Plastic is known for being one of the most harmful and polluting materials used in fashion. While it’s easier to replace plastic where it’s more obvious- like avoiding plastic bags with fabric ones - it may be slightly harder to do so when it’s hidden in plain sight in your closet. Here are some things that may be plastic-laden in your wardrobe.
Polyester Clothing
Polyester has become quite the staple for many given how economical and wearable it may be. However, the true cost of this is borne by our environment. Despite the high carbon footprint endured for its production, every time fabrics like polyester are washed, they introduce microplastics into water resources, polluting them.
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Faux Leather
While not all faux leather may be made of plastic, an easy way to spot the bad guys is to look for “PU” or “Polyurethane” in your item tags. Try to take extra care of these products so as to increase longevity and avoid throwing them away. It’s super tough to fix a PU item so try your best to use our pieces or repurpose them as much as you can.
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Swimwear
Due to the elasticity any swimwear item requires, it’s almost impossible to do without elastane in it, which is nothing but a stretchable or elastic version of polyurethane. Try to make sure you wash these pieces with cold water so as to limit the amount of microplastics they let into water resources. You can also choose swimwear made from recycled plastic materials to curb your carbon footprint.
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Innerwear
Elastics are an obvious addition to most innerwear, meant to give better fit and comfort. While you can pick 100 per cent cotton innerwear, you may already have some pieces that are a mix of cotton and nylon. Most shapewear and tights will also have nylon as a part of the garment.
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