Athleisure: Destroying Fashion & the Environment 🫠

Turns out that the popularity of athleisure has harmed our environment, ruined denim, and killed fashion. What started off as an interesting shift in fashion history to jersey for sportswear in the 1910s and 1920s has now devolved into corporate cash grabs and way too much polyester and spandex. 🫠 (As a wearer of leggings and sweatpants, this was extremely difficult to make, so please know I am calling my own self out in this video 😂)
@NicoleRudolph 's video about Chanel: • Stop Idolizing Coco Ch...
References:
Archive issues of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Women's Wear Daily, and newspapers via ProQuest.
Some archival footage via Alexander Street archives.
The Guardian: www.theguardian.com/lifeandst...
European Environmental Agency: www.eea.europa.eu/publication...
Other footage & references from:
How Under Armor Fell Flat • How Under Armour Fell ...
Fast Fashion: The dumping ground for unwanted clothes Oct 2021 • Fast fashion: The dump...
The fast fashion graveyard in Chile’s Atacama Desert - BBC News Feb 2022 • The fast fashion grave...
October 2, 1977: Arnold - 70’s-style - 60 Minutes March 2018 • October 2, 1977: Arnol...
00:00 - 02:26 - Intro ft. a cute dog
02:27 - 08:58 - The Origins of Athleisure (1910s & 20s)
08:59 - 13:44 - The 1970s
13:45 - 21:26 - Destroying the Environment
21:27 - 30:46 - Ruining Fashion & Denim
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[@lothcatskilledthesith6903]

As an actual female athlete, finding nice, durable athletic wear in a sea of athleisure clothes is becoming increasingly difficult. Athleisure clothing does not handle actual hardcore workouts.

[@grandmasgopnik9642]

Thank you. I think that is what I had an issue with. It’s my same issue as someone moving from the country city finally back to the country. I need a truck. The only trucks are for people not actually working and parking in a parking spot ressonsbly with them they’re now all mega expensive fuel consumption luxury statement pieces? I need to get my own work wear and tools because I can’t keep stealing my Dads 😂 and man it’s all for style or goes the other end with unneeded things that make it hard to wash and less durable. Tools are often plastic, made from things are are easily lost, systems you have to upgrade arnt supported or replaced. It’s kind of unusual. My husband says it’s because I’ve been on T for a while as a trans dude 😂 but genuinely as someone who grew up doing this as a young woman it’s impossible to find PRACTICAL things unless you make them or buy old 😅. Old items I can still find parts for and repair and I don’t like that. I can for some new items but 9 times out of 10 they are made in a way that is not to be repaired but to be replaced. As someone ND when I had a my baseball glove thah was my glove. I kept it oiled and well. My cleats I kept well. My leotard was patched and sometimes had to get new elastic bands on it. My first car I fixed myself because I loved it. It’s just I wish things were easier to keep, customize and less about get a new one throw old one away and more about making the current item work for you. More about actual practical design 😅. Especially athletic wear! There is so much they could improve on in design but they just like don’t because they’re about new fabrics that suck. Like man, the amount of undergarments that people prefer is very specific. But that doesn’t sell in bulk and large exponential growth that is not able to me maintained is the only goal for capitalism, businesses and most people. Instead of idk, like actually making good athletic wear and being proud of the products you produced. Being able to have althetic wear that genuinely worked for ALL athletes in that line up because you thought about their needs and make it last so it was a product worth being proud of. Not just underpaying people to shell out poorly fitting/poorly designed trash to wash up on a nice beach. Idk that’d be kind of baller ⛹️‍♂️

[@charmaineespeut4627]

They don't. They rip easily and are see-through

[@user-lguqrux]

This is absolutely true. And my poor mum was so perplexed by the distinction between performance gear and athleisure wear... having to explain to my mum that those pants she got me are great for just wearing around, but won't support my athletic goals per se, so I still have to buy another pair, really frankly sucked. Pretty annoyed at the industry that markets clothes with images of people doing sporty things , when the most practical use for the clothes themselves is Sunday grocery shopping or watching Netflix.

[@BirdieBirdieBirdie566]

It’s impossible and incredibly frustrating.

[@NinjaKitten46]

You have to aim for specific (albeit usually expensive) brands like Alphalete to find durable athletic wear these days. Your typical Nike, Reebok, Adidas no longer cut it

[@UnionParkPlumbing]

As a man in the Trades, I cannot agree enough. Something you didn't touch on was the flammability. I work with open flames and torches and will ONLY wear 100% cotton cloths, REAL leather jacket and shoes, because the thought of my Polyester clotha melting to my skin rather than just catching fire my personal nightmare. I can also confirm jeans seem to wear out a lot faster than they did 10 years ago.

[@annakarlsson6040]

This actually one of the reasons old Scandinavian LARPers are always pushing newbies to go for natural fibers. The risk of horrible burns are so much higer if you're wearing platics and they catch fire so much faster. With wool you kind have to try to set it on fire.

[@e.malloy7530]

My dad was a carpenter and was entirely an advocate for natural fibers earlier and longer than anyone else in my life!!

[@antidoteify]

Could it be gmo? , few years back I was in Italy for the design week, in exposition was a brand, dutch if I remember correctly that used to make vases with what remains of the rice after it is refined. You could pick the expiration date. One year lasting vases for esemple. How do you produce someting like that? Its genetic coding or just production?

[@adorabell4253]

@@antidoteify It's production. How the heck did you get to gmo from vases? We've been making stuff from plants for millenia, we just make them prettier now.

[@antidoteify]

@@adorabell4253 I don’t know I’m pondering, how does it work to put an expiration date on a vase? Cheers from Italy

[@elisabethmontegna5412]

Another problem with adding stretchiness to all clothing items is that they are relying on stretch for fit rather than good design. It also allows for greater error in the manufacturing process, and variation in how well it’s sewn while still getting a product that technically fits.

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

Which is why I'm using old clothes that I *know* fit me, as patterns for newer clothes I make - I just don't have the bandwidth to deal with the unreliability of vanity sizes, & fitting shenanigans when I've got to spend time on other things; I know what styles I like- & using them as the bases for my newer clothes just makes the most sense to me.

[@cuttleb0nes]

yes!!!!

[@bossyboots5000]

I had assumed they were relying on stretch for comfort. Acknowledging that not everyone has 6-pack abs, for example, so when they sit their belly will expand and the waistband will be cutting into them (very uncomfortable and contributes to some negative body issues) without some amount of stretch to move as the body moves.

[@lilpetz500]

I find the stretch clothing trend as a bit of a bandaid solution to a greater manufacturing issue. Patterns and sizing have degraded in quality for sure, affordable clothing truly is cutting corners on actually having things fit nicely. But one of the benefits I found of stretch fibres was to make the clothing I could afford actually fit my unusual body type as a teen, basically I've always been very curvy and hourglass but with broad shoulders and thick thighs, so in new clothing, it was bodycon or tent for me. Finding lovely fitted pieces in thrift shops ocassionally was like a blessing, I still have them, I heavily favoured tie waist everything for this reason. But, I don't want it to be that way at all, I don't bring this up to say stretch fibres in everything are good actually, but to say in a world where I had to learn to tailor my own clothing to have it actually fit nicely without costing an arm and a leg, the stretch is a bit of a crutch. I want it to be better!!

[@lilpetz500]

​@OcarinaSapphr- OH don't get me started on vanity sizing!! Imagine the industry leveraging body insecurity of customers for more profits, ironically at the cost of user friendliness and clarity of the industry. The day I found out men's pants size tags literally just have the waist measurement number on them baffled me, it makes so much sense?? Instead of being a 10 at one store, a 12 at another, an 8 at another, and consulting and memorising every size chart for every brand and noting any random changes the size numbers have to true size over time, even harder to do as a thrifter, I could literally just look at some size 29/74 pants and go "done." We do it in bras still, why can't we do it with clothing?

[@nemediv4086]

After grandma died my mom found some 40+ years old cotton fabric in her things - a whole bunch of it, purchased long ago "to do some sewing" and never used for anything (grandma was a bit of a hoarder). Mom didn't want it to go to waste so she took it to a seamstress to at least make some bed linens out of it. The seamstress was AMAZED at the quality of the fabric and straight up said "you won't buy cotton like this anymore, all the manufacturers that made it went bankrupt long ago." That's FORTY YEARS after it was manufactured. The fabric is not only still usable and in good condition, it's BETTER than what's available today. It's just so freaking sad :(

[@gkseeton]

We need to lay blame directly on our government tax policies. Every step in the process is taxed on the increased value.

[@Inanedata]

​@@gkseetonI'm extremely skeptical that removing those taxes would lead to higher quality goods instead of the corporations just capturing greater profit and things continually getting worse

[@gkseeton]

@@Inanedata well, if lowering the excessive taxes would result in so much money then labor could negotiate better wages businesses.

[@bensear]

​@@gkseetonno it's called planned obsolescence, a phenomena that is practiced by nearly all corporations in which goods are deliberately made to fail or break after a certain period, often just after the guarantee has ceased.

[@lolkthnxbai]

Tax policies? Cotton is mostly grown in China and India these days, tariffs might affect it but it's just cheaper to produce over there flat out. One of the issues besides that is weave and better weaves are just flat out more expensive and costly and in an age where people scoff at paying more than a few dollars for a shirt, well you know how it goes.

[@moodyqueen]

One of the biggest polyester problems I've noticed is in women's suits. My local semi-luxury clothing store sells suits for about $400 combined (blazer + trousers) and it's all proprietary polyester fabric. And it's not even well made - single-fold hems with serged edges. I blame athleisure for making people forget what good quality feels like.

[@dumbledoresgotstyle]

So true!!

[@Littlebeth5657]

Eugh I feel this. Men can get pure wool suits for £300 and there's not one in sight for women

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

I was at Target the other day, but because I started a couple of years back, to repair & make my own clothes, & if I _do_ buy- it's second-hand - so I wasn't looking to purchase, but I just wanted to see what the looks & trends were -- I saw *dozens* of items advertising the fact that they were either made of a poly-viscose blend (I liked viscose for how soft & cotton-like it could feel- but, had been edging away from buying clothes for a while, now), or of 'Recycled Polyester'- & I'm like- 'where the hell is the cotton- the linen? Hell, I'll even take a poly-cotton blend'. But- nope -- even in terms of fibre content, it seems people are pushing the proverbial sh*t uphill, to find _any_ natural fabric commercially in a generic store. Most of the items that appeared 'linen' from a distance, were just 'linen-look'- & cotton was very thin on the ground, mostly in the kidswear section. The vast majority of clothes are unlined (unless they're the generic suit, or occasional dress or skirt - but all they have is that gross poly-acrylic 'shell')- they look & *are* thin, floppy, insubstantial, & unstructured/ unsupportive. The last time I found actual silk while clothes shopping, was about 7 years ago, at a second-hand store...

[@AnnekeOosterink]

And when it does exist it is so expensive that few people can afford it. Even just making clothes, finding a fabric that's actually 100% cotton is so difficult. I was looking for a cotton flannel fabric, I could not find any that didn't have at least 30% polyester in it. None. And the most affordable ones were often way more, or even completely made out of polyester. If I wanted a natural fiber I would have had to go for a brushed wool, which are out of my price range. You'd think that a simple cotton flannel would exist, it seems a pretty common fabric to me, but apparently I'm one of the few people even looking.

[@Tomcat12789]

@@AnnekeOosterinkI’m not sure but I think all of the flannels at the Joann are 100% cotton. It’s possible that you define flannel differently than me as I would consider it ”cotton with a checkered pattern present on both sides of the fabric regardless of weight” they also have quite a few on mood fabrics website

[@Ryanneey]

What I can not wrap my head around is how these fabrics fall apart so easily that you end of constantly tossing them....yet they're so persistent that they never decay in the landfill. How are these two thing's true at once! Weird eh.

[@AbbyCox]

I know right? Like, they cannot survive a single wash, and yet their ratty existence will live forever in some thready mess pile.

[@sianthesheep]

Shrodringers fabrics - both eternal and also falling apart almost instantly! @@AbbyCox

[@shugarysubstances]

chemicals in most strong detergents perhaps? that's all i can think of that really sticks out

[@rubyclark7965]

I kinda know the answer to that one! The chemical bonds that link the esters in the polyester fibers used in clothing are not that strong. They are easily broken by tension/friction/UV light. You might hear it called degradation. Once it breaks down into small enough pieces (microplastics) it doesn't have to deal with tension or friction as much anymore so it just stays that way. In a landfill, after it gets covered with the next layer of stuff, it doesn't have any reason to degrade so it will just stay there basically forever. Or until microbes figure out how to eat the ester sub units which has already started to happen.

[@therealpoppinfresh]

My theory is it comes down to construction of the garment - all the threads are hastily woven and sewn together, only to unravel itself like dropped knit stitches. The fiber remains in a useless pile.

[@loganl3746]

The "10% polyester/spandex/acrylic/elastine" on every label nowadays frustrates me to no end. I once managed to find a pair of 100% cotton sweatpants at a thrift store and it was the highlight of my day.

[@Lastdayone]

Likewise. I’m looking for cotton pants for working out. It’s really hard to find. I have 3 pairs of yoga pants that are 96% cotton. I found them years ago. Unfortunately they have holes between the thighs from chaffing. I have lost 50+ lbs. I think I’m just going to resize & repair them myself.

[@loganl3746]

@@Lastdayone sounds like a good idea to me. If you need, maybe you could crop them to capri length and use the removed piece for reinforcement?

