Guide to Staying Warm Sustainably in Winter
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
As temperatures are starting to plummet and cool breezes brush our cheeks, it is time to pack on the layers. While staying warm and toasty remains our utmost priority during cold seasons, we shouldn’t neglect the impact that our clothes produce.
From the beginning of civilization to the dawn of revolutionary textiles, we have come a long way since the use of animal skin and fur to keep ourselves shielded from the harsh cold climate. We embrace new fabric inventions with open arms, and as clothing becomes cheaper and faster to manufacture, we haul bags after bags of new clothes, soaking in the euphoria of keeping up with trends splashed across social media. Then comes the aftermath of our excessive consumption. Methane gas choking the atmosphere as hundreds and thousands of sheeps are sheared and killed by farmers for their coveted wool. Or tonnes of plastic particles surround marine creatures and the oceans. Or mismanaged wastewater and chemicals permanently dyeing a lake’s waters.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Winter apparel from fashion retailers are typically made of wool, animal leather, and synthetic materials such as nylon, acrylic, etc. But does that mean those are the only options left for us, even though they are known to wreak havoc on the environment and animal welfare? Absolutely not! Read on to find out which fabric to go to that keeps you snug and warm while being sustainable.
Sustainable Insulating Materials
Photo by Nau.com
RECYCLED SYNTHETICS
If you live in places where winter is snowy and wet, keeping wetness out of your jacket is a necessity. Synthetic materials and leather are best for that purpose, as most natural fabrics such as wool wouldn’t be able to keep you dry.
However, pure synthetics take a huge toll on the environment, during its production phase, to washing, and disposal. Even though synthetics will degrade over time, they won’t vanish from the planet for at least around 1000 years. So what we can do to stay warm and dry is to use outerwear that is made from recycled synthetics, as not only are they just as good as virgin synthetic fabrics, they’re also less resource-intensive and keeps plastics from filling up landfills and oceans. According to Fashion United, recycled synthetics uses 59% less energy to produce compared to virgin polyester.
Although using clothing made with recycled materials is a far better choice for our environment, we should still keep in mind that recycled synthetics still releases microplastics when washed, contaminating the ocean and marine life. Therefore we recommend following the washing instructions on clothing labels, and/or use a microplastic filter such as the GuppyFriend Washing Bag when doing your laundry.
ORGANIC COTTON
Cotton is used everywhere. A glance into any household and closet reveals the importance and versatility of the crop, though it all comes at a price. Given that conventional cotton is such a resource-intensive crop, it would be wise to opt for organic cotton instead.
Organic cotton is pretty much everything that conventional cotton isn't — safely cultivated according to international agricultural standards, free from GMOs and pesticides, less impact on the ecosystem, ethical treatment of farmers, hypoallergenic, and stronger and softer than conventional cotton. The abundance of benefits that organic cotton brings makes it a worthy investment for your wardrobe: long lasting durability and insulation, while supporting safe working environments for farmers and better environmental health, what’s not to love?
TENCEL
Tencel is a revolutionary fabric that encompasses the best of both worlds, practical yet eco-friendly. It’s biodegradable, natural, absorbent, breathable, wrinkle-free, and gentle and soft on the skin. Tencel also has thermo-regulating properties that keep you warm without overheating, yet keep you cool in the summer months, making it a fantastic year-round fabric. Sounds too good to be true? Well that’s because Tencel (or its Lyocell and Modal variants) are derived from the pulp of eucalyptus wood. The pulp is dissolved into a slurry and spun into fabrics which are woven together to create an extremely smooth yet strong fabric. Better yet, it is produced with a closed-loop technology, meaning all the water and solvents can be reused again and again, reducing waste and impact on our planet as a result!
As Tencel is now being incorporated everywhere from clothes to household furnishings. Look out for labels that include Tencel while shopping, though it could cost more than your regular fast fashion apparels, because of the amount of research and technology that went into producing it.
BAMBOO
If you are aiming to live a more eco-conscious lifestyle, chances are that you have come across bamboo-based products that replace its plastic counterparts. Maybe you even own a bamboo toothbrush!
