What we put on our bodies matters as much as what we put in them. The very real dangers fast fashion poses to our health.

Organic is just as important in your clothing as in your food.

It wasn’t all that long ago that organic food was fringe.  It was for hippies and activists.  It was far from accessible, stupidly expensive, and considered a bit over the top or for the slightly neurotic.  Today organic food is everywhere from Whole Foods to 7 Eleven. It is still stupidly expensive in comparison to non-organic options, but for over 80% of the population, it has become non negotiable.   Why? Well, when consumers began understanding the long-term health and environmental impact of industrial agriculture, they revolted and demanded change.

The same thing has to happen with clothing. The fashion industry is increasingly relying on the same model industrial food once did: produce enormous quantities as cheaply as possible while pushing the environmental and health costs onto anyone anywhere else.  The reality is that we are becoming far more selective about what we put into our bodies while remaining strangely unconcerned with what we wrap around them all day long.  This seems especially odd when you consider that our skin is our largest organ.

Consider your workout clothes.  Most are made from plastic.  Polyester, Nylon, elasticine, spandex, polypropylene, and lycra are all examples.  We know that clothes made from plastic shed micro and nano plastics both of which have been found in all parts of the human body.  We also know that heat exacerbates the shedding.  We wear our plastic workout clothes, expose them to the heat of our bodies, and then its not uncommon to run around all day in them.

Workout clothes are made of plastic.

Today 60-70% of all clothing is made of plastic, which is a byproduct of oil.  It can never be recycled. Also important to note is that most “natural” materials like cotton, leather, or wool on the market today are anything but natural.  They are genetically altered, combined with plastic, grown with toxic pesticides, and subjected to chemical processes so poisonous they are destroying the entire communities and ecosystems where they are produced.

Unfortunately, though, there really is no way for you to know exactly what your clothing is made of because manufacturers are not required to include an ingredients list. Yes they are required to tell you what the make up of the material is, but not what it has been exposed to or treated with. That is when things get really ugly and I would venture to say if the general public did become aware there would be a revolt on a massive scale. Remember it wasn't until 1994 that manufacturers were required to put ingredient lists on food, and only then were people able to make educated decisions about what they were putting in their bodies. Before that, like the fashion industry, it was anyone's guess.

How is clothing production regulated in the US?

How can there be “safe amounts” of all these chemicals?  Formaldehyde, PFAS, Azo dyes, Phthalates, and heavy metals are all commonly found in our clothes. The reality is that nobody really knows until it’s too late.  It isn’t until some new cancer, allergy or hormone disruption is linked to the chemical or process, after years of exposure, research and legal battles, that the manufacturer will be forced to change their ways. By that time many people have suffered, had their health decimated and their lives destroyed.

The US follows what is called a risk-based regulatory system, meaning chemicals and manufacturing processes are generally assumed safe until proven harmful. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), thousands of chemicals were approved for use without significant safety testing, and even today the burden remains on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prove a chemical poses an “unreasonable risk” before restricting it. In other words, we cannot assume a product is safe simply because it is for sale.

The European Union takes a very different approach called the Precautionary Principle. Under its REACH program, companies are required to demonstrate that chemicals are safe before they can be widely used in consumer products. The difference is significant: in the US, chemicals are often restricted after harm is suspected or proven, while in the EU, manufacturers are expected to prove safety first.

How can we protect ourselves from fast fashion?

So how can we protect ourselves and our kids?  Certainly NOT by trusting the manufacturers or our government.  Greenwashing is a massive problem.  It is the practice of making false and misleading claims in an effort to make the sale.  Terms like ‘natural’ and ‘green’ are often poorly regulated, inconsistently defined and widely used in marketing.  They don’t really mean anything.

What are the textile certifications to look for?

If you want cleaner and safer textiles, you personally need to pay attention.  Certifications matter or at least help. The GOTS certification verifies cotton was organically grown without synthetic pesticides or genetically modified seeds. It certifies that at least its growing process was chemical free.  This is good, but fails to take into consideration chemicals it is exposed to as it is turned into clothes or fabric.

OEKO-TEX examines and regulates what the organically grown cotton is or is not exposed to after harvesting.  It goes a step further by testing the finished fabric for harmful substances that may still remain after processing and has a very long list of unacceptable and dangerous chemicals.  If a product has both certifications, while not foolproof, it's a good indication it is a safer choice. Common sense can come in handy here too. If it is made of plastic and or super cheap you can probably assume it's not good for you or your kids.

Fair Trade is defined as a global movement made up of a diverse network of producers, companies, consumers, advocates, and organizations putting people and planet first.  Choosing Fair Trade Certified™ goods is choosing to support responsible companies and protect the environment. In other words, Fair Trade is a world-changing way of doing business and benefits all of us and the earth.  It is another certification that is worth looking for.

As a society, we have become far more thoughtful about what we put into our bodies. I hope we are beginning to move in the same direction with what we put on them.  Clothing is not just something we look at. It sits against our skin, our body’s largest organ, for most of the day, every day. When that clothing is made with petroleum, pesticides and treated with chemicals, perhaps it deserves more consideration than just how cheap or convenient it is.  The good news is that consumers do have power here. The more we ask questions, research brands and support better practices, the harder it becomes for the industry to continue selling us cheap clothing with very expensive consequences.