If you want to upgrade your lewks this cold season, sustainable hoodies and ethical sweatshirts should be in your collection. There are several good-quality cotton and wool layers to choose from today.
Everyone’s got a soft spot for sustainable cardigans, as well as cozy knitwear. More so, if they have extreme layering potential. There is nothing as cool as having a luxurious and warm knit in the coldest month of the season. Picking some sustainable hoodies with the best materials is essential.
How do you define a sustainable fabric? What are some of the best materials that sustainable cardigans are made of? These and more are what this guide unravels. Read on to learn more.
What is a Sustainable Fabric?
A sustainable fabric can be defined in three ways. First, it’s essential to consider the source of the material. You need to know if it comes from an animal, stripping raw materials, or damaging farming and agricultural practices. Were the materials recycled or sustainably grown?
The second way to define a sustainable fabric is to know if the raw materials need any form of processing before they are used to produce fabrics. For instance, knitting, weaving, or the use of non-toxic dyes are methods used for sustainable fabric processing. Many fabrics need chemical processing, coloring with carcinogenic dyes, and bleaching. Some need formaldehyde so that the fabrics won’t wrinkle.
Finally, the fabric’s end-of-life prospects define it. That’s how it’ll end up. Will it hurt the planet or people? A bunch of unsustainable fabrics always end up in the bin. This is essential when considering a fabric choice. Studies show that textiles contribute to almost 8% of municipal waste in landfills.
When choosing what fabric your ethical sweatshirt is made of, also consider if it is durable and can be recycled later when it can’t be worn anymore.
4 Eco-friendly Fabrics Sustainable Cardigans are Made of
Today, fabrics that are eco-friendly and sustainable are in variety. Below are some of them. Ensure that your sustainable hoodies have them.
Lyocell
The source of this lightweight fabric is wood pulp. Lyocell has great properties – think anti-bacterial and highly absorbent. It is also moisture-resistant and odor-free.
Wood pulp is a plant material. This made lyocell biodegradable, which made it a good sustainable fabric.
However, to produce cellulose fibers, the wood pulp requires being chemically digested. The chemicals and water utilized here can be recycled. With that, the amount of water and chemicals used in the production process is reduced.
Organic cotton
When shopping for ethical knitwear in the UK, you should check if it’s made from organic cotton. Cotton is one of the most popular natural fibers. On the other hand, cotton can be problematic due to its high chemical and water consumption.
On the other side, chemicals or pesticides are not used for growing organic cotton. This makes it more eco-friendly than the usual cotton. If you want to know if the cotton on your cardigan is organic, check if it’s GOTS-certified.
Recycled fabrics
Recycled cotton is the best type of cotton you can ever use. This also applies to lots of fabrics. Buying sweaters that are made with recycled fabrics will also offer you more comfort.
One incredible sustainable fabric to also look out for is recycled polyester. Traditional polyester is often among the worst offenders. These materials are always made from plastic bottles. This decreases the quantity of plastic waste around landfills.
Organic hemp
Hemp is one of the most versatile plants that can be used for a variety of purposes. Hemp is a consumable. They are used for building materials, cosmetics, and fabrics. You can’t talk about the oldest fibers used on clothing without mentioning hemp. One of the reasons why organic hemp has been used for centuries is that it is suitable for every season. Also, it can become softer after every wash. That’s not all, this material is low maintenance. Hemp is eco-friendly. It doesn’t require pesticides. The plant also needs little water.
Conclusion
When picking an ethical sweatshirt or sustainable cardigan during the cold season, remember the materials it’s made of. You can’t go wrong with those made with organic cotton and recycled fabrics. Finally, reach out to a fashionist to provide more information.
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