[@duner2028]

This comment section has made me realize how much I should treasure the cotton clothes I got as hand me down from my mom

[@crwilley]

"the fabric that haunts our nightmares, our sweat glands, and our waterways" - I cannot think of a better description of polyester!

[@maureenwilliford8985]

It bothers me SO much that 100% cotton clothing has become almost impossible to find. I loathe tee shirts that are made of blended fibers and I especially loathe jeans that are anything more than pure denim. I tried linen but find it too rough for my sensitive skin, so, I’ve long since given up on fashion and buying new clothes because, in the end, it’s all about how I feel wearing something. All these discarded man made fabrics should be bagged up and used for insulation as they’re not all that different from what is currently in use.😊

[@isabelleblanchet3694]

I buy my clothes second hand and I can go over 4 racks of sweater to find 1 that is not made of acrylic or polyester. When I find one in natural fibres I almost always buy it. Last week I found a 100% alpaca made in Peru button-up vest it's become my new favourite.

[@SecretSquirrelFun]

I understand your issues with linen. I had a similar experience, but then I discovered that similar to woollen fabrics, linen comes in many different ways. There’s really fine, super soft linen that feels good against the skin, but you have to seek it out. Some online sellers have small samples of their linen fabrics that they will send you, so you can see what it is you’re getting ❤ YES to your insulation idea - I think perhaps you need to register that idea 💡 because it sounds really doable and your outlay for materials would be cheap if not totally free 👍🏽

[@getyourownshoe]

Agree totally with this. Second hand is the only way to find 100% cotton items now 😞

[@shugarysubstances]

i'd like to point out that there's different weights and types of linens! esp if you're buying fabric to sew things yourself (i.e. a basic t-shirt is the easiest thing you'll see in your life) to soften any natural fibers that are feeling a little too rough, i soak them in white vinegar. best softener there is, and it kills odors.

[@maureenwilliford8985]

@@shugarysubstances I’ve heard the vinegar idea but haven’t tried it yet. I’ve got a couple pairs of linen pajamas I might experiment with, though. Thanks.

[@sianthesheep]

I told my partner "I just watched a fascinating video on athleisurewear" and got a "who are you and what have you done with my leggings phobic girlfriend" look! Personally i think if we want to have comfy clothes to lounge around the house in we should bring back wrappers and tea gowns!

[@kikidevine694]

Or proper beach pyjamas

[@kolobok4491]

Or just natural fibers in general

[@kathyhenry9512]

I just made myself a 100% cotton tea gown cause I adored the idea so much. I love it so

[@beckstheimpatient4135]

@sianthesheep I chose kirtles for my leisure wear. Medieval clothing is SO cozy and comft.

[@pamwishbow8826]

I was just telling my husband that he needs to make me a winter kaftan to lounge in!

[@Brodmann312]

For anyone seriously trying to save their clothing from early failure, please consider not using a tumble dryer. I understand that hanging space may be limited, especially for families with children, and those in smaller spaces. It takes some getting used to and maybe another shower/curtain rod and some hangers, but it makes a big difference in fiber loss and elastic degradation.

[@QuicklyLiquid]

I have been putting off trying this for a long time now. My personal qualms come from the feeling that hang drying my clothing results in them feeling very stiff and less soft. I know it's more a personal preference that I should just get over, but do you have any tips for dealing with that? I don't live in a climate that is warm enough to be hanging things outside for more than 4-5 months per year, and even then, the air quality has been bad due to wild fires. I want to hang my clothes very badly but have sensory problems when it comes to the way clothing feels. How can I keep them feeling soft?

[@celiashen5490]

@@QuicklyLiquid Does your dryer have a low/no-heat setting? I've taken to splitting the drying time between the line and the dryer.

[@mollyapteros]

I had to do this for years but unfortunately hanging things to dry in a tiny apartment with no garden, no airflow (couldn't open windows), no vents, and a predisposition for mold made clothes often turn sour before they could ever dry. And of course I tried different styles of racks and hangers. Towels took like 2 days to dry, and when those were on the rack we literally couldn't use our living room (and they always ended up crunchy and unpleasant feeling). We often had to wash clothes AGAIN to get rid of the sour smell and then surprise, the cycle just continued and clothes ended up ruined anyways because we were in a shitty apartment and couldn't afford decent fabrics to begin with. Oh god and the humidity... (No central heat/air to help mitigate it) I went through humidity catchers like crazy. Moving to a place with a tumble dryer felt life change as it transformed laundry from a -miserable- 2 day affair that took over the entire apartment to a super easy and convenient 2 hour process, and to be honest my clothes feel much better because they're not literally molding before they have a chance to dry. I use low heat or air dry and wool balls. Unless I have a large place or property where I can hang dry outside, I'm too traumatized to ever air dry inside again because it became a genuine source of misery.

[@celiashen5490]

@@mollyapteros I totally feel this. On a family trip to Taiwan, my mom messed up a pair of pajama pants, so she handwashed them. Took three days to dry, it was so humid. And that was with the windows open. Each apartment is small, so there's no room for dryers. Laudromats in Taiwan are few and far between. Dryermats are just about everywhere though.

[@taraa4281]

child of persian immigrants here, we never used the dryer to the point where when I went to university I wasn't familiar with drying machines lol. I'm almost 30 and have clothing items from as far back as highschool that have just lasted that long and its not like everything I bought then was good quality, I truly think its bc I never put them in the dryer.

[@ntcssj]

Abby mentioned it briefly in the case of wool, but I was watching another video that explicitly said opened my eyes about how so many synthetic fibre "innovations" like temperature regulation, moisture wicking, odor resistant, cooling properties etc are all basically trying to emulate qualities of natural fibers. Cottons, linens, hemp, etc are innately more cooling, more moisture wicking than plastic.

[@emilyjensenius4289]

It depends on the use though. I'm a runner and I will never run more than a few minutes in cotton socks. Blister city. Wool on the other hand is OK.

[@BVoshol]

I will say that I'm personally thankful for some of that because I can only wear wool of some types and in some places - I don't actually have an allergy, just sensitive skin. So while I can wear wool socks with minimal rashes, anything around the neck, knees, elbows, hands or armpits is a hard no as I get rashes. Which sucks, because I'm a knitter (I'm currently experimenting to see if I can tolerate alpaca next to my skin) While synthetics aren't fantastic, I can usually tolerate them much better than wool and they're much better than cotton when it's cold and you're expecting to get wet. So yay for those innovations, but I feel like that should probably be the exception

[@user-lguqrux]

While this may be true for everyday wear/use... I'm gonna say the reason most athletes aren't wearing cotton or hemp to train in isn't that synthetics marketing is just that good... it's that most performance gear (actual performance wear, not athleisure garbage) blows cotton, etc. out of the water. I always regret when I don't get to laundry in time & have to train in a damp cotton tee. The wicking just doesn't compare.

[@ntcssj]

@@user-lguqrux Totalllly. I'm definitely speaking in an everyday context for the materials, not for speciality athletic, accessibility and other cases where technological improvements are important.

[@arianewinter4266]

Cotton IS No good when wet, ITS kinda gross and and Not very Temperatur regulating. Linnen and especially Pool are way way better in that regards, Cotton has Others strangths

[@dressdeveloper]

I can tell you where fashion went. It shifted from the clothes to the body. These leggings and tank tops do nothing for our appearance, so you better have the perfect body or you’re out. Thanks for the rant, Abby. Edit: I have nothing against leggings. I have one of these free leggings patterns up and I am currently wearing one. Cotton sweat as under layer for warmth under a dress. So nice and cozy. 😊

[@sadegodfrey4738]

Honestly? You're not wrong. It's not just athleisure, but this whole trend of extremely bodycon dresses and jumpsuits that leave nothing to the imagination, and 50 shades of nude fabrics that can perfectly mimic anyone's skin tone. We're slowly entering the uncanny valley of Barbie doll anatomy: perfectly sculped by spandex, no nipples, no cellulite, no body hair, just smooth shiny plastic.

[@grrt722]

I think it also has to do with ready to wear and lack of tailoring. A stretchy outfit doesn't need tailoring and everyone wants something to come off the hanger fitting their perfectly unique bodies perfectly. Stretch fabrics mask the issue.

[@naolucillerandom5280]

​@@sadegodfrey4738 If we gotta conform to beauty standards, can't we at least do it in linen shifts?? 😭

[@trala8911]

@sadegodfrey4738 Got to be honest, I really don’t see what the fact that nudes now come in multiple skintones had to do with anything else in your comment.

[@sadegodfrey4738]

@@trala8911 I think it's GREAT that there are more nude tones. I just think the separation between clothing and body lessened and this is a reflection of it: shifts and chemises were usually white because it's easier to clean/boil/bleach, and it didn't matter because underclothes could be seen (collars and cuffs and all the frills and laces) and understood as underclothes without shame or the need to hide them, to make them be part of the body.

[@karenholmes6565]

I am in my 50s. When I was younger, in my teens and 20s, I lived in sweatpants and t-shirts. I shopped in them, I exercised in them, I lounged in them. I didn't wear them everywhere, but I wore them every day. They were made out of cotton, both jersey t shirts and the sweats, and they had an elastic waistband. They were comfy and I wish i could find more cotton based textiles. What I have noticed in the decades of wearing things and washing them is that I have no option to buy high quality clothing. It does not matter that I spent more money on it, or that I bought a reputable brand, it is going to have holes in a handful of washes. I don't engage in fast fashion trendy consumerism, but I am forced to be a part of the problem because the consumer option of buying longer lasting textiles at any price is a problem. It forces me to think about purchasing clothing much more than I want to. Nothing is more frustrating than buying knickers that I wore 4 times and the crotch is completely gone, even the cotton fibers are substandard.

[@TizianaTina]

"It does not matter that I spent more money on it, or that I bought a reputable brand, it is going to have holes in a handful of washes."--This is precisely the problem I am having. A cotton top that I gently wash and hang to dry, should not be falling apart so quickly. The cotton is so thin it is almost see through. And unfortunately, as you stated, the quality is almost the same no matter where you buy it, or how much you spend.

[@kthearcher3357]

Def feeling ya on the undies.

[@lucie4185]

@@TizianaTina definitely I recently bought an antique cotton lawn "nightgown". It's around 100+ years and very obviously well worn. Apart from a very small patch needed at the top it's still wearable!! The fabric is really light, it was clearly a simple factory made undergarment but the quality of the fabric and sewing thread means it has survived! Also bust 46inches 😁 so glad I found it.

[@UpliftThePodcast]

Yeah. People complain, but where is de good quality clothes. If I cant find it I just buy cheap, I dont see how its my problem. I feel like mens clothes are way better in quality and last longer. When are we as woman get our turn? I want good clothes that are comfortable 😊😅

[@juliatarrel1674]

There are niche clothes stores online where you can get quality clothing. I am currently wearing a jersey-knit tshirt which I expect to have last me a good five to ten years. They have other types of clothing as well, but they started with tshirts. My friends wear woven-cotton work shirts and pants from a different small business. These are niche small businesses so the clothing is expensive. Their goods are sewn by first-world staff earning first-world wages, which is part of the reason for the price. I just realised that I bought this tshirt at least two years before the pandemic - so my five tshirts have already lasted at least 6 years with no sign of wear. Another option is to learn to sew, or to find a tailor/dressmaker in your area. If the fabric itself is the problem, this probably won't help, but I think it's worth a try.

[@MiffoKarin]

"Millennials don't like/buy wool" because WE CAN'T AFFORD IT FFS! If I had the money, I would have so much more wool and linen in my closet, but my tiny budget only allows for cotton and polyester unless I get really lucky at the thrift store.

[@MiljaHahto]

The solution is buying less clothes, in quality that lasts way longer.

[@MiljaHahto]

Besides, cotton can be decent. It should just not be blended with synthetics - especially not with elasthan.

[@Charlotte00125]

You could also learn to make it yourself. Materials are cheaper to buy than a good quality and well constructed finished product. Knitting and sewing are also valuable skills to have and a nice hobby that will get you off your screens. Plus you can tailor your clothes exactly to your measurements and you can use good construction techniques that you don’t see in fast fashion.

[@helenanilsson5666]

@@MiljaHahto To a point, yes, but this is actually systemic problem with income. Because wages (especially minimum wages) have not kept up with inflation. I buy less than 4 items of clothing per year (not counting underwear and socks) and I still can't afford high quality clothing.

