Best Sustainable Fabrics that Fashion Brands Should Use

Sustainable fabrics are one of the key components of every fashion brand; it is something that consumers look at when shopping, especially conscious consumers. However, it can be overwhelming to choose the right fabric that fits the brand aesthetic, but also has a purpose in the garment. Each sustainable fabric is different and has its own characteristics, which is why I broke down the best sustainable fabrics and their characteristics.

1. Organic-Linen

Linen has been grown for centuries, it is easy to maintain, and is also biodegradable when the process is purely natural. Linen is available everywhere around the world, which means that it is accessible. As linen is already a popular fabric, customers don’t need to research it when shopping, which means they have a good customer experience.

In addition, every part of the plant can be used, meaning that it is almost zero waste. Linen also requires a minimal amount of water to grow and can grow in poor-quality soil. As every natural source needs to be produced and spun into a yarn, linen is considered one of the best sustainable fabrics available on the market.

As organic linen is very soft and breathable, but also strong and lightweight, it can wrinkle easily, which is why it is best for brands that have summer/beach collections. Linen is mostly used in shirts, t-shirts, dresses, and shorts.

2. Organic Bamboo

Bamboo can be one of the best sustainable fabrics in the world, however, it has to be grown and manufactured the right way. Some manufacturers will add a lot of chemicals into bamboo and mix it with fabrics such as polyester, which is not only unsustainable, but it ruins the whole purpose of bamboo.

Organic bamboo has many benefits, such as it being antibacterial, biodegradable, and only needing rainwater to grow. Bamboo is also one of the fastest growing plants and is UV resistant. When brands want to choose bamboo for their collections, it is important to make sure that is organic and that no chemicals were added in the process.

As bamboo has so many benefits for the skin, it is the best material for brands that focus on underwear.

3. Econyl

Econyl made its boom in recent years. It is a fabric made of recycled synthetic waste, usually found in the sea. The entire purpose of the fabric is to remove fishing nets and waste from the sea that fishermen leave there. As fishing nets are usually made of nylon, this waste can be easily recycled and turned into something new.

In addition, in some countries, fishermen collect fishing nets they found in the sea and give them to pickup points where they then receive money. This way we eliminate some waste from the ocean and are able to recycle materials that would otherwise end up harming our ecosystem.

Econyl is very durable and strong, and is the most suitable for clothing that needs to be washed more frequently, such as activewear or swimwear. However, as with every synthetic material, Econyl releases microplastics, which is why it is important to tell the clients about a Guppy Bag, which is a bag where clients put their synthetic clothing and it collects microfibers, which would otherwise be released into the ocean.

4. Tencel Lyocell

According to my humble opinion, this is one of the best viscose fabrics available on the market. Created by an Austrian company Lenzing, this viscose fabric is made out of wood pulp. It has grown to be extremely popular as it is highly absorbent and requires way less energy and water than cotton during the production process.

In addition, the production is a closed-loop system, meaning that all the dyes and “chemicals” used to process the material are recycled. Tencel will leave no dangerous waste behind, unlike other materials.

Tencel is already very known in the sustainable market; many clients will already know about it. Plus, when Lenzing has its logo on the tag, everything was made responsibly and sustainably. This sustainable material is also antibacterial and absorbs moisture so it is suitable for all types of clothing.

5. Deadstock fabric

The sustainable market already has a sustainable replacement for all unsustainable fabrics, however, let’s not forget that even the most sustainable materials create some waste, which is why we should do something to make sure that we are leaving minimal to zero waste. Deadstock fabric is perfect for those brands that are also slow fashion and made-to-order.

However, deadstock fabric can make a brand seem more special and different, as only one to two pieces can be made of deadstock material. This makes the client feel special, as they didn’t need to pay a huge price for a custom piece, and they will have an item that no one else has. It’s a win-win for the client and the planet.

Fashion brands have a big variety of sustainable materials to choose from, and no matter what sustainable material they will choose, it will be a great step toward a better world. Sustainable fashion already has its own clientele and more people are turning towards a sustainable lifestyle. Every fashion brand can be part of a fashion revolution!