On World Water Day, we are turning the fabrics our collections are made from inside out, so you will learn once again about how eco-friendly DIACO and... cotton are.
As a proponent of slow fashion, I operate on the assumption that a material should be ecological in its production, ecological in its use, and ecological in its disposal. That alone is enough to make things complicated... Should I sew with natural fibers or is it better to use synthetics? But what is actually eco-friendly for the Earth and for us?
Cotton needs a sea of water...
Cotton, even the organic kind, is not as eco-friendly as it might seem. However, it is a natural, breathable fiber that is skin-friendly when worn.
Yet, the production of cotton consumes a great deal of water. Producing 1 kilogram of the material absorbs thousands of liters of water. This is a gigantic amount compared to other materials – for instance, 1 kg of linen requires about 75 liters of water, and viscose from 350 liters. In terms of water waste, cotton is definitely not ecological.
That is not all. Cotton production is also the most toxic for humans, animals, and the environment, as the process absorbs large quantities of pesticides. The production of organic cotton uses organic fertilizers and plant protection products (pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, etc.), which are often more toxic than artificial ones. Due to their lower efficacy, more of them must be used to obtain the same amount of raw material. In this way, eco-friendly or organic cotton is unfortunately the least ecological fiber available on the market.
Nothing goes to waste...
Being aware of this, while also wanting to choose fabrics and knits that are friendly to the environment and animals and comfortable for you, I was faced with quite a dilemma. I stuck with cotton, but I set my own conditions for it. I carefully chose a manufacturer that ensures high quality so that the clothes retain their shape and have the longest possible lifespan in your wardrobes.
To help keep my carbon footprint to a minimum, I throw away almost nothing. That doesn't mean the studio is buried under tons of scraps. The desire to be eco-friendly gave rise to original projects like "less waste" jewelry or patchwork bags, for which the fabrics are created by sewing together the fabric scraps left over from making clothes. I donate small, mixed scraps to schools and kindergartens—they come in handy during technical and art classes.
When I compromise on being eco-friendly, I try to do so as reasonably as possible. I am sharing this with you because it is important to know what we are wearing.