[@rosemarypotter8671]

I agree with the above comments. Clothing made with quality natural fibres will last for years. I still wear garments that I made before my daughter was born, and she's 29 now! I make all my clothes and knitwear from wool, cotton, linen etc and it doesn't cost a fortune because I always look for fabric and knitting wool in the sales. You don't get much wear out of cheap clothes so you have to keep buying more, which ultimately works out more expensive

[@samanthaturner1836]

It's been so difficult to go shopping at any name brand store. I'm that person reading every single label to see the fiber content. I won't buy it unless it's 90% natural fiber or more. Which means 90% of the time I walk out of stores with nothing. I feel so defeated. So I've started collecting patterns so I can start making my own clothes with 100% natural fibers. This world we live in is so back-wards where plastic is being hailed as the best "fiber" to work out in. Sigh

[@greatestaxolotl4933]

I usually scrounge around secondhand stores

[@waldhexe7484]

Yes....i hate it. I only work out in my moms old basketball stuff. It's all pure woven cotton held tight with drawstrings. I tried leggings as I love biking and really wanted to use the patted ones. But they are horrible on my skin. My style is pretty boring, so simple men's black cotton shirts and mom jeans aren't as hard to find in 100% cotton. And most of my nicer looking stuff was my grandma's, or uncle's before me. So lots of cotton and linen, a bit of wool and even some silk. I inherited my fiber- snobbery from my dad. He refuses to wear anything with polyester in it. And doing reenactment has only intensified it.😂

[@leticiaem]

I've been sewing since the pandemic and now I am moving to a point where 50% of my wardrobe was made by myself... I can say it is very satisfyting. My hope is that in 3 or for years the only clothes I have that are not made by me are my underware, bathing suits and some winter coats

[@Claire-lc1fk]

Uni qlo has some good options :)

[@rafaellacenteno3751]

I'm going to learn how to sew this year just so I can have natural fiber clothing, because its getting impossible to find a single dress that isn't 100% poliéster.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

History and fashion is so weird! In the 1960's my father was pulled into the majors office to explain why his wife was seen grocery shopping in pants without gloves! 60 years later I saw a man in on a a bath robe and boots picking up his kid from school! I still can hear my grandmother saying that we did not go to town in play clothes! I still find it hard to go out in sweat pants!

[@raraavis7782]

It's wild, how these things have changed...

[@julietfischer5056]

I remember school and play clothes.

[@valeriekhall]

@@julietfischer5056 I vividly remember being proudly gifted "Color Me Beautiful" & another slightly-earlier ladies' deportment book by my Grandmother as a rite of passage. I'm Abby's age. Maybe slightly younger. 😳

[@Mhidraum]

My grandma was recently quite scandalized that people would go to see a play in jeans and t-shirts nowadays.

[@ruthspanos2532]

@@MhidraumJust a few years ago my father (in his 80s, non-fashion conscious engineer) noticed that people were wearing ‘dungarees’ (jeans) as everyday wear. He went with my mom to buy a pair for himself. I miss him and his insights.

[@nidomhnail2849]

Excellent discussion on athleisure. As a Boomer, I understand why Millenials may blame themselves. Still, Boomers contributed to the trend when Levi 401 jeans and cotton sweat pants were replaced with Calvin Klein and Vanderbilt stretch jeans and Jane Fonda/jazzercise workout clothes. The '70s may phone you again to talk about (gross !!) leisure suits. It is too soon to see the full effect, but if more workers work remotely, it may spawn a new line of leisure clothes (jobleisure?) that look good for video meetings. All of this makes me sad.

[@TheCatWitch63]

I agree to some part of your point that Boomers and Gen X’s kind of began this new trend of athleisure. Remember those Juicy Couture “tracksuits”? Yes, those were part of our wardrobes, but our wardrobes weren’t almost entirely made of only athleisure garments, and we didn’t wear those clothes 24/7, either.

[@lucie4185]

I think we also need to acknowledge that it's not just people it's also technology itself like central heating. When the weather is cold polyester, Spandex, lycra etc are not going to help your body retain and regulate your core temperature. If people couldn't just turn the heating up when the temperature drops they would be literally freezing in their leggings.

[@lenabreijer1311]

Yes I wore Danskin in the 70s to my wedding. I wore xl track suits as maternity wear. I detested jeans as the most uncomfortable and crotch irritating pants around. I never wore them until in the 2000s I found a pair of stretch denim jeans with crystal embroidery. I would never wear old denim except as a skirt. People want comfortable clothing and are willing to ignore "standards " that seem meaningless to them.

[@somethingclever8916]

It's not about generations but celebrity and wealthy nepo designers with no talent. Other than a few trends Fashion really hasnt changed that much in the past 30 years. 1994 wasnt that different to 2024 style. Compared with 1994 and 1964.

[@TheCatWitch63]

@@somethingclever8916 That hasn’t changed either. Nepotism has existed since the beginning of time, and celebrities getting involved in fashion has always occurred. Now we’re more aware of it because of social media and instant access to global news.

[@mar1na1993]

I went to a paper mill in Massachusetts several years ago. Historically, they relied on the rag industry to make their paper. Denim, in particular, was a great material. But once they started infusing the denim with stretch, the mills were no longer to use denim waste anymore!

[@MariekevanBuytene]

I really used to think I had a bad gene that made me sweaty and smelly in my airconditioned office like a builder after a long hard day in the sun, and I had to wash all my clothes after one day of wear - turns out I was just wearing polyester all over. Natural fibers solved that problem. Cheers!

[@sullivanko1902]

*YES*

[@AmuniMate]

You Write like an ad no offence

[@juliasharma840]

Agreed

[@ulla.umlaut]

100% Polyester is going to be the "they ate mummies" of our future. I have a general revulsion for the texture of most textiles that are more than 40% synthetic, and honestly that limits my ability to constantly buy new things in a positive way. I am not going to buy a random blanket or linens with a cute print because they're so frequently microfiber. Buying things online is even worse with "pure satin" or "extra soft snuggle fabric" as the only content listed. I feel like silk, wool, and even cotton have gotten rarer and proportionally more expensive over my lifetime. I spent some of this video googling sewing patterns for leggings that have a separate panel in the inner thigh (maybe split inthe middle of the leg front and back?) in the hopes that I can upcycle some of my thinning 97% cotton pairs together. Maybe I'll have to just mock up a test of one I have and then modify the style lines from there!

[@mariclairtan7024]

Judo and jiu jitsu pants (gi pants) have a panel in the crotch for strength. They also used to be common in rock climbing pants. Government issue battle dress uniforms (BDUs), aka field uniforms or camouflage, have a huge patch that covers both the crotch and seat to protect from wear. You can try googling these or going to a specialty shop to see them in person for examples.

[@ulla.umlaut]

@@mariclairtan7024 in the case of leggings and other stretchy pants, inner thigh wear is caused by simple friction between the legs, not contact with rough surfaces or a larger than normal range of movement. Adding a gusset or additional layer of fabric won't stop the part that rubs against the piece on the opposite leg from wearing out, unfortunately, and the types of pants you've listed aren't usually made of stretchy material so they aren't good places to look for patterns in this case. I do appreciate your suggestions for comfortable pants that are historically, if not always currently, made from natural fibers!

[@naolucillerandom5280]

Before the pandemic I went to buy fabrics and was able to find some in cotton. It was more expensive but there were a few. Went again a few weeks ago specifically looking for something like that. Aside from plain canvas and towels there was nothing. Nada. Zero. Now if I want to make something nice in cotton or linen I'm going to have to spend an arm and a leg to have it shipped from some obscure shop in Europe. It sucks.

[@ulla.umlaut]

@@naolucillerandom5280 There are some "quilting" cottons and flannels in most stores that are suitable as shirting weight material, but even that section has gotten lower in thread count and relies on completely printing thin white cloth rather than dying, even with plaids and stripes.

[@naolucillerandom5280]

​@@ulla.umlaut hope I can find it, I'm not from the US and my region is kinda known for not having much fabric types available, there's notably even less in my small city...

[@iwillsmiteyall]

abby using a cocktail making long ass spoon as a ‘microphone’ with her actual mic attached it hysterical to me. queen of practicality

[@amiejo]

She’s a feminist Bob Barker

[@kathycrager4222]

I have wanted to say that so many times, but I thought maybe it actually was a microphone stand. 😅

[@maggiethorpe4837]

I’m so glad someone said it!!! I remember when I first made the connection that polyester was plastic. I was horrified. We see so much of a push to “reduce plastic” and “recycle plastic” regarding plastic bottles and packaging but I never hear a push to reduce or recycle polyester fibers. Unfortunate.

[@tinfoilslacks3750]

Unfortunately, the increase in polyester is a *product* of the push to recycle plastic. Polyester is one of the lowest forms of plastic you can downcycle most other plastics into. Polyester is so prevalent because it's what we recycle our other plastic products into.

[@josephinedykstra3383]

I just finished a chemical engineer degree- the way we talked about plastics (~technical fabrics~) felt comparable to how physicists talk about the atom bomb. There were so many presentations on recycling and environmental cleanup research, trying to figure out how to get rid of microplastics- but Dow, Dupont, and Henkel are right there to employ us when we graduate. Also- I don't think the PFCs are going to hurt us, the consumers. It's more the factory workers and the environment around the factories. They don't degrade, and they've gotten into the groundwater as PFAS plumes near the factories, including in crunchy, wealthy areas that are Not Happy. ETA: I looked up Sorona- it's partially made from glucose and partially other petroleum based polymers. The glucose is fermented into one polymer and reacted with the others. So- an improvement on pure nylon, which is all petroleum + nasty chemical baths, but still Not Great. The Chemical Worker's Song keeps running in my head.

[@russianbear0027]

Hey congrats on graduating. The chemical workers song is definitely still relevant. We joke about everyone dying 5 years after retirement, though its gotten better at our site in the last 20 years. Dont let anyone push you into working without the proper ppe or providing an msds. Even in a good safety culture it happens from time to time because of pressure to deliver faster. Stop the job. Good luck. Join a union if you can.

[@grandmasgopnik9642]

I had that thought as well. PFCs usually don’t hurt consumers as far as I know but people get spooked by them 😅. Unfortunately in oncology I have see quite a few textile workers but factory, agricultural and many other industries (including my own) have significant risks they kind of refuse to really care for their employees. It’s like radium girls or matchsticks where it would take just years of deaths before any industry would ever be forced to take accountability and even then they simply have the worker sign a waiver as my job does basically saying if I get chemotherapy on me or too much radiation exposure that’s not really their fault and I cannot sue them. And if I have to sign that in my “right to work” American state I’m sure impoverished people seeking factory employment in another country will recieve even more compassion and support not only from their employers😅. But enforce any laws and standards and then you’re “killing the industry”.

[@florabernstein605]

As someone with sensitive skin, I have never been able to wear "fake" fabric from my waist up. It's uncomfortable, doesn't breath,makes me sweat profusely and just feels gross.(eeww!) But if I want 100% cotton I either have to thrift it or make it myself because everything out there is F*%&ing expensive, crappily made or at least 60%-40% polyester, Viscose is slightly better but nothing live up to cotton, linen or wool. Thank you Abby for having the rants so I have more good material reasons to like what I like!

[@emb21982]

Oh gosh same 😢 I have severe allergies and can't wear synthetic underwear or pyjamas. It's hard to find 100% cotton anything now and for those that are available the price is astronomical. I also have circulation issues and the stretching and clinging of a lot of athleisure wear causes me physical pain.

[@cicooooooo]

Right? Polyester is so weird, it makes me sweat so I get rashes but is super irritating too. I only buy 100% cotton shirts and pants. My clothes are all H&M and NewYorker but you have to look closely. Funny enough, their cotton clothes are a way better quality than the rest of their trash.

[@maiwou-6168]

@@emb21982If you live in Canada or the USA, I can suggest you to look for the shop named La Vie En Rose. They have a collection of 100% cotton pajamas online. In store they're extremely hard to find. Sure there is not a lot, but once you wait for a sale, the price is pretty decent. I live in these pajamas at home.

[@helen-ot6ml]

kind of same 😭I always get contact dermatitis when I wear synthetic fabrics directly on the skin

[@MiljaHahto]

The funny thing is, those soft-feeling washing items made of synthetic fibers may scratch you much more badly than a coarse brush with natural hair (I think horse hair is one commonly used one). Actually, never got any scratches from the coarse brushes, but several of the synthetic washy thingies.

[@sophiesong8937]

The thing I have been noticing over the last few years is how athleisure has 'conveniently' become fashion dominant in the era of online shopping and this has allowed a simplification of fit, and reduced expectations of fit by the consumer. Everything is getting boxier. Once you've reduced expectations of fit and quality ('well, it's close enough, it was cheap, so not worth the effort to exchange..') where does fashion go?

[@russianbear0027]

Ive noticed that a lot of items in thrift stores are online fast fashion stuff like shein now. They tend to be mildly stretchy polyester with very flimsy construction. Easy to find something that fits. They are already shedding particles however.

[@Uruz2012]

One size fits most leggings combined with a massively boxy top.😂

[@sphhyn]

I grew up with a mother that would always feel the fabric and check the label for fiber content. She grew up in the 70s when polyester clothes became popular here in Germany and she detested them because they smell so bad. So I inherited a strong adversity against polyester. I also always check the label and won’t buy underwear, shirts and dresses (anything that I wear against my skin ) that is made of polyester. I do wear mixed fabrics as outer layers though. The mother of a childhood friend who worked as a nurse also always warned my friend and me to never buy non breathable polyester underwear so we don’t get fungus infections 🫣that also stayed with me … only cotton or viscose for me

[@akosua8779]

Sis she ain't lying!!! Underwear that isn't cotton or something natural and breathable is asking for death of the flower. All that moisture trapped in poly undies is no joke. I will never wear non cotton underwear again! Yeast city is what that environment creates.

[@friederikerichter8787]

i think our mothers may be one and same person. Nice to meet you, long lost sibling

[@MiljaHahto]

Polyester underwear may work if you only wear it for a very short time to be seen by your lover, but definitely NOT for daily wear.

[@maryssa_sings]

I wore real linen for the first time last summer, during a heat wave, and was *amazed* by the cooling and sweat-wicking properties of a natural fibre that so many synthetic fibres attempt or claim to do. For almost every property a "revolutionary" synthetic fibre claims to have, there's already a natural fibre that does the same thing. (Exceptions: fibre-optic fabric lighting up, glow-in-the-dark dyes, and those T-shirts that change colour when you go outside.)

