They say, “You are what you eat” – and that’s true! But could we also be what we wear? The correlation between chemicals and illness
is on the rise and research suggests that we should not only be conscious of
the food we eat, but also of the shampoos and detergents we use, the medicine
we take, and now even the fabrics we wear.
It’s not something most of us think about when we go
shopping. We are typically far more
concerned about the style, color, and fit of the clothing we buy than we are
about what exactly went into that material.
Unfortunately for us consumers, the fabric industry is highly unregulated,
especially in the United States where there are virtually no requirements that
manufacturers disclose the chemicals used in processing—chemicals that remain
in the finished fabrics and are eventually worn and absorbed by our unprotected
bodies.
So just how bad is it? There are over 2000 chemicals used in textile processing
today, including some of the most toxic—lead, mercury, arsenic, formaldehyde,
and Bisphenol A (BPA). These chemicals are added to make clothing
softer, wrinkle-free, fire-retardant, moth-repellent and stain resistant, but at
what expense? Not only have the
chemicals used in synthetic fabrics been linked to health issues like cancer,
immune system damage, behavioral problems, and hormone disruption (to name a
few), but their production processes are extremely harmful to the environment
and other species. Nylon and Polyester,
for example, are made from petrochemicals whose production creates nitrous
oxide, a greenhouse gas that is over 300 times more potent than carbon
dioxide. In addition, petrochemical dyes
and their fixatives are often laden with heavy metals which pollute our water
systems. Other commonly used chemicals
include volatile organic compounds (hazardous air pollutants) , and
dioxin-producing bleach which has been linked to reproductive and developmental
problems, immune system damage, hormone interference, cancer, liver problems,
and metabolic and thyroid malfunctions.
This information can be overwhelming, especially considering
that we encounter these fabrics and their chemical cocktails every day. But fear not!
Here are some easy steps you can take to protect yourself:
Go
All Natural! Buy products made
of natural materials like cotton, wool, silk, and hemp. Check out these great hemp-cotton pants from
AWAZ!
Read Your Clothing Tags! When purchasing clothing or other fabrics, steer clear of products that use rayon, nylon, polyester, or other synthetic materials
All Natural Dyes! Buy clothing made with natural dyes. Natural dyes are often made using vegetables
and fruits, herbs and flowers so they are totally safe for you and the
environment!
Recycle! Recycle fabric whenever possible to save our
soil and waterways. Here’s an idea! Check out these recycled silk sari yoga mat
bags and purses from AWAZ!
The chemical onslaught brought on by today’s fabric industry
is dirty and dangerous for our health, and the health of our planet. That’s why
AWAZ is so proud to bring you handcrafted, all natural and eco – friendly products. Check out our webstore for more good-for-the-planet, Fair Trade products!
Peace,
Avery
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