11 items, 20 looks- and none of them made of plastic (if you are curious check them out here!)
One of the things I am most proud of is how I have been able to create a synthetic fabric free wardrobe, with very few exceptions.
As most of you know we lost everything in the Pacific Palisades fire last year… at that time I was well on my way to converting to a fully natural fabric wardrobe.. I started first with underwear, then pjs, then workout wear and then everyday clothing. The fire literally burned everything so I had to start from zero and, ironically, that did make it easier because I have been very picky about what new items I bring home this time around (ie: its ok if it takes you a little longer! Just replace items when you need to buy new items and make sure everything you bring in is made of a natural fiber)
Why this focus on avoiding synthetic fabrics and sticking to natural fabrics?
Environmental: synthetics like polyester and nylon are plastics. Just like the plastic that we avoid in the kitchen, plastic fabrics are terrible for the environment and take hundreds of years to decompose. In contrast, natural fabrics like cotton and silk and hemp, naturally biodegrade.
Chemical usage: Natural fabrics like organic cotton, linen, and wool are worth choosing because of the chemicals used to make and finish synthetics. Raw natural fibers rarely bother skin—it’s the dyes, resins, and finishes that usually cause trouble, not the cotton or linen itself. A common one is the formaldehyde resin used for wrinkle-free clothing, a known skin sensitizer that can trigger rashes. Synthetics can also carry phthalates, which researchers have linked to hormone disruption and lower sperm quality. These transfer to skin most when clothes are sweaty, so synthetic activewear is the main thing to watch. Azo dyes, BPA and Pfas are also used and found on conventional clothing- often synthetic fabrics.
Is it easy to build a natural fiber wardrobe?
It is, but it takes time and a lot of label reading!
Do I need to only buy GOTS certified organic cotton?
This is ideal, because of the fact that the clothing is certified in not using a long list of chemicals and you know that it is grown without harmful pesticides. Environmentally its important because cotton crops in the US use a LOT of glyphosate…. Glyphosate is a cancer causing horrible chemical that affects the health of the soil and our planets, animals and humans…. Having said that there are ZERO studies showing that pesticides residues used on cotton remain on cotton clothing …. So if you have to buy 100% cotton clothing its not the end of the world. But focusing on organic cotton is better - in the big picture- for you health
If you are not purchasing organic certified cotton, I would encourage you to choose clothing that is Oeko Tex certified standard 100 certified, since this certification assures that the clothing does not use a list of over 300 chemicals. Note: synthetic clothing like polyester can be Oeko Tex Certified so just because a piece of clothing has this certification does not mean it is 100% safe…. You still need to read the label to make sure its a natural fabric.
Today I am sharing a little summer capsule wardrobe of sorts to get you started if you need! I travelled for 4 weeks this summer with these 11-12 essential pieces (plus my hat and scarf) and created over 20 outfits for day and night (although full disclosure my evenings were not formal at all). In addition to this, I did take workout clothes and bathing suits and one (cotton) bathing suit cover which I did not include because I purchased it in a little market last year and did not have a link to share!
Shop these items or similar items HERE
A portion of these pieces I had last summer and will likely use again next summer! That is what is so great about buying good quality clothing in basic classic designs: you can use and reuse year after year and just maybe incorporate one or two new items to change things up a bit if you want. It is the OPPOSITE of fast fashion.
Love this Aida! Looking so chic as usual! (not sacrificing style in your natural fibers!