[@lorihoop3831]

I spent big money on quality cotton clothing and I love it. With me having horrible hot flashes, it's a necessity, linen is next.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Adam Ruins Everything? No, we want ‘Abby Ruins Everything’ because there’s usually drag performances with the trademark humour.

[@AbbyCox]

OMG LOL ...I did accidentally ruin athleisure 🥲

[@OdinsSage]

​@@AbbyCox"accidentally" >v

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

@@AbbyCox Well... it's not the _worst_ thing to ruin...

[@misschievous6194]

@@AbbyCox And we’re all here for it! 😆

[@serenecourage]

That rant was chef's kiss!

[@feistyfluxy]

This was one helluva video, and I agree with you 100%! Incidentally I work for a company that invents products to capture microplastics and this is constantly on my mind. 35% of microplastics come from textile manufacturing, and every time we wash our clothes, up to a whopping 700,000 plastic fibres are released from our washing machines into our waterways. I'm so glad you shone a light on this subject.

[@rejoyce318]

What's the name of your company, and is there some way we can help support your efforts?

[@WallebyDamned]

In a time where many can't afford quality or tailoring the soft and stretchy nature of athleisure has provided clothes that can look fitted and be comfortable even as size fluctuates. Its normalisation as standard wear has also been useful for those with sensory issues or other physical limitations with clothes. I can see why it has caught on and doesn't seem to be leaving anytime soon. I just hope we can get back to sustainability without having to lose the freedoms that have come from these engineered materials and styles.

[@littlefoxglove276]

thank you for mentioning the sensory issue factor!! i grew up as a fairly outdoorsy kid in the 90's, and as different as the quality is between those pieces and the stuff you can buy today, i was always so damned uncomfortable - even with most of my clothes being softened hand-me-downs. jeans especially were the worst culprits for it. i did so much of my playing in my school uniform because of this - a simple pinafore over a dress shirt that was easy to move around in, could look smart, and was worn with a cardigan/tights in cooler weather being diagnosed with autism in adulthood put a lot of of these memories in a new light, not to mention my mother's consistent habit of cutting tags out of her clothes. i shudder to think about the folks born with sensory issues earlier than the 70's. though i don't actually wear a lot of it compared to some, athleisure is key to accessibility in my mind, and i disagree with it not being Fashion. it's just such a massive shame that it's caused such harm - though i'd argue most of it is a capitalism issue - and i'd like to see it walked back, somehow.

[@Benihime25]

Exactly. I prefer the feel of polyester because it is soft and stretchy and more comfortable. Half the time I feel regular cotton tshirts aren’t soft enough and I hate all denim and wool because of the feel so I’m not going away from it at any time

[@alanawolf1556]

@@littlefoxglove276relatable comment. I wore t-shirts and jeans back in the day but HATED how they felt. The boom of tagless Lycra clothing has massively benefited my day to day comfort. I also work from home and work out/participate in sports daily, so athleisure is a staple in my closet. It’s easy enough to slip a wool or linen blazer over my ensemble if I’m meeting with colleagues or friends. I’m beyond grateful athleisure options exist but wish there were more sustainable options.

[@maryeckel9682]

My sensory issues detest polyester and spandex.

[@mrs.quills7061]

@@Benihime25I can’t stand how real denim feels it’s so stiff and rough. Wool is just scratchy and heavy. I have bigger thighs and hips too so I prefer the stretch and the comfortable. Like it sucks cuz of the plastics but vintage styles aren’t made for all bodies. I don’t mind cotton, but it’s often quite heavy.

[@thegracklepeck]

Finding comfortable clothing as someone who is disabled (and is also short and not thin) is difficult. Unfortunately that means often I end up with leggings because they're comfortable, not expensive, and easiest to put on. I prefer cotton t-shirts but even those are getting harder to find in styles that I like.

[@anavasquez5231]

Go to the men's section. Most of their T-Shirts are 100% cotton. They also have lots of sweatpants and knee-lenghted shorts that are nearly 70%+ cotton.

[@fynn2350]

As someone working for a company that produces sports wear, I have very strong opinions at this point about athleisure and many of them completely fall in line with what Abby says. There are some more details I want to put out there, though. About the plastic clothing: For actual athletic wear, some of those actually make sense. I have some running shirts which are entirely made of plastic, engineered to be as thin, lightweight and at the same time sweat wicking as possible. For running, especially during warm and hot weather, these are a dream. They manage to soak up the sweat but dry insanely fast so there is no wet fabric rubbing between your arms and upper body. However, what they don't do is stop your sweat from getting smelly. If you wear them, you will stink after two hours tops. Here's the thing: If I run, I don't care. But they do the same when you wear them while sitting at your desk. They are athletic clothing. Full stop. Does that solve the plastic landfill problem? In a way. You don't wear as many running shirts in your life as casual wear shirts. You also don't wear them as long in a day, so if we could reduce the plastic fabric to be used only in functional wear where it actually serves its purpose, I think that would already be a massive win. Another topic is shoes. My company focuses on running shoes but also carries some everyday sneakers at this point. However, a lot of people keep wearing the running shoes as lifestyle sneakers and my advice is: Just don't. Running, especially endurance and especially on asphalt will get to your feet and knees in a way that walking never will. The high level of cushioning and support for fast take-off is a dream for running. And for walking? It still feels great, but it basically is like using a crutch all day. The muscle in your feet will weaken and you will unlearn how to use your entire foot to walk. Shoes for sprinting are not even comfy to walk in, so let's not even consider that. There is one entirely different point, though, that I missed a little in the video. Athleisure somehow also somehow came in a package bundle with the opposite movement. Or maybe that is just my perspective? Hear me out. When I was a kid, teenager and up until some time in my early twenties, I am pretty sure the majority of people just worked out in whatever ratty t-shirt they happened to have that wasn't good enough as outer wear anymore. And then this started to change. Before the change, of course there were some people who looked like you had plucked them out of a 90s aerobics/softporn video, but the majority of people wanted gym clothes that are lose, comfy and if they tear or are worn out, it's not too sad. Basically it was an opportunity to get the last out of your 10 year old band shirts and then you have that one pair of sweatpants/leggings that go with all of them. And then something happened? I don't know. All I know is that now gyms are full of people with perfectly styled outfits down to the sports bra that shows a strap matching your sweat towel. So Athleisure erased fashion, but it also erased workout settings as a functional place and made them focus a lot more on style.

[@cuttleb0nes]

this sounds silly but honestly part of why i’m scared to go to the gym is dressing goofy, there seems to be so much pomp and circumstance to gymwear and athleisure and i was planning on wearing this old stained cotton tank top…….

[@fynn2350]

​@cuttleb0nes that doesn't sound stupid at all. I completely get it and I hate it that this is happening. I hope you find the courage to do it anyway, because working out should not be reserved for those who can afford stylish gym fashion. And I've done the same for years and in my experience nobody cares. I still felt weird but at least there were no comments.

[@aisling7244]

I totally agree with you about the clothing serving an actual, practical function when exercising. I live in Arizona where it’s incredibly hot. I used to run in ratty old cotton stuff. It was miserable. Now I run in plastic sportswear. Still miserable, but less miserable!!

[@JellyFlavoredGerman]

I work out and run in 100% cotton t-shirts and sweats and have no problem. They come out the washing machine at only 30C fresh as a daisy too. I used to have to wash my polyester stuff at 50 or 60 to get the smell out. Never going back.

[@Varikas]

@@cuttleb0nestbh I go to the gym multiple times a week and most people are in leggings or sweatpants and loose t shirts

[@Jellibox]

You could add a section on this about fit and mass production. Part of the popularity of athleisure i think, is also due to moving away from tailoring the fit of our clothes- either purselves or by a tailor. Athleisure fills the void, where mass prooduced clothes that are tailored to a single shape don't fit well on most bodies, the stretch of athletic fabrics means that it fits a broader range of bodies without having to have it tailored.

[@starfishinamber]

Strangely enough, the fit is why I don't wear leggins (despite being A Millenial). I often have problems with the fit in my pants because my hips are proportionally wider and I'm also tall with a longer torso, but I can find comfy pants every now and then, I just look at them and know. Leggings though? They're all the same and they never fit comfortably! And when I say the same I mean THE SAME, I can't just go get the cut that fits me best, they might as well all be using the same pattern in the areas that matter. They have no reason to change their patterns because one model fits most people.

[@mrs.quills7061]

@@starfishinamberI’m the same big hips and thighs, but I’m short. Leggings fit me perfectly and I can roll them up and they stay put. They’re comfortable and more dressy than sweats. Way back if I got cheap or thin leggings the cub rub would wear them, but as long as I get thicker ones they last me.

[@beagleissleeping5359]

Speaking of stuff falling apart so quickly. I've said that about items that AREN'T clothing as well. I hate the response of, "Well, just go buy another one." (My washing machine likes to destroy wash cloths for some reason.) I shouldn't have to buy another one, at least not that quickly. It also makes me not want to risk spending money on anything deemed nice because of this trend. I've got shirts from the 1990's that I still wear and are in good shape and stuff less than 3 years old that's falling apart. (The day I accidentally ripped the armpit of my vintage 1970's blouse that belonged to my Mom I almost wanted to cry.)

[@sewathome]

Everything I've purchased in the last 3 years has either ripped or shrunk 🙄 10 year old clothes are going strong 😂

[@valeriekhall]

@@sewathome Right?!? My couple of sweaters I still have from the 00's are still going strong, only just now starting to get a few of those pinprick holes I don't know how to mend, but one of the cotton sweaters I bought from Target developed a visible pinprick++ hole (right over my boob, natch) BEFORE I even wore it! First wash.

[@zvezdoblyat]

I found the most perfect white button up at the thrift store. 100% cotton, very fine stitching, not see through, fit perfectly. I put it through the dryer ONCE and it fucking made a hole on the back and scorched the fabric. I managed to remove the scorch marks and I'll never use the dryer on it again. But I shouldn't have to do this

[@ssgg23]

I still wear my mom’s sweatshirts from the 80s, they are still in better condition and way better quality than anything I’ve bought in the last 10 years lol

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

There are some socks that I purchased recently that wore out after 60 miles and running shorts that have worn out after 500 miles.

[@alishaherbitter6278]

Athleisure-wear is my go to when my chronic pain makes most clothing painful. On days where I'm functioning better I'll reach for clothing that does too. Over the past decade I've been slowly replacing clothing with more durable pieces but I've yet to find something that will work as well as leggings when I'm mid-flare up

[@gray_mara]

I find that leggings are the worst possible clothes for when I have pain. A garment that touches and confines 100% of my skin? No thank you. Loose dresses for me when I have pain and swelling. The dress I'm wearing right now even has pockets. But companies have spent a lot of money telling women they can't possibly be comfortable in a dress, so many people don't even think to try them. The fact that these dresses don't rub or chafe also means that they last longer.

[@alishaherbitter6278]

@@gray_mara I'm glad that dresses work for you! 💜

[@hattyhide7544]

I’m like you, Athleisure is what I wear when I want to be comfy and I’m not feeling good enough to wear other clothes. I love that I have a collection of bright coloured patterned leggings to wear on my pain days. I’m also slowly exploring new areas of fashion, and choosing natural fabrics like cotton for all my other clothes.

[@abbigailcrowley3502]

I often wonder, if we took advantage of peoples obsessions with trends and made environmental health the new *aesthetic*, would it become huge like stanley cups or skims? Would people fall over eachother buying their new organic cotton clothes? It could be useful if it works.

[@SarahFletcher12]

Would environmentalists have to plan a psyop against the general public? 😂 also because of TikTok, fashion trends are more like micro trends that last a couple weeks. It would just increase consumption and waste. And would probably lead more companies to greenwash their stuff and take advantage of workers.

[@lenabreijer1311]

No. Because you also need to meet the needs of working women who besides doing a paid job are taking care of the house and children. Careful washing and ironing aren't wanted.

[@KendallM0219]

@@lenabreijer1311It’s really not that difficult to care for 100% organic cotton clothing. My daughter only has 100% organic cotton. You just wash it on cool or cold and dry it on low. If you get it out the dryer when the clothes are done and fold them they are perfect. If you forgot them for a few hours you can just turn the refresh option on for dryer or dry again on low for 10 minutes.

[@OdinsSage]

We are kinda seeing a version of this with the steady rise in popularity for second hand shopping. The problem there is then greedy companies like Goodwill, who already exploit their employees to the bone, now also hike up the prices of the second hand goods, which they get for free let me remind you, making them less affordable for many people who used to rely on them.

[@lenabreijer1311]

@@KendallM0219 and at what price compared to the other stuff? What time is required to sort the laundry while the kid waits for dinner? Oh and the laundry is down the hall and do you have enough coins and is it available?

[@amidala3927]

Part of the push for "tech" fibers is the environmental impact of natural fibers. I worked at a yarn and fiber store in the early 2000's and alternative fibers would brag about how little water they required compared to cotton. Cotton and linen require large amounts of land, water, and fertilizer to grow on a commercial scale. Animal rights advocates campaigned against wool. Sheep only produce commercially usable wool for about half their natural life span. Then they are sent to meat processing. Not to mention the land used, methane produced, etc. The biggest push against wool is growing allergies to it (which sounds like another rabbit hole to go down). Now that we're aware of plastics leeching out of fibers, the calculus has definitely shifted. But it's not as if "natural" fibers have no impact, especially when they have to be produced on a massive scale.

[@maryeckel9682]

And silk needs water for the camellia trees, plus the worms are killed. There's no truly impact free fabric.

