount of agricultural chemicals worldwide. Research has found that cotton accounts for roughly 16 percent of global insecticide use and about 7 percent of pesticide use, even though it occupies only about 2.5 percent of agricultural land (Pimentel and Burgess, Environmental Development, 2014).
These chemicals can impact soil health, water systems, and the people working directly with the crops. Pesticide runoff can also contaminate nearby waterways and affect surrounding ecosystems.
Studies show that reducing pesticide use in agriculture improves soil and supports healthier ecosystems (Aktar et al., Interdisciplinary Toxicology, 2009).
Why We Love Clean Fibers
This is one of the reasons we love the idea of clean clothing.
Choosing fibers that are grown with fewer chemicals is better for the environment and better for the people who grow, process, and wear the clothing.
Cleaner fiber production can help support:
• healthier soil ecosystems
• less chemical runoff into rivers and groundwater
• safer conditions for agricultural workers
• reduced environmental impact across the supply chain
What We Do Not Love: The Fear Mongering
That said, one thing we do not love about the clean clothing conversation is the fear mongering that sometimes comes with it. The idea that wearing synthetics or conventional clothing is unhealthy for the wearer is more nuanced and subtle than the fear mongers want you to think.
Sustainability is rarely black and white. Making anything new comes with pros and cons, and wearing a shirt that isn't 100% organic cotton isn't going to have a huge impact on your health. The idea of purity can be tox in it's own right! Don't get so caught up in perfection!
Is Organic Clothing Safer To Wear?
People often ask whether organic clothing is safer because chemicals could absorb through the skin.
The reality is a little more nuanced. Most pesticides used during farming are removed during fiber processing, washing, dyeing, and finishing before a garment reaches consumers. Research suggests that skin exposure to pesticide residues from finished textiles is generally very low for wearers (Horrocks and Anand, Handbook of Technical Textiles, Woodhead Publishing).
We can't imagine that wearing organic cotton for example over conventional cotton isn't safe, especially for those who are immunocompromised, have sensitive skin, or allergies. The real win in reducing pesticide use in fiber production is that it lowers chemical exposure for farmers and agricultural workers and reduces environmental contamination in soil and waterways. It could potentially be healthier, but there isn't great research to support that such black and white thinking. We're still all about it and encourage you to choose organic + clean whenever possible. But don't drive yourself crazy.
Why We Still Use Some Synthetic Fabrics
For example, we still use deadstock synthetics in some of our products.
Deadstock fabrics are materials that have already been produced but were left unused by other manufacturers. Instead of letting these materials go to waste, they can be repurposed into new garments.
Using deadstock fabrics keeps perfectly good material out of landfills and reduces the need to produce new textiles.
Considering that the world generates an estimated 92 million tons of textile waste every year (Niinimäki et al., Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, 2020), reusing existing materials can be one of the most responsible choices available.
We also use some spandex blend fabrics because it helps the clothing retain it's shape throughout wears, which allows the garment to live a longer life which means less clothing bought, less clothing produced, and a softer impact on the planet.
Our Approach to Clean Clothing
Whenever we have the opportunity, we choose sustainable clean fibers because it truly makes a difference.
Fibers grown without heavy pesticide use help support healthier ecosystems and more responsible supply chains.
For us, clean clothing is not about perfection. It is about making thoughtful decisions whenever possible. Choosing cleaner fibers when we can. Using existing materials when it makes sense. And continuing to look for ways to create clothing that is better for the planet and better for the people wearing it.
Our Last Thoughts On "Clean" (Non-Tox)
Although we don't love the name, we love the associated values with going "clean" in clothing. You probably won't be seeing us use the terms "clean" or "non-tox" much (if at all), but you'll definitely be seeing organic, eco-friendly, and ethical since those things are concrete and matter to us the most. Trends come and go, but we've been doing this since 2013 and plan to continue forever.
References
Aktar, W., Sengupta, D., and Chowdhury, A. (2009). Impact of pesticides use in agriculture. Interdisciplinary Toxicology.
Horrocks, A., and Anand, S. (2016). Handbook of Technical Textiles. Woodhead Publishing.
Niinimäki, K., et al. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion. Nature Reviews Earth and Environment.
Pimentel, D., and Burgess, M. (2014). Environmental and economic costs of pesticides in agriculture. Environmental Development.