The wonders of bamboo are endless. When it comes to clothing, bamboo is a multi-benefit powerhouse. It is soft yet durable, hypoallergenic, antibacterial, breathable, thermo-regulating, UV resistant, sustainable, and more! Since bamboo is extremely renewable thanks to its insanely fast growth rate and self-replenishing properties, it makes for a great sustainable material to keep ourselves warm throughout the winter months.
HEMP
Hemp is another almighty material in this list, where every part of the plant can be used, from the root to the stalk, the leaf, the flower, the seeds, the pollen and even the resin.
Hemp thrives even with minimal water and chemical inputs, and can eb rain fed. The best part about hemp fabric is in its lifespan, which is the longest of all natural fibers, which makes it a truly sustainable material to wear.
Hemp doesn’t only does its job in warm weather, it works great in lower temperatures too! In winter, hemp’s fibers trap your body heat, making you feel warm and cozy. Aside from its remarkable thermo-regulating properties, hemp’s antibacterial and antimicrobial properties help to keep odour at bay. And the cherry on top? Clothing made with hemp gets softer and more lustrous with each wear, which means no more scratchy acrylic sweaters in the winters!
ETHICAL DOWN ALTERNATIVES
Down has always been a questionable material in terms of animal treatment, despite its reputation for keeping us warm for hundreds of years. Birds that are farmed for their feathers and meat are subject to inhumane treatments such as live-plucking, overcrowding, etc. And yes, birds have been killed in the creation of your new down jacket and comforters.
Down alternatives which are eco-friendly yet keep you cozy have sprung up in recent years thanks to innovations in technology and science. Pangaia, a material science company known for their innovations using unconventional yet sustainable materials for the line of apparel, came up with FLWRDWN, a biodegradable down alternative made without hurting a single bird. FLWRDWN is composed of wildflower petals infused with aerogel, making it durable without compromising warmth and comfort even in the coldest of days.
LINEN
Who said linen is just a summer fabric? Surely its breathable properties make it an ideal material for hot summer days, but its strong fibers make it insulating enough for winter, just like hemp.
Linen is derived from flax, which is a high-yield, low-maintenance crop, and requires minimal water and pesticides to grow. Though we would go for organic linen that is cultivated with no herbicides and fertilizers.
The key to dressing warm with linen is to pick heavy linen and layer your clothes to make it serve you during those winter months. The primary benefit of heavy linen is in its enhanced thermo-regulating properties, enabling it to trap more warmth in the colder months, while strong and durable enough to last through the years. But, we would like to clarify that layering linen alone is not suitable for subzero temperatures.
VEGAN LEATHER
Leather isn’t only wonderful for the harsh winter months, but all year round. It’s warm, durable, resilient, shields you against the elements, and oh-so-chic!
Unfortunately, its environmental damage offsets the benefits it provides. Animal leather production is to blame for rising levels of methane, one of the causes of climate change. Furthermore, most livestock such as cows and pigs who are reared then slaughtered for their skin endure cruel and unethical treatment in factory farms; extreme crowding and confinement, deprivation, dehorning, unanesthetized castration are just a few to boot. And to top it all off, leather tanning and finishing is the most toxic phase in leather processing, requiring large amounts of water, toxic pollutant and heavy metal solvents.
If you’re looking to replace your real leather jacket, look no further than vegan leather. Vegan leather replicates the look, feel, and properties of leather, but is derived from natural and sustainable plant products such as cactus skin, mushrooms, pineapple leaves, apple peels, fruit waste, etc. Interest in vegan leather has been growing thanks to fashion designers who offer vegan leather options in their products ranging from shoes, jackets, bags, and wallets. Structured yet not rigid, allowing for movement and flexibility yet water resistant, vegan leather is the perfect addition to anyone’s wardrobe.
Photo courtesy of Levi’s, SSence, BooHoo Man, TopShop, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus.
You don’t need to sacrifice warmth and comfort to be eco-friendly. Although dressing sustainably requires some amount of research and some trial-and-error, the collective effort of many will foster a ripple effect of change in the current fashion industry.
At 4tify, we are committed to innovating new fabric technologies that’ll move the needle towards a better, greener Earth. We are always open to new exciting ideas and collaborations so hit us a message here if you’re interested!