[@lenas6246]

yeah thats why there should be just less clothes in general

[@onehillofalife1031]

I worked at a speciality running shoe store in the early teens and the slogan we used for socks was “cotton is rotten” for socks. You need moisture wicking fabrics for working out. It’s awful realizing lies we’ve believed. I’d love to find more affordable natural fiber clothes but it is difficult.

[@ragnkja]

The better alternative to cotton socks isn’t “technical fabric”, it’s plain old wool.

[@Loungemermaid]

Yeah cotton isn’t very good at moisture wicking, as far as natural fabrics go.

[@KyChimerical]

The biggest problem with denim even before the leisure wear outbreak was that they stopped having a range in sizing. When i was younger i could find jeans for short people like me in most brands with styles that fit my body. Then ten years later i had to have jeans hemmed to get any that fit and it was harder to find jeans that actually fit. Instead of bringing back variety they brought in stretch fabric. I can't find good jeans to replace the old favorites and that is sad.

[@charischannah]

I ditched jeans for skirts and dresses a while ago because I just find them more comfortable (I am short and plus size, finding jeans that fit without alterations is always a hassle, plus the jeans available would always wear out in the thighs from rubbing sooner than the rest of it and I got tired of replacing jeans multiple times a year), and I have a couple pairs of black leggings that I wear as tights under skirts when I need an extra layer that covers more than my knee socks do,. I've never been personally comfortable wearing leggings as pants. A couple years ago, I started prioritizing natural fibres and avoiding polyester and acrylic blends in my wardrobe, and trying to make more of my clothes. I'll allow small percentages of nylon or spandex, but polyester is a hard no. My spouse recently started switching over to wool or cotton dress slacks for work because he had a similar problem with jeans wearing out too quickly. Our kid prefers athleisure wear, but she's ten and wants to be comfortable, which I get. I try to avoid polyester with her clothes as much as possible and hang-dry the polyester items she does have so that they'll last longer.

[@herefortheplants9543]

Spandex and nylon are both types of polyester

[@Cantseemuch]

Some time back I got a lot of ads on insta from start ups making sports clothes that would not smell, were better for hygiene and said to be made from pineapples or so. The whole thing was made to look like this huge innovation and comments where like “oh my god finally” All I could think was “so you are making viscose T-shirts?” How can it be that people forgot what cotton t shirts and good quality fabrics feel and look like? Not even normal sewing shops have actual good quality (100% natural fibers with 5% elastane tolerance) fabrics anymore, printed fabrics for children excluded. Luckily there is a professional fabric business close to where I am…

[@haroldharold9042]

Some of us are younger and have never had nicer quality items as an option from stores.

[@Cantseemuch]

I understand that, I am 23 myself and I know good quality because that was a priority for my parents. We did not go on big vacations and I never had many clothes. And I know that they got that mindset from their parents. I know it is exhausting to search for good quality and realizing how expensive it can be. Trying to get away from online shopping is a good way to start. Or when you get to a bigger city, search for stores that offer fair fashion or good quality, look at the labels and feel the quality so when online shopping you know what to look for. (Eg. Timeless cuts, fibre content, thickness of the material) and then buying on sale or getting basics like button down shirts secondhand helps a lot.

[@ah5721]

pinapple fibers have been used in the Philipeans for centuries ..

[@Cantseemuch]

@@ah5721 that’s very cool! How did they treat them? I would guess a bit like flax maybe? And that is exactly my problem with these startups trying to convince people that they invented something that is actually an ancient practice in the best case and cultural appropriation in the worst. (Although pineapple viscose or rayon won’t be that different from the normal wood version as it only uses the cellulose parts of the plant, so it’s probably „just“ greenwashing)

[@kirstenpaff8946]

It's so hard to find women's jeans that aren't fiber blends. Heck, it's even hard to find ones that are mostly cotton with a little bit of elastane for stretch. Most jeans now are predominantly polyester and they pill after a while.

[@bellathemusicaddict]

I can recommend H&M‘s vintage models of jeans, as well as Abercrombie! Have found 99% cotton pants there in the last several years 😊

[@kirstenpaff8946]

@@bellathemusicaddict Thanks for the recommendation.

[@aisling7244]

It’s not cheap, but I love my Madewell jeans. They feel so sturdy.

[@Anneliese210]

Armed Angels? Do you have access in America?

[@ElizabethAbbit]

I just want to bring this up before I address any of the major concerns here because they are all valid. As someone with chronic pain im really thankful for athleasure. Before pain, I was well dressed. I had tailored garments, structured under garments, stilettos and riding boots, anything beautiful, the world was my oyster. Since pain moved in, I've had less and less energy for dealing with little discomforts. Even small things like pants buttons or tucking in my shirts feel overwhelming. A friend got me into the chunky sneaker thing and the world of athleasure opened up to me. I could dress trendy. I could wow my friends again. I could save my energy for getting out of the house instead of constantly adjusting my clothing. I understand that I'm lucky to like how I look in these garments. I understand not everyone has that relationship with their bodies. But atleasure has given me back such a big part of my life I just feel like we do it an injustic by not acknowledging the good of it. I know there's a lot of bad, especially with the cheap fast fashion side, but it's not all like that. I have pieces I bought 7 years ago when I worked out daily that are still going strong. I'm as sad as everyone else that natural fibers are so rare these days. I'll take 100% cotton over any athletic blend any day. Except for with leggings and sports bras. I just need more strength in those garments than a flattering cotton knit can provide. But yeah... try not to hate the athleasure trend too much for what it looks like. It's giving some of us the courage and freedom to live again.

[@melissasvendsen4421]

Athleasure is also a blessing for autistic people with sensory issues. At home I wear loose dresses made out of natural fibres, but when I leave the house (particularly in winter!) I wear pants that look like slacks but feel like leggings.

[@grrt722]

Leggings, socks, and underwear are the only plastics/elastics I'm allowing myself to purchase anymore. And the rest of my clothing I'm only buying natural fiber fabrics and sewing the clothing myself. Once I feel like more comfortable in sewing everything I will address then under garments I wear and see what better options I can find for myself.

[@OdinsSage]

Same. It's always those base layers where synthetic fibers seem to be the hardest to get around.

[@MichaelRainey]

That's where I can't tolerate poly. 100% cotton or wool. But it can be so hard to find.

[@lucie4185]

Same, I have sensitivity issues so I realised fairly early that cheap t-shirts made me feel "smellier" it was only since watching Abby and Nicole's content that I understood why.

[@meganrogers3571]

Watching this while wearing black fleece leggings 😳 BUT ... I'm one month postpartum, so I appreciated the conclusion about how there is a time and place for athleisure. But I'm also frustrated by how hard it is to now find 100% natural fibers. It seems so ironic that clothing that's allegedly for athletic activities is made from plastic.

[@ulla.umlaut]

I think an underestimated part of athlesiure's takeover is that a lot of people either naturally or have learned to like compression in their clothing, something that I understand is especially nice around giving birth!

[@candor-and-moxie]

As someone with a contact allergy to formaldehyde, you'd be surprised at it's ubiquity in textiles and personal care products. Formaldehyde-urea resins are used in the manufacture of rayon, natural/synthetic blends (like cotton/poly), "anti-wrinkle" treatments, pigment printing (like for kids sheets), certain distressed "washes", waterproofing, and non-flammable textiles. In personal care products you can find formaldehyde releasers used as preservatives (dmdm hydantoin, imazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, Germall, etc.) in shampoo, conditioner, skincare, and makeup. For the textiles, the formaldehyde doesn't wash out. It can reduce it's release rate over time, but it's usually a structural element of the fabric. Think of it like the glue in MDF. It's also in paper and used to enhance the "wet strength" of paper products like toilet paper, facial tissue, and paper towels. It is even in disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and tampons. As a plus size person whose size fluctuates in addition to the allergy, it is incredibly hard to get away from polyester. The few size-inclusive bands or designers that make clothing from natural fibers that work for my allergies are extremely expensive - like $200 for one pair of pants expensive. So my clothing is mostly cotton tops, polyester pants or dresses, or Tencel lyocell as I can find it (mostly sleep wear).

[@ragnkja]

Formaldehyde is one of the issues that are much less of a problem in Europe due to far stricter regulations, and even here they recommend that we wash new clothes before wearing, presumably to avoid us becoming sensitised to stuff like formaldehyde.

[@curtaintreatment3588]

This is probably not a real solution most of the time, due to the cost difference but silk usually isnt treated with resins and since it is the wrinkliest thing on earth you can tell if it has wrinkle resistant treatments in one squeeze, most likely?

[@ragnkja]

@@curtaintreatment3588 Linen is at least as wrinkle-prone as silk 😁

[@emppulina]

What I hate is marketing something that is mostly artificial fibers as a “wool” or “linen”, whether it is 5% wool blend to be marketed as just “wool”, or marketing 0% linen as a “linen style”. At least I buy these fabrics, not primary for the look, but because of the qualities of the fibers. I live in a climate, where fake-wool or clothing, with less than 50% wool, just don’t make it. In EU you cannot market many food items with minor components. We have traditional butter-oil bled, with usually at least 70% of butter (sometimes over 80%) and always (even so-called light version) at least 50 % of butter and everybody knew what it was about (the name contained butter and margarine), yet EU made them remove butter from the name. Then why can they market something as a wool, when it only has 5% as wool? And finding coat made of 100% wool (which I would prefer) is practically impossible. I rather buy genuine wool and leather, and then use my winter jacket for at least 5 years and my leather bag over a decade. Before buying my singular leather bag, I replaced my fake leather bags every few months, because they could not take our winter weather longer. After using few bags in the last year, I bought one of leather, and used it over decade before first need to repair (zipper). I searched for a while to find a genuine leather bag, that I really liked a lot and that was my style. It was classical and type that is always on style, kind of vintage looking in fact and is still my favorite. Not everyone has to act in the same way, but I would love to able to still buy long lasting stuff.

[@toiarii]

What leather bag did you buy?

[@VioletSadi]

I want to go forward with Victorian bathing costumes in wool or linen jersey and 70s shorts and tees in the same. The fact I gotta make them myself will not stop me

[@becsutherland4506]

Beware; my gran told me about itchy woollen swimming costumes and how they would pull one under the waves! Some innovations are good.

[@VioletSadi]

@becsutherland4506 I definitely won't wear them swimming! But for tennis or jogging I think they'd be great. Gosh, salt water and wool sounds like a match made for hell

[@jrochest4642]

Growing up in Vancouver BC in the 80s, the standard 'little black dress' item that everyone owned was a pair of capri-length black leggings, worn to workout classes, but also under dresses, tunic tops, as a base layer under ski clothes, and clubbing. Eventually bike shorts moved in to replace these. The west has always been more casual, comfortable and 'outdoorsy', but I think people were wandering around in high-fashion workout gear everywhere. If you expand the definition to ski clothes and apres ski, you can push this back into the 1950s.

[@mienafriggstad3360]

I noticed that when I moved to Sechelt in October 90. From Saskatchwan; that hadn't fully embraced that trend yet.

[@paularies3282]

They had more cotton in them though too. I had bike shorts and matching longer tops with tight capris.

[@jrochest4642]

@@paularies3282 Yes! A blend of cotton/poly/acrylic with a good dose of spandex.

[@roxiepoe9586]

In the early 80's I moved to Europe. Prior to departure , I bought 6 pair of 401's. This was my fall-back plan. A casual mention that cash was tight and I might be willing to let go of a pair of jeans was all it took to start a quiet, stealthy, profitable bidding war. :)

[@gpeters1217]

I can’t even tell you how much I love this. It’s been something I’ve been thinking about for the past few years, and you put together such a great video on the topic. Side note: one of my favorite modern ironies is when people wearing all polyester talk about how people in past centuries must have all smelled so bad, when (personally speaking) absolutely nothing makes me smell worse than wearing a plastic bag pretending to be clothes. 😅

[@cynhanrahan4012]

Bottom line, I cannot afford natural fiber clothing. Even if I can find it. I usually do 90% of my clothes shopping in thrift stores, for affordability but also so I'm at least not adding to the polyester mountain. Even the black leggings I am wearing were thrifted. The tank I'm wearing under my hoodie appeared in my wardrobe from I don't know where, but I've been wearing it for at least 20 years. The hoodie is new, a holiday present to myself. It's warm and comfortable and I bought it on etsy from a store that does machine embroidery, but still a small one woman business. I sort of weigh my options and try to go the less impactful route. But I really do want decent jeans that fit. Affordable natural fiber clothing. And let's toss another topic into the mix. Land value, where cotton is grown (and really fucks up the soil) and where sheep graze, has skyrocketed, and is being sold off to build residential or commercial real estate at a much higher profit than farming ever made.

[@Rhaifha]

It also depends where you look, second hand websites can help with the shopping a lot! I recently got two vintage 100% wool coats from the 80s and 50s(!!) on Vinted for 15 and 35 euros respectively. In a plus size! That's cheaper than new coats. It just takes a bit of searching to find quality, aesthetic *and* a good price combined.

[@yosemite735]

End immigration. That is the only reason the land is going.

