The fabrics obtained through sustainable processes are the result of types of agriculture defined as “organic.” These cultivation processes take place through fertilization that involves the use of compost or manure, and the management of pests takes place through natural materials or derived from minerals. Furthermore, organic plantations are more resistant over time with a yield comparable to that of conventional agriculture. A fiber such as cotton obtained through organic processes is grown using methods that have exclusively a positive impact on the environment, with production systems that keep the soil fertile, prohibiting the use of fertilizers, pesticides or GMO cultivation systems.
The environmental benefits are not limited only to the cultivation, but extend along the cotton consumption chain. When synthetic clothing items are washed, they represent one of the main sources of water contamination due to the so-called microplastics: very small plastic filaments that are released during washing and, through the drain, spill into the environment. This phenomenon represents a huge problem as hundreds of kilograms of microfibers are poured into every city every day. According to a recent study, clothes release half a million tons of microfibers into the oceans each year, an amount equal to more than 50 billion plastic bottles. This happens because at least 40% of microfibers are not retained by the wastewater treatment systems and flow into the sea, where are ingested by marine organisms, effectively entering the food chain.
Our health is further threatened even more directly as synthetic clothing loses fibers even when worn. A single gram of polyester fabric can lose up to 4,000 small fibers after just three hours of daily use, potentially causing skin damage. For this reason, organic cotton is a hypoallergenic solution, since the absence of pesticides prevents the onset of allergies and irritation. The organic fiber is softer to the touch and more breathable, without sacrificing high quality and durability characteristics. In fact, the absence of chemical resins means that organic cotton is able to absorb and evaporate almost double the body moisture compared to traditional cotton: in this way the body is able to suffer less both high and low temperature.
Combining fashion and sustainability is possible, as also argued Josephine Giachero on Lampoon Magazine that mentions SIEL among the brands that embraces this vision. SIEL opts for a choice of value by selecting exclusively organic fabrics, with the aim to connecting the comfort of the skin with nature. The new product of the “SKIN” capsule, BLOOM, is colorless – the fabric has not been exposed to any chemical treatment or dyeing process.
The brand’s goal is to pursue the idea of a fashion as a mirror of a sustainable society as well as for society.