There are different types of fabrics for our underwear. Natural -silk, cotton, hemp -, semi-synthetic -tencel, bamboo, modal, viscose.-, or synthetic -polyester, acrylic.-
These fabrics have a double impact, on health and on the environment. Depending on the manufacturing processes that follow, the impact can be unsustainable for the environment, and harmful to human health.
Let's give some examples, bamboo , my favorite. It is obtained from the bamboo tree. Forests have rapid regeneration. However, its manufacturing process requires the use of Carbon Disulfide, which is highly polluting and very toxic. In this case, neither for health nor for the environment. The case of polyester, if it is recycled, is sustainable, and the planet is much less affected by the use of this material. However, our skin does not say the same. Does not perspire, does not allow the skin to breathe. You can get marks, welts, and it releases thousands of microfibers that we not only breathe but go to the sea. We will talk about polyester in a specific post.
On cotton , although it is natural in its cultivation, a high content of pesticides is used. Which are toxic to the planet and to us.
Today, cotton plantations account for 2.5% of the world's crops, however, they are consuming 23% of all insecticides and 10% of pesticides. According to the US “Pesticide Action Network statistic”, manufacturing a cotton T-shirt costs 110 grams of insecticides and 300 grams of jeans . A set of lingerie, we estimate, needs 50 grams of insecticide. By the volume of fabric used. Imagine… if we multiply all the t-shirts that all the people in the world have… there is no need to go that far. In Spain, with our 42 million Spaniards, 10 t-shirts for the summer. 3,818 kg of insecticides used. Our poor planet. And poor our bodies, with so much toxic on top.
However, organic cotton is grown without pesticides or insecticides. It also uses almost 70% less water in its cultivation than normal cotton.
Apart from the toxic impact, cotton per se is capable of absorbing 2.7 times its weight in water . This means that it is tremendously breathable. It absorbs moisture from the body by drawing it away from the skin . Instead of letting it reabsorb like it does with polyester.
With this combination of breathability and zero toxic. If we reduce our behavior of consumerist people. It will be feasible to dress with organic cotton.