[@averyb9568]

They had to cut my cotton sports bra off of me when I was injured. It was very old but the best. I can not for the life of me find a sports bra with that same cotton knit at all. I need a zipper too now. I want my old bra back 😢

[@zidiss6042]

that sucks :( Duluth Trading Company has a 100% cotton bralette that's a pullover sports bra style. no pads but I'm 32DDD and find it has plenty of support

[@sewathome]

Oh I had the same thing happen with my good wrangler jeans! 😢 I rarely wear jeans anymore, I don't have time to try on 40 pairs to find ones that fit, so I'm making one pair last as long as possible 😂

[@RobinT346]

even with the argument of confining athletic wear to actual sports we still have an issue with consumerism. Sometimes synthetic fabrics might actually be "best" for some sports - serious road cyclists want the super thin stretchy properties of "technical fabrics" that I just don't think are available from cottons and wools for example - but there is still a huge push that people should have a huge wardrobe of this technical clothing and that everybody even vaguely into the sport should have the latest thing. It's just another avenue for fast fashion. And sure with something like proper cycling shorts you do need a few pairs because ideally you do need to wash them frequently for hygiene reasons so if you're out on your bike several times a week you'll need more than one pair, but once you have a couple of pairs, you don't necessarily need another new pair each season. You don't need 10 different jerseys in a variety of colours. A good set even with frequent use can last you for years. But brands want us to buy more. And I specified serious cyclists in my example because the marketing in sports also pushes us to think that we have to dress like top athletes at all times, or that this super technical clothing that gives marginal gains to pros is going to radically improve the performance of Average Person on a Bike. And really what we need, even for those who are keen on the sport, is a few decently fitted pieces that are well made and that we look after and we only replace them when we have to. (and though I use cycling as an example, I see this across a number of sports from horse riding to swimming, to weight lifting, and don't get me started on Westernised Yoga)

[@CaseyMaura]

I think this is a really good point about consumerism for sports-specific clothes for the average person. I do Pilates about 5x a week, and have been doing some sort of daily exercise for a couple decades. But, I don’t own an excess of sportswear for this! I have a handful of pieces of the cooler months, and a handful of summer-appropriate pieces, but things like sports bras cross over between seasons. And what I do buy, I care for and try to keep until it wears out. I hate how the minute you even start a new sport (or hobby!), you are influenced to get all the right gear, and sometimes in excessive amounts.

[@ima.ekenes]

Here in Norway you can find 100% wool jersey athleasure wear pretty easily, which I’m extra grateful for after this video! Still I’m guessing the cheaper synthetic stuff sells more…

[@user-yi3yx2fn7g]

Same in Sweden, just look in the fishing/hunting/hiking section! I'm very happy that you have such a lively wool market in Norway, it is much easier to find Norwegian brands using wool than Swedish brands. Haglöfs has been missing the point since the 90's. Ha en fortsatt trevlig dag, jag bor bara 40 min från Magnor, fast på svenska sidan! :-)

[@sewathome]

Do they ship worldwide by any chance? My wool leggings I bought here in Australia are not lasting very long.

[@jackieknits61]

OK. Norway just entered my travel wish list. I like wool. And I have found that it matters what wool you buy.

[@user-yi3yx2fn7g]

@@sewathome There are several Norwegian brands that sell these. Dalegarn, Helly Hansen are two. A few former ski stars have their brands, Dählie and Ulvang are the most known. Kari Traa has some lovely patterned leggings and matching shirt. In Sweden you can check for Woolpower, Fjällräven (yes they also make the Kånken backpack) or Lundhags. Make sure you never order the unisex model legging, since they have a nasty seam that makes the crotch area drop and it's uncomfortable and looks ugly.

[@sonjaimmonen6610]

Finland also has a relatively good market of 100% cotton and wool basics from multiple small brands. Of course they aren't the biggest, most popular brands (yet), but you can actually shop around for non-plastic options for athleisure. I haven't paid too much attention, because I got myself 2 pairs of sports leggings in like 2016 and they're my gym pants. For a top I have a collection of old festival t-shirts (my fiancee gets them from working at festivals) and some cotton t-shirts that I would no longer wear normally. I will wear them all until they rip or don't fit.

[@fygfyg7242]

There's nothing wrong with athleisure, the issue is with making clothes from plastic. Leggings made from cotton or wool are better for you and the environment than a blazer made from plastic. Just because most of the athleisure is made from plastic doesn't mean it has to be, athleisure is a style not a material. The issue comes from people choosing bad quality, synthetic fabrics because they are cheap + people getting fooled by clever marketing of "innovative fabrics". People choosing to wear comfy clothes has nothing to do with it, rise in athleisure correlates with rise of synthetic fabrics but it doesn't cause it.

[@AbbyCox]

I included the link to athleisure companies that use natural materials in my description! I'm gonna keep an eye on them for any future purchases

[@fygfyg7242]

I don't know about US but where I live in Europe finding sportswear made from natural fibers isn't actually that difficult, you just need to specifically look for it. It's just that people usually don't even try to look for the better alternatives, hardly anyone bothers to check the fiber content on any kind of garment... But that's slowly starting to change so I'm hopeful for the future 😊

[@enenenergp]

Just a sidenote but I used to buy cotton leggins and due to my thighs chafing they would last for like 3 MONTHS, before they’d wear out and rip at the thighs. Same thing with jeans: maybe 6-9 months if I wore them actively (I’m aware I could learn mending for the jeans but the leggins are basically trash after they break). With smooth plastic black leggings I can get by 2-4 years without them breaking at the thighs, and I wear them almost every day with skirts, dresses and tunics. I’m probably not being more sustainable but still feels helluva lot better (esp for my wallet) not buying new pants every other month 😅

[@ragnkja]

In Norway, finding woollen sportswear, especially for winter sports, is easy, but the garments are expensive.

[@ragnkja]

@@enenenergp That may have more to do with the exact type of cotton fabric than it being cotton, since cotton jersey sheets wear out in a tiny fraction of the time cotton sateen sheets last.

[@ima.ekenes]

I started to make my own clothes partly because it became harder and harder to find 100% natural fibers. I really hope it comes back!

[@Magda-jp1hs]

Same!

[@lydia1634]

Here's an icky reality: the altheisure styling really appeals to moms. Unless you like wearing loose linen/cotten dresses (which some people do), it's really hard to find clothes that can hold up to the changing body shapes of moms. I can't afford to buy a whole new bespoke wardrobe every time I have a kid and my body changes shape (or even alter those clothes). But with spandex fabrics, those jeans and leggings and shirts last just a little longer, and readjust to the new shapes. In the past, women dealt with this through structured garments, first corsets, then girdles, paired with dresses. The idea of trying to nurse in these seems overwhelming. Also, some of us don't like dresses. I really like pants. I like pants I don't have to iron that will move with my body when I have I squat and pick a kid up off the floor (which rules out traditional linen and denim). ---currently seven months pregnant with my third kid and thanking God for spandex panels in my stretchy maternity jeans, maternity t-shirts, and maternity jacket. I have seen maternity "fashions" pre-spandex and they are overwhelming in their burlap sack-ness.

[@thebookwyrmslair6757]

Yup. I've been a homemaker for over a decade and my uniform hasn't changed from my first pregnancy - yoga pants and solid v-neck shirts, jeans if I'm dressing up. While things like coquillicot shirts are a fascinating idea based on 18th-century practices, I'm not going to make them for everyday life. Also, thigh rub is real. And painful. And yikes. Therefore the bike shorts stay. 😂 Now, I CAN make more of an effort to not live completely in plastic, but I'm only getting that breathing space now. When my kids were young? If I was clothed, and they were changed more frequently than every few days, then I was good. 😂 ❤ Enjoy the hard days and the easy days, mama.

[@arianewinter4266]

Thats why really old clothing construction was so fare Superior to the modern ones. They usually Always Had size adjustability and rooms for Change and where easy to modefy If need arose. Lose garments that where belted, died skirts you can even layer for added warmth erasing the need fornseperate seasonal waredrobes . . .

[@UpliftThePodcast]

This 2 or the never ending changing of sizes. I just want to be comfy at home and still kind of feel like I look ok 😂

[@amygreen9662]

Excellent point! I'm losing weight now and my clothes can work for a longer period of time before I have to size down because of the stretch. Hate to say but I am Lululemon mom. Just obsessed. They make me look better than I do.

[@lydia1634]

@@amygreen9662 I love my maternity leggings and never went back. I never liked leggings before being pregnant with my oldest eight years ago because of where the waistlines hit, but maternity leggings fixed this problem.

[@juliatarrel1674]

Look around, Abby. You, Nicole, Bernadette, Morgan - all of you have thousands of followers (including me). All of you inspire us. I have this beautiful bottle green twilled cotton fabric just begging to be turned into a walking skirt. Full length. I have some lovely pale blue cotton which will be a shirtwaist. Or a chemise. I have house shoes partly crocheted. The future of fashion is us, Abby. Keep being yourself. Keep helping us express our own selves. And yes, keep expressing your frustration at the end of your videos! But trust in us.

[@CearoT]

So, as a metalworker/welder, i always have leaned towards natural fibers, and because of that i am also super particular about how i wash everything and i think that is part of how i make even my synthetics last forever too. They are washed cold and more often hung too dry or tumble dried on LOW. But also, it is SO HARD to find fire safe natural clothes for work. I just want good cotton and hemp jeans that will last and look good and have pockets.

[@Necr0lite]

I'd like to zoom in a little more on the post-industrial revolution effect of capitalism on fashion "trends" like athleisure. Sure some of it is that people want to be comfy, and some celebrities have sold out to shill these clothes to us, but it's also just what companies are giving us and more and more there's nowhere else to turn. Unlike in previous centuries where fashionable rich people decided what was trendy based on what they could afford and liked to wear; now corporations who are not people and don't care about fashion decide that polyester is cheaper to produce and therefore everything will be polyester (or whatever new synthetic is cheapest), consequences be damned.

[@Veronensis]

As someone who is allergic to synthetic fibers (like, actually physically allergic, wrap a polyester scarf around my neck and I can go into shock) this has been a huge problem for me. Synthetic fibers are in everything.

[@melissabrown8339]

Ok I have a few things to say here. Firstly I am unsure what is happening with people saying their athletic wear is only lasting a couple of wears. When taken care of properly it should last a long time, I have leggings that are 10 years old in great condition. Secondly I entirely disagree that activewear requires no design skills, in my profession I have sewed everything from bridal, to costuming to shade structures to swim wear, lingerie and active. Creating these performance items is a very specific skill set as they require the correct amount of stretch and support without chaffing or excessive tension on any specific stress point. creating these garments requires just as much technical skill as couture. Also I’d like to point out that of all the things to be angry about, attempts to engineer a more environmentally friendly elastane should not be one of them. This is a necessary step for the future of sustainable clothing because we need to be realistic. Who amongst us is not wearing underwear or socks without 5% elastane in them. Are we really going to start wearing 100% natural fibres to swim? People are going to want to wear stretch fabrics with appropriate recovery as long as its an option at all, nobody wants their underwear to sag and fall down. Creating more environmentally friendly stretch fibres is honestly our best option at this point. No it’s not ideal. But is everyone going to want to start wearing undyed linen around everyday? Nope they are not. Creating better fibres that last a lot longer, better grey water management systems and an industry that is held accountable for their industrial waste is what we should be aiming for here. Calling tech wear designers unskilled and attacking the work of engineers who are actually trying to create a lower impact market equivalent to what we’ve become accustomed to is a misguided attack IMO.

[@Hippodameia]

100% agree. I feel the video and many of the comments here are a bit tone deaf and lacking perspective. Not only do we use stretch fabrics in a lot of items we don't want to be unstretchy, most of us also do not have the time or energy to craft some kind of bespoke natural fibers only wardrobe, especially for athletic wear and swimwear. Also, a lot of natural fabrics are terrible to run and do sports in, and can be even worse for the environment than synthetic alternatives.

[@EmL-kg5gn]

I agree with much of your perspective too, I feel like you’re both looking at the issue from different points of view. The only thing I would say is that the quality of clothes has decreased significantly in my experience! The stores I used to go to for affordable but long-lasting clothing aren’t options for me anymore. I hang dry my clothes and use a pretty gentle wash cycle but the seams on most of my recently purchased clothes began falling apart in the first few wears. One was on the first wear. I’ll repair them, but not everyone knows how and it’s going to take me months to get around to it due to chronic illness. I’m not willing to pay for that and if I was I’d be shopping at shein not paying over 10x the price! I can’t tell you yet how the fabric itself will wear but I’m not optimistic… It’s back to secondhand shopping for me, finding my size is very time consuming which is why I bought new last time but I won’t be anymore. Spending weeks searching is better than over half my brand new clothes falling apart!

[@Hannah_Becton]

The only thing I'll nitpick here is that what I think Abby is talking about when she mentions athleisure not advancing fashion isn't in design from a technical standpoint like you mention (because your point is completely correct and valid) but design from an aesthetic standpoint. Think of how many ways you can design a skirt: circle skirts, pencil skirts, A-line skirts, maxi, mini, tiered, ruffled, and on and on... Now, how many ways can you design leggings that retain their function and identifiability as leggings for athletic wear, specifically? How about tank tops? (I've got some gorgeous tank tops with ruffles and other little details like that, but they're too "nice" to exist as athleisure in my mind.) In that sense, they're not advancing fashion.

[@aisling7244]

Lol. Very curious if all these “natural fibers only!!!” people are using garters or ribbons to hold up their socks. Don’t get me wrong. I really like natural fibers, especially as someone living there in Arizona where breathable fabrics are practically mandatory! I love crocheting with wool yarn! I love sewing with cotton and linen. I drool over silk clothing! I just also really like rayon/viscose and am so very happy elastic exists.

