By Antonio Abate, Guest Columnist
Editor’s Note: The Gettysburgian hosts guest columnists from the Fashion Initiative organization at Gettysburg College. The opinions published in this section are those of the individual writers and are in no way representative of the views of The Gettysburgian staff, The Gettysburgian or Gettysburg College.
What are you wearing?
When many of us consider the clothes we are wearing; we often focus on our style. We consider how our clothes make us look, and maybe more importantly, how they make us feel. While it is only human to care about our appearances and the projection of an image that accurately expresses ourselves, there is much more to the fabrics we put on than aesthetics. The fibers that make up our clothes are not created equally, and their impact on the environment is not always sensical either. It is important to know the type of fabric our clothes are made of so that we are aware of appropriate methods of treatment (which make them last longer), and, if our ethos aligns, it is humane production.
Types of Fabrics
Odds are, and unlike your ancestors, you are not making your own clothes anymore. If you are a consumer of the textile market, then the fabric of your clothing is determined by the clothing companies you buy from. Some fabrics come from natural sources, such as cotton and linen, while others are artificially made. Human beings have clothed themselves with natural materials for hundreds of thousands of years and have been very successful in doing so, however, the industrial revolution has brought with it new ways of creating fibers for clothing fabrics. These new types of fabrics are called synthetic fabrics which include polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex and many others. Alongside these are semi synthetic fabrics which consist of some natural and some synthetic materials. Most clothes come with tags or have printed on writing listing which types of fabrics make up the clothing, so be sure to check out what you’re buying is made of before you buy it!
Implications of Synthetic Fibers
Artificial fabrics can be environmentally problematic in two separate but related ways. Firstly, synthetic fabrics are made by using plastic which comes from fossil-fuel derived sources, an industry whose problematic nature needs no introduction. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has reported that in 2023 synthetic textiles made up the second-largest end-use segment of global plastic demand. Secondly, synthetic fibers can also contribute to the issue of tons of microplastics in our fresh bodies of water and oceans.
What to do with synthetic fibers?
The fact of the matter is that synthetic fibers are not only cheap to produce (thus being more easily available to consumers), but they often possess qualities such as waterproofing, sweat wicking and long-lasting quality that make them even more marketable. Many outdoor and active wear clothing brands use synthetic fibers for these exact reasons. So, if you already own clothes with synthetic fibers, do not be too alarmed as there are beneficial ways of treating these types of clothing so that they can last longer and have less of an environmental impact. First and foremost, avoid “fast fashion” and make as much use as possible of the clothes you already own. Oftentimes, consumers are lured into new trends, purchasing rapidly produced mass market clothing which further supports the plastic industry and its negative effects on the environment. A secondary alternative is conducting research on appropriate treatment of your fabrics to extend their use. We are not telling you to wear your clothes into rags, but a little bit of care can go a long way.
