Dressing Clean: Wear a Wellness Wardrobe

January 7, 2016
group of woman working out

There’s been plenty of welcome innovation in the active wear and textiles industry over the past few decades. From moisture-wicking shirts to great-fitting yoga pants, we have choices.

When you look beyond your basketball shorts, you might want to take a “clean” wardrobe view—much like eating clean, there can be health benefits to eco-friendly dressing.

Certainly not every item you own needs to be a natural fiber of organic origin. However, the more you wear “green” clothing, the less risk of experiencing allergic reactions or other health effects due to your wardrobe. And the more good you can do for the planet over the long term. Here are simple ways you can clean up your closet.


How to Start Wearing “Greener” Garments

  • Choose items made with natural fibers. They tend to be easier on the earth and on the body. Cotton, perhaps the ultimate in plant-based textiles, is soft and comfortable, and breathes well too. Hemp is another crop making an appearance in fashion. And don’t forget favorites like silk or wool, especially for your office and evening wear.

  • Look for organic fabrics. Just like the food industry, the textile industry has seen some global standards take hold in recent years. Also like foods, organic fabrics are produced without relying on pesticides, insecticides or chemicals.

  • Launder your garments before you wear them. If there are any extra dyes or chemical finishes in your clothing, washing them helps remove the excess. Better still, choose a non-toxic detergent if you can.

  • Keep your clothes for as long as possible. Washing and drying repeatedly, as you would launder each time you wear, decreases the amount of any residual chemicals retained in fibers or dyes.

  • Buy a size larger and shrink it yourself. Not all pre-shrunk clothing contains chemicals like formaldehyde, but some do. When it comes to sizing your clothes, you can simply size up and choose untreated fibers which may shrink when laundered.

  • Accept a few wrinkles and stains. As much as we might want to stretch the life of our wardrobes, and ease up on the care and keeping of our clothes, one simple change you can make is to avoid fabrics labelled “wrinkle free” or “stain free.” These properties are created by chemical treatments that have been found to deliver toxins that can cause reactions over time.

ATHLETIC APPARAL TRIVIA:
Under Armor strives for a neutral environmental impact by buying one kilowatt hour of wind power for every kWh of electricity they us. Every year, two million recycled plastic bottles are used to make their clothes, shoes, and hats.*

* Source: https://www.recyclebank.com/partner/underarmour-com