[@kimhuynh1225]

As much as I love natural fibers, I have some Athleta clothes that are very comfortable for daily wear, functional for physical activity & actually quite durable, and held up well compared to other fast fashion brands. And most of them are made of polyester/nylon. So not all polyesters and synthetic fabrics are made the same in my opinion. I think "athletics" and synthetic fabrics have their own places & purposes. To me, athleisure clothing was never about styles and trends, but about comfort and the functions that it provides in my life (alongside with other natural fibers clothing as well).

[@CheyenneSedai]

I went to two fabric stores in the past week looking for options for sewing projects, and other than the fancy one having some bolts of 100% cashmere, there were no wool or even wool mix fabrics at all. Its so sad.

[@Tomcat12789]

It seems you have to go online to buy wool, I seem to remember a fleece at my local store that was 20% wool but the price tag didn’t justify the amount of wool

[@DrAnarchy69]

Holy xrap I thought I was the only one who finds modern fashion boring! I won’t shame anyone for dressing the way they want. However I also miss the lost art of dressing fancy for every day activities. Like people used to go to friggin salon appointments in what today would be considered formal dress. I personally compulsively overdress and I love it

[@rtyria]

I inherited one of my great aunt's summer dresses she made out of scrap fabric so she could work in her garden. It's so durable it's still in pristine condition over 70 years later, and so fancy I could wear it to formal events without shame. We seriously lost something.

[@AlexisTwoLastNames]

for me it is a comfort and time thing. i dislike the process of getting ready and prefer summer so i can wear as few clothes as possible. i love to dress up tho! occasionally.

[@naolucillerandom5280]

Really, I'm slowly historybounding my closet, and since the world won't ever ask for me to dress like an Edwardian woman or do a bad 1950s impression, I'm just going to do it whenever I feel like it because screw it I feel pretty in a long skirt.

[@LynnHermione]

sure baby you are special and not like other girls!

[@lajoyous1568]

​@@naolucillerandom5280 I really like dresses and decided I should wear them whenever I want. First day at work wearing a dress and everyone was staring at me, but I ignored it. Next day I wore another dress and more staring....finally someone asked me if I'd joined a cult. 😂

[@anastasis-cm5hw]

This is so frustrating because, as someone with a muscular lower half, denim is absolute hell and I've given it up forever. Finding the right fit takes too much out of me. The bit of stretchiness really helps a lot. The current fashions-- high-waisted denim, flared legs-- are so unflattering on me. But, I don't know, you're right and we should find an alternative.

[@Varikas]

Sameeee

[@Aussieloz1]

I have sensitivities and find that synthetic fabrics generally make me feel like I’m wrapping myself in plastic, I still have more synthetics than I appreciate, but it’s difficult to find natural fibres, particularly at my size. Another thing I’ve found with big companies is how they trick people into thinking they care about the environment by touting processed natural fibres such as viscose and bamboo. It might be made from plant fibres and cellulose, but it’s still heavily processed. It still damages the environment. If I could afford it, I’d be making all my clothing in wool, silk and linen.

[@lloydnsarahsheffer3802]

I hate stretchy/skinny jeans. What fits in the fitting room or first thing in the morning is falling off by lunch time. It can be exhausting trying to find anything without the stretch fabric in it, and normally when I do find something, there's only one cut/style available - and that is only at the store that also sells livestock feed and baby chicks. I've given up ever having cute jeans and just grab something non-stretchy from the men's department that at least will stay on.

[@MichaelRainey]

Even in menswear, everything is stretchy, size doesn't match measurement, and it's made from the thinnest cheapest fabric they can get away with. I don't even buy blue jeans anymore. Shirts, underwear, and socks are all polyester. I own a sewing machine and I'm seriously about to just make all my own clothes.

[@KristiChan1]

It's super frustrating. Real denim jeans don't fit my body type, and stretchy ones technically do, but as you said, they stretch out in about an hour of wearing them (I have one pair that is the exception, and it will go with me to my grave). I've resorted to wearing suspenders with my pants (belts don't seem to work for me) which has been a game changer, but really, why is it so hard to find something that actually fits first try? I might have to start making my own.

[@saralist1200]

This is one of the reasons I’ve started making my own clothing. I can find decent natural fabrics and choose from thousands of patterns. Those from the 1980s to today are still pretty cheap and plentiful. My first projects are my “athleisure” because they’re not all that good, but I’m learning how to alter patterns before I even cut any fabric and it’s amazing how much nicer I look when the clothing fits instead of having to fit standard sizes! It’s not cheaper like back when people made clothing to save money, but my clothing doesn’t wear out in 6 months either, so it’s not as expensive as it seemed when I started.

[@cecehowl]

Where are you finding natural fabrics? I’ve been wanting to switch to making my own clothing but I can’t seem to find any 100% natural fabrics anywhere near me and I’m skeptical about some of the ones online.

[@cunningcorvid2586]

THANK YOU!! This has been the bane of my existence lately. I need to find both a pair of actual, factual, compression leggings AND a new pair of hiking boots. Every time I try to search for "cotton compression leggings" I end up with recommendations for everything but that. The amount of times a blog post has tried to pass off lululemon as compression is insane. And hiking boots? It's the same damn thing as with fabric innovations! Omni-shield, techlite, omnigrip...WHAT THE HELL DO THESE WORDS EVEN MEAN??? I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS! But your video brought back my sanity and hope that maybe, just maybe, we can move past this moment in time

[@MissingRaptor]

As a plus sized woman, the last time I went shopping for jeans, there were none available that fit me well (at the plus sized woman store). The only pants that I could find that met my needs were the yoga/athleisure pants (thi was just before Christmas). This is why I'm trying to learn to sew. I'm sick of this bs. I just need to buy them until I can learn to make my own clothes. Thanks for this video, Abby. I want and need durable jeans and the whole loss/reformulation of denim is ridiculous.

[@Ilsezwarts]

Im not saying no one wears athleisure in Europe, but it's interesting to me how much more popular it is in America. Side note, I haaaaaaattedddd the jeggings of the 2010s HAAAAATTTEDD IT. Never bring those back svp.

[@Plurbie]

I live in a big European student city and it's very easy to pick out the American tourists or students because of their love of athleisure. Going out in sweatpants or leggins just doesn't happen here if you're in a social environment (ofcourse going to a nightshop at 2 am nobody will look at you weirdly). I wonder why there's such a big gap between American athleirsure wear and the European view of it... Also Jeggings must burn!

[@Lunareon]

Meanwhile in Finland: Only athleisure since the 80's

[@littlefoxglove276]

idk about that, tracksuits are everyday wear where i live in ireland, and iconically have been since the 90's, if not earlier

[@NilZed1]

We do in the U.K. even people dressing a little bit more nicely but still needing to be practical often choose items from camping stores instead of gym wear. At least up here in Scotland. Water resistance and water proof wins.

[@Mommyduck600]

Jeggings aren't even comfortable. The elastic around the waistband is too thick and it cuts in. I also detest skinny jeans.

[@inlocoparentis]

I've lived in a lot of climates from Springfield, Illinois, to Baghdad, Iraq and I've worn hundreds of different fabrics. In the oppressive heat of Mogadishu, or Baghdad, nothing is as cool as pure cotton or linen. Cotton also won't melt and fuse to your skin in catastrophic situations. In the winder, when it's cold AF outside, nothing keeps you warm, but not too warm, than wool. As far as longevity, I've had a pair of 100% cotton 5.11 pants that are still not worn out after 15 years. Sadly, in my transition, I'm finding that 100% cotton women's clothes are next to impossible to find.

[@vashsunglasses]

Nothing gets as wrinkly as cotton either.

[@SunnyMorningPancakes]

I am wondering if it's harder to find equivalent quality in women's clothing because there is a mentality that women don't keep clothes for as long/are more likely to follow the next trend and discard garments, means that they don't need to be made to last regardless of price point. E.g. 'the in' style/ of jeans which in women's wear are almost exclusively made out of stretch fabric (aka the bane of my life)

[@inlocoparentis]

@@vashsunglasses, me and my iron are GOOD friends. I actually kinda miss it from my days pressing my uniforms.

[@inlocoparentis]

@@SunnyMorningPancakes I wish I knew. Being trans, I presume that off-the-rack stuff isn't going to fit me. Most of the time I resign myself to taking things to alterations, or buying made-to-measure garments.

[@inlocoparentis]

@@vashsunglasses now that I think about it, linen gets more wrinkly than cotton.

[@ashleydavis2355]

Ever since I had my twins, I've been *severely* apple shaped. My waist is a size 16-18 (depends on brand) and my butt and legs fit the measurements for a size 10-12. Wearing denim that doesn't have that stretch is pretty impossible unless I want to look like I 💩 my pants. I was never able to find pants that fit properly until they started putting more and more stretch stuff in them. When heritage brands start making a wider variety of cuts and actually start thinking about body types that aren't "standard" or "ideal" then I'll start wearing their clothes.

[@KristiChan1]

This has always been my issue as well with denim until recently. Growing up in the 80s/90s every pair of jeans were made for one body shape: hourglass. They started to move away from that in the early 00s, but then the horrid "skinny" jeans came in and it was YEARS before I could purchase anything pant related. It's only been fairly recently that I could start wearing them again.

[@ashleydavis2355]

@@KristiChan1 yes! And even now, the only ones I can wear are the Torrid Midfit. I wish designers/companies would realize that we don't all carry our weight the same way. Or I guess, more accurately, I wish they would *care*

[@KristiChan1]

@@ashleydavis2355 Exactly, it's 2024, it's time to rid the "standard" size that even back when it was created, very few people were that shape or could obtain that shape. Until then, I'm grumpily learning to sew in an attempt to make things that actually fit me. >:(

[@therussianprincess7036]

It’s funny that, amongst my family, I’m known as the „not picky one” when it comes to clothes, my one rule is that they have to be actually comfortable - and yet I’m the one that wears the most body-hugging dresses, corsets, tailored clothing like vests and suit trousers… comfort really does depend on proper shaping and fiber content in your clothes, not on how stretchy and loose the garments are 🤦‍♀️

[@gkseeton]

I agree with you completely. Many years ago Dad spoke before congress against single use packaging (cans) for sodas back in the...60's-70's. He was certain it would lead to more pollution. Which it did, those soda cans turn up all over. The hatred for the bottle washing machines included a complaint about polluted wanter, except my Dad had put in a series of ponds, a sort of artificial wetland, and what the bottling plant he ran put into the stream was nearly potable. He always said there was no excuse for damaging nature and had watched his beloved woods and rivers become nearly dead during his youth and was always looking to help the river instead. Still, ignorance being what it is, he was forced to eliminate the wetland. Where-as my lovely formal clothing during the 70's was WOOL, by my adulthood that wasn't even much of an option in the 80's onward. Only during this millennium have places like REDLAND COTTON become an access point for quality cotton, grown, processed, woven, and made up into linens, all within a small geographic area so even the pollution from transportation is decreased. Love the pillowcases. For a time I was in a coop that would group order directly from the factories here in the USA, a bulk order which was then divided up so each got the yardage they paid for--natural fibers and regional production. I still have some summer weight wool in my stash from those orders.

[@maryeckel9682]

I looked that up and heard sad trombones at the prices. Must be nice.

[@gkseeton]

@@maryeckel9682 that is what it costs under a government that takes value added taxes at every step in the process. Foreign manufacturing avoids a lot of taking by the US government and labor is cheaper.

[@second0banana]

Plus sized cis woman here: I can't find *any* pants in natural fibers under $250. Shirts and skirts aren't much better. And as someone whose body is almost entirely circles and ovals it's WILDLY hard to find wovens that fit. I am learning to sew, but WOW is that not a cheap hobby. Especially when you need several yards of fabic per article of clothing.

[@HeatherLandon227]

I've found success with the brand Scarlett Darkness for mine. The skirts have an elastic band, but that's it- the rest is cotton. But I also get that that might not be the right direction for you.

[@second0banana]

@@HeatherLandon227 Because of a medical condition my waist is around 50 inches depending on where it falls. I love their stuff, but even their plus size doesn't go that high. Sigh.

[@wildmarjoramdieselpunk6396]

@@second0bananaFoxblood?

[@laurahaines6110]

Not just ruining the environment but also the economies and textile industries in places like Ghana where the world dumps it's old clothes. There are some innovations in non-synthetic sports wear coming out at the moment though which is exciting!

[@catfitz1530]

As a Gen X, I have lived through most of these changes. I still have garments from the 1990s that are in excellent condition. Cotton rugby jerseys, very worn but still good. Started to notice the significant deterioration in denim in the last 5 years too. Jeans would be nearly indestructible, now the thighs wear out after 2 years. My jeans should still be new at only 2 years! Now getting back into sewing, I’ve noticed how hard and expensive it is to buy good quality natural fibre fabric. I hate the proliferation of synthetic fabric for sports wear, it is hot, does not breath, gets smelly, stains very easily and you can’t ever seem to get it properly clean. Thanks for the great overview. I fantasise about the being regulations about limiting how much synthetic fibre is allowed to be used, especially in garments like T-shirts and jeans.

[@restrictedmilk]

I live in yoga pants. I've always wanted to get into more natural fibers, but I haven't found the energy to change my wardrobe. And, tbh the comfort and ease of a good pair of black yoga pants is just so alluring.

[@AbbyCox]

Yeah, I tried to make it clear, that I am a deep lover of leggings, and comfy knits, so I was so bummed when I realized my love of yoga pants and leggings is such a problem 😭

[@youtubeuserremainsanonymou9022]

if you look, it is possible to find specialty sellers who make natural fiber stuff. My partner has a couple pairs of sweat pants that are hemp and cotton from an etsy seller.

