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Natalie | Sustainable Fashion Educator

@sustainablychic

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🪡 because fashion can exist responsibly
👡 helping you build sustainable wardrobes since 2014
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Overconsumption is wicked 😭 #polyester #fastfashion by @sustainablychic

Why are we bedazzling throwaway items?!?! 🤯

We don’t need plastic jewel face masks & to-go coffee cups to live a whimsical life 😢

Build a flower crown or something 🌼

#whimsymaxxing #overconsumption #plasticpollution by @sustainablychic

Just some visuals for the next time, you are shopping fast fashion… most of those cheap synthetic clothes will end up here in just a short time 💔 by @sustainablychic

We need to stop sleeping on plastic, for good 💤🌿

Did you know that many conventional pillows are filled with polyester (aka plastic)? And considering we spend about a third of our lives sleeping, I think what we rest our heads on every night deserves a little more attention.

Over the years, I’ve been making more intentional swaps in my home & one of my favorites is this organic cotton pillow from @circadian_rest 🤍

Here’s why I love it:

1. Made with organic cotton instead of polyester filling

2. Completely customizable! You can add or remove filling to find the perfect height and firmness for your sleeping style

3. Soft, breathable materials that make for a more comfy night’s sleep

4. Made right here in the USA (with cotton grown in Texas!)

And Circadian has so many other beautiful bedding essentials, including organic wool comforters, organic cotton sheets, & more!

You don’t have to replace everything in your home overnight. But when it’s time for something new, choosing better materials is a wonderful place to start 🛏️

Creating a more sustainable, healthier home starts with the things we use every day 🏠

#organicbedding #nontoxichome #organiccotton #sustainableliving #organicpillow by @sustainablychic

Comment “MODAL” and I’ll send you my complete guide to the fabric, including its benefits, drawbacks & what to look for when shopping 🌳

One of the softest fabrics in your wardrobe might actually be made from TREES 🌿 Let’s talk about MODAL!

You’ve probably seen modal on the labels of your favorite pajamas, underwear, or loungewear. It’s incredibly soft, breathable & comfortable, which is why so many clothing brands love using it.

But is it actually sustainable?
Well, that depends on how it’s made…

Modal is a semi-synthetic fabric made from beechwood pulp. While it starts with a natural material, chemicals are needed to turn that wood into wearable fibers. & unfortunately, not all modal is responsibly produced. That’s why I especially love seeing TENCEL™ Modal on clothing labels. It’s made using responsibly sourced wood & manufacturing processes designed to reduce environmental impact. My personal preference will always be natural fibers first, responsibly produced semi-synthetics second, and petroleum-based synthetics last (or never at all, hah) ☺️

Part 22/100 of my Sustainable Fashion Crash Course 👗

#sustainablefashion #modalfabric #TENCELmodal #sustainablefabrics #slowfashion by @sustainablychic

Responsibly produced lyocell is a great example of how innovation can offer better alternatives to petroleum-based synthetics 🌳

Natural fibers are still our first choice, but lyocell is one semi-synthetic I love 🫶🏽

Comment “GUIDE” and I’ll send you my complete guide, including the benefits, drawbacks, and sustainable brands using it! by @sustainablychic

Silk is natural, biodegradable, and doesn’t shed microplastics… so why is it considered controversial? 🐛

While silk has some wonderful qualities, this luxurious fabric has more to it than meets the eye. Most conventional silk production involves killing silkworms inside their cocoons, and the process can require significant amounts of water, energy, and chemical treatments. This is why I always say that just because something is natural doesn’t automatically make it sustainable.

The good news is, better options exist, including secondhand silk, recycled silk, peace silk, and beautiful plant-based alternatives. Personally, I think secondhand silk is one of the best ways to enjoy this fabric without supporting new silk production. ♻️

Would you wear silk or do you prefer animal-free alternatives? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 👗

Save this post for later, and comment GUIDE for my complete silk guide!

#sustainablefashion #silkfabric #naturalfibers #slowfashion #ethicalfashion by @sustainablychic

💌 Comment “UNDIES” and I’ll send you my full guide with links to all 10 brands 💌

Victoria’s Secret has spent decades selling us the idea of beautiful lingerie, but I think it’s time we started paying more attention to what our underwear is actually made of & HOW it is made. 👀

So much of their collection relies on synthetic materials (aka plastic-based fibers) & their constant new collections and promotions are part of a much bigger problem in fashion…overconsumption 😢

& when we’re talking about clothing that sits directly against our skin all day, I think we deserve better materials, more transparency, & brands that prioritize people and the planet over constantly selling us more.

Luckily for us, there are SO many beautiful alternatives! From organic cotton basics to delicate silk lingerie and brands giving deadstock fabrics a second life…

& no, you don’t need to throw out all your Victoria’s Secret underwear! Wear what you already own, & when it’s time to replace something, consider one of these brands instead 💕

#sustainableunderwear #sustainablelingerie #slowfashion #organiccottonunderwear #sustainablefashion by @sustainablychic

Wool is natural, so it must be sustainable, right? 🐑

Well, it’s a little more complicated than that…

I love natural fibers & wool has so many wonderful qualities. It’s breathable, durable, temperature-regulating, and unlike polyester or acrylic, it doesn’t shed plastic microfibers 🫶🏽

But just because a fabric comes from nature doesn’t mean its production is automatically good for the planet 🌎

Conventional wool production can have a significant environmental footprint, especially when it comes to methane emissions, land use, and overgrazing. There are also some serious animal welfare concerns that deserve more attention 🐑 🤎 🐑

Does this mean we should throw away our wool sweaters or completely stop buying it? Absolutely not! I think the better approach is to wear what we already own, shop secondhand when possible, and look for recycled, organic, or responsibly sourced wool when buying something new ♻️

#SustainableFashion #NaturalFibers #SlowFashion #Wool #SustainableFabrics EthicalFashion

What are your thoughts on wool? Do you wear it, avoid it, or only buy it secondhand?

I have a full guide on wool, including its environmental impact, animal welfare concerns, and more sustainable options (as well as 11 brands I would support!) 🤎

Comment GUIDE & I’ll send it to you 🧶 by @sustainablychic

The fashion industry was built on women’s labor, runs on women’s money, and still manages to give women less 😪

The recent Abercrombie sweater comparison is a perfect example of why we need to pay closer attention to what we’re actually buying 🧶

The fashion industry knows how to sell to women. But that doesn’t mean it’s prioritizing our interests… We deserve better materials, better quality, more transparency, and an industry that values the women making our clothing just as much as the women buying it 🫶🏽

& no…the answer isn’t simply to shop more sustainably. It’s to question an industry that profits from overconsumption while so many of the people behind our clothing are underpaid.

Women deserve better on both sides of the clothing label 🏷️!!!!!

#abercrombie #sweatergate by @sustainablychic

I know there are a lot of you out there 🫶🏽
& hopefully I made it onto your feed!

My name is Natalie & I’ve been writing about sustainable fashion and brands for over 12 years. You can find hundreds of shopping guides, brands & educational content on my blog 💻

I’m also in the middle of a 100-day sustainable fashion crash course here on the ‘gram .. I’m talking about fabrics, certifications, sustainable brands, fast fashion & more.

Thanks for visiting 🥰🌿 by @sustainablychic