[@Rhaifha]

I mean, don't just change your wardrobe. Wear what you have as long as possible and replace with better materials only when you have to. You can use special wash bags or filters on your washing machine if you're worried about washing out microplastics, but yeah, replacing stuff is not the magic environmentally conscious answer. (I'm not saying that was necessarily your thought process, I just wanted to point it out)

[@zidiss6042]

Old navy sells cotton leggings for cheap. Just have to be conscious consumers and check fabric content. I basically live in my Urban Outfitters Out From Under flare leggings. I bought them secondhand and they're 97% cotton and 3% elastic.

[@raraavis7782]

What I quite like as a replacement are those pants, that have an elastic waist- and ankle band, but are loose and flowy in between. Not sure, if I've ever seen them in 100% cotton, but certainly made from viscose or modal. Which is an improvement to polyester, at least. They're my go to for leisure wear. Urban Classics has really nice ones made from 100% viscose. They call them 'Sarong pants', if you want to look them up. Personally I feel, they're a bit more dressy than leggings, but just as comfortable.

[@patriciakellyadams134]

I'm old... an original 70s girl. I hated track suits in the 70s. I hate them now. They make you sweaty just wearing them. Your hair, btw, is gorgeous.

[@mikeymullins5305]

I would say one thing about strech/polyester in general. Im a trans guy and i bind about every day. While ive played around with non or low stretch binders, nothing is more comfortable than a super strechy polyester knit. So thats one use that i dont think can be replaced. Also, socks! They just last way longer with elastic.

[@UnsortedSeeds]

All his athleisure and synthetic fabrics are a big part of the reason I thrift most of the clothes I buy now. Everything is plastic and shitty quality. I found a ton of 100% wool skirts at the thrift and consignment stores for much less money than the plastic stuff being sold now. Some of it from the 60s, and they are so well-made that they look nearly new even after I've been wearing them for the past couple of years. It's nearly impossible to find out anything new in cotton, and anything nice in linen is like striking gold because of how rare it is.

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

About 7 years ago, I found an actual _silk_ skirt at a thrift store- I just about cried - & 💯% agree with the linen; you go to Kmart, or Target- & two chances to one, you pick up any piece you *think* might be linen- it's just about guaranteed to only be a 'linen-look', not even a linen-viscose blend- which it was only a few years back...

[@dirgniflesuoh7950]

A video on how fleece and velcro killed the knitted wool , and yarn stores, of the 80ies in the 90ies? And the revenge of the merino wool, and return of the handknitted sweaters/cardigans?

[@jsky2695]

I picked up sewing within a week of learning the real reason why my newer clothes seemed to fall apart & besides being eco-friendly, cost-saving, and handy- it has elevated my wardrobe to a level that I never thought possible as a plus sized woman. I cannot recommend picking the hobby up enough!

[@melusine826]

As a woman with very chunky thighs, chubbrub is the bane of my existence- i literally cant function without leggings/ bike shorts. I dont see how any historical material/ pattern would ever have allowed me to move comfortably 😅.

[@jenemica]

Hear hear! Those polyester leggins and bike shorts from h&m have lasted years longer than any other alternative. And they really prevent chub rub. But on any other clothing I stay away from plastics as much as possible

[@a.w.4708]

Loose pants / pantalons could be comfortable too, maybe... But idk, while I have this problem as well, every body is different

[@Sarcasticron]

Guaranteed, any issues that modern women have with comfort and fit also existed in the middle ages, and the people who sewed their clothes knew how to deal with them. Unless they were super rich, they had to work in those clothes all day long, in the fields or in the house.

[@Varikas]

Silk!!!

[@clarasayk525]

I doubt it. Probably they just all had thigh gaps due to differences in nutrition. There is no other way women's fashion can have gone for centuries without putting any fabric between your thighs ​@@Sarcasticron

[@shartman2150]

My dad was a retail exec and I remember him and his colleagues (with wives) came over for a dinner party in the late 70s. They were talking about how sportswear was changing and some article from wwd. The article you referenced was probably it! I was pretty young but I also remember the women saying that it would never be that big, only worn for exercise. 😂 To their generation who came of age in the 50s it was unfathomable.

[@evacreswell7687]

Im holding on to my old Levi's from 2006 for my daughter to hopefully wear when shes big enough for them. 100% cotton, and they don't make that cut anymore (518, I think). I'm seeing fewer people in my area wearing athleisure, and i think its because it's a mostly low-income area. Our athleisure comes from Wal Lart, and it just doesn't last.

[@bringoldshowsback]

Anyone else not have a problem with clothes falling apart? I’ve had many items in my closet for over 10 years and still wear them today. Some are natural, some are synthetic, but they’re still in great shape.

[@RedSelf]

True, most of my wardrobe is +8 years old, the clothes are in good condition and I haven't been called out for being out of touch with fashion🤔

[@regina3401]

Yes, I don't buy expensive clothes and haven't had a lot of issues with my clothes falling apart. 🤷‍♀️

[@haroldharold9042]

My trusty pair of H&M jeggings from 2015 lasted until they started ripping at the thighs a few months ago. They weren’t good quality by any means, but they got me through university and then some.

[@sophiejones3554]

True, but nearly 80% of my clothing is thrifted (or inherited from my grandmother), and the rest bought from outerwear companies which specialize in long lasting fabrics: Land's End, Orvis, REI etc. I'd say the average date of first sale is still 2000. If I could cut it with my desk scissors (the ones dull from cutting paper) then it doesn't go on my body. Most of my clothes, I've had since senior year of high school which was 20 years ago now. I've had to replace buttons and closure hooks, but nothing has fallen apart.

[@bellathemusicaddict]

A lot of it comes down to fabric care. Washing as little as possible, not tumble drying, using high quality detergent and washing machines, as well as washing low temperature all contribute to extending a garment’s lifetime. I’ve also had a lot of my pieces for years and years, even H&M or Zara items. I do pay attention to fabric composition even when I buy from fast fashion stores, though. Unfortunately, I can’t afford all sustainable, all natural clothing all of the time. But I try to stretch my fast fashion garments for as long as I can (buying classic items instead of in-trend ones also helps).

[@BaoRae]

You had shown footage of people in other countries showing clothing that was useless and i actually worked for a month in 2020 at one of the places that sold shit clothing to african countries, india, andnother countries that are the wests dumping grounds. I was put at a massive conveyer belt where i was to pick out everything good- designer, good condition vintage and higher end good conditioned or collector athleisure wear went to the owners co-owned thriftstore in britain. Brand new, still with tags and packaging clothing, Linens, and cottons went to italy. Some good wool coats and skiwear went to an african country who was lucky enough to buy higher priced lots. (90% of the wool was sent to a recyling place. Atleast i was told. )There was a interview in 2022 from a designer from that country who complained about the west dumping full ski suits and wool coats into their hot hot country where unless you were lucky enough to travel to europe you would barely find people who could use the clothing. I knew he was talking about the company i worked at. and The rest? It all went to other countries and the owner kept cotton shirts for ripping into rags. The owner got her clothes from everywhere in canada and the usa- all in generic donation bins wheere whoever owned them would get paid by the weight. Massive multistory shelves filled with massive white plastic wrapped bags of clothing. The knowledge of all this haunts me especially when youve seen the scale of it all and how the owners consciously gave the lowest of the low to poorer countries in asia and africa. Like they consciously flooded india with h&m and forever21 and other fast fashion polyester garments because apparently someone “bought it to resell”(or is that just the excuse she gives for just using other countries as a dumping ground) I wonder if they really did buy the clothing if they knew the best went to the uk and directly filled the pockets of the owner and whether or not they would have stopped buying the junk because they were literally being ripped off. Glad im no longer a part of that but its still horrific especially when its lauded for getting rid of waste in canada and the usa. Anyway, this was a really great video. Thank you Abby for your great research ❤

[@seriesexplained8009]

"grab your most comfortable hoodie" *me sitting in my 1890s frock coat* NO

[@wildmarjoramdieselpunk6396]

I put on my most comfortable corset. Not joking. :)

[@kikidevine694]

I just bought a few Annuals, from the 30s, based on popular film personalities, and there are quite a lot of 'candid' photos of the actors wearing sportswear. In the 19th century the publicity photos for actors seem to either be in character, or wearing the first stare of formal fashion.

[@paintingwithnicole]

i will admit as someone who almost never wears athleisure (except for leggings as a warmth layer, god im always cold) but loves to take a turn through athleta and be tempted even though i KNOW i will never reach for it if its in my closet, to say that athleisure isn't fashion does seem a bit incorrect (I LOVE tennis skirts and that kind of preppy style even though the athletic nature of them means they do clash with.....most of my closet), i think the point about fashion is that it can be any shape and just like art, there is no true definition of fashion. that said, fascinating video, loved it

[@Hippodameia]

I agree with your points-- I think it's worth considering how much of our casual wear has already been influenced by athletic clothing in the past. It's like saying military clothing isn't fashion or can't be fashion. Additionally, there is a lot of overlap between athleisure and athletic wear--a lot of "athleisure" is just athletic wear that isn't being used for an athletic purpose. Are we suggesting athleisure is a problem, or athletic wear as a whole? Do we need to return to cotton, linen, wool, and sandals? I would not want to wear cotton or linen on a long run. Wool would be more acceptable, but its footprint is not negligible (natural does not mean sustainable), and is not up for consideration by vegans.

[@jenniferb585]

Great and very accurate breakdown. One thing I want to add that you didn't touch on (cuz honestly, you could make a whole channel based on how fast fashion hurts the environment), but that is WASHING INSTRUCTIONS. I grew up in the 80s. Spandex was new and expensive, anything with spandex said 'gentle wash & hang to dry'. Most of the specialty synthetics of the time had special care instructions. Now everything says 'yolo, throw it in the dryer'. Pro Tip: do not 'yolo, throw it in the dryer'. We can't stop fast fashion, but with proper care we can make our clothes last as long as possible. If you put synthetics through the dryer, especially the super stretchy stuff like spandex, it actually cooks the stretch out of the fibers and they break. Yeah, it's a pain to wait for stuff to dry but i've got most of my wardrobe since I was a kid still in mostly wearable condition (i stopped growing early; i just wear it around the house, it's comfy and it fits). My kid wears clothes from the mid 90s that I used to wear because that's her style and they still look great. Also, we as a society need to spend more time altering or repairing our clothes and upcycling our clothes. I wouldn't make a quilt with used yoga pants but I bet they'd make a great braided rug for a patio or as a pet bed. It won't solve the problem, but it can't hurt. Because athleisure is just the tip of the fast fashion iceberg problem.

[@maryeckel9682]

I live in an apartment with no through-flow of air. Unless I dry things partway in a tumble dryer, they'll mildew. Also, my cat hates spandex as much as I do 😂

[@festivalkyrie]

I met SO MANY sellers telling me straight up lies about pure wool and directly misguiding people to buy polyester fabrics, last time I was so spices up, I literally had to leave the store to cringe and smoke for like 15mintues. That specific case the seller lady told me that "oh the fabric HAS to contain some polyester just to not shrink if you wash it" and just straight up told me not to wash wool, or use at all when it might be getting wet. Like. A. Coat.I.Was.Browsing.Fabrics.For. Don't even tried to think about the "logic" like, lambs do not get wet? Cashmere goats wear little rain suits not to get wet or what? (That'd be just adorable btw)

[@DesertHomesteader]

I would pay the extra money for wool clothing if the wool clothing I've come across wasn't so ugly. There's got to be a good balance of form and function to make expensive products worth buying.

[@Rhaifha]

Some vintage wool sweaters are just to die for, they're so cool! Unfortunately, the sellers also tend to know that, lol

[@raraavis7782]

Yeah, I share that opinion. Sadly, the style and color choices with sustainable clothing are usually just not my taste. And if I pay premium prices, I do want to actually love the garment and not just wear it out of a sense of obligation.

[@thebookwyrmslair6757]

​@raraavis7782 Same. I love deep jewel tones and cool neons, which haven't been fashionable since the 90s. 😂 Certainly not part of the Instagram-cool aesthetic!

[@aneisleeper5515]

That's why I started knitting and crochet

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

There are some really beautiful hand-dyed wools, in at least 9 small businesses here in Australia, that I've been meaning to save up for- you know- after making sure I still have a roof over my head... I was lucky to have found a website that sort of gathered them all together- the Australian Wool Store. I assume most of Abby's audience is in the States, so maybe you could Google to see if there's something similar.

[@lauradmcginnis]

Crying in my Target yoga pants and leggings that I live in for work. I work at a daycare with 10-12 two year olds, I need the high waist and pockets. Although I do think 8 hrs with 10-12 two year olds is a workout!

[@AbbyCox]

I was crying in my leggings and oversized sweatshirt editing this. 😂 I live in leggings and sweats when I'm not out in public or on camera 😂 (and yes 8 hours with a small army of toddlers is *always* a workout)

[@monikasturm2575]

I agree that's a workout that would prep you for a marathon

[@Randys_Channel]

How you launder makes a huge difference, too. I use cold water for everything, and except for towels and sheets, I avoid the dryer like the plague. Clothes last so much longer and don't shrink nearly as fast. I have items that have lasted for years, even decades. I have poly-cotton undershirts I've had for about thirty years; they're thinner than they used to be, but they seem almost indestructible.

[@alexandrac591]

The way I groaned "noooooooo!" at the wool part. And I'm so angry that milennials live in a world where we can't even afford wool or linen and then they shit on us for that too.