why are we all wearing PLASTIC

[@tracyreed4017]

I rarely buy anything new anymore. Probably 90% of my clothes are second hand, but when I watch thrifting videos and everybody dissing on second-hand man-made fibers I am puzzled. If they are not purchased from a thrift store they are still going to go to a landfill, so not purchasing them doesn't fix the problem. Changing our mindset when items are purchased new is where the change needs to happen! We also need to get back to teaching our children and ourselves the art of mending so we are not disposing of our clothes when there is a minor tear. I have also become more conscious of when I purchase things for my home. It is great to think about our clothes, but what about all the plastics in the rest of our home? I really liked the information in your video Alexa. I love watching your KZbin channel! I have noticed recently that you are making more conscientious choices in what, and how much, you are purchasing. Good job!

[@sarahkinsey5434]

My view on still buying man-made fiber clothes secondhand is, it's already in existence, so let's get all the use out of it we can. I think having a discount section in thrift stores where stained, ripped, etc clothes should go for the crafters and upcyclers would be a good idea. The Goodwill Bins are where those go to or just the landfill. Quilters and crafters will cut up the clothes anyway so they can work around holes and stains.

[@teresacarle294]

😊Agree with you. My preference is to purchase pre-worn〰️but I draw the line at 💸paying premium prices at Goodwill. If I must slog through endless racks w/unclean patrons😶‍🌫️ to find something suitable under glaring lights 🛒〰️it had better be a bargain. It would be quite different if I wanted to shop in some highly curated 🛍 vintage shop w/carefully crafted stock in a pleasing atmosphere. I would rather save money & do my own retail labor😰 at the likes of Goodwill. If they keep raising rates, I'll have to shop exclusively @ Nordstrom Rack, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, & Kohls. Better to buy brand new goods at 70% off during seasonal clearances instead of astronomical rates for used/dated items. 🥺Sadly, there is no perfect solution. We have to work within the flawed fashion echo-systems 🔄 we currently have in place. 🧐It's shocking & sickening the amount of textiles that go right into the landfill. The reality is that Goodwill rakes in the cash💰 selling 2nd hands goods, & there are others following their lead. This behemoth only cares about profit for top salaries & stockholders. What they peddle online 💻 about their sustainability & wanting to help the environment 🌎 as well as the community are gross distortions😂. This is based on the amount of garments found in the trash🗑 by dumpster divers (where it's not against the law to trash pick). It's a microcosm of what's happening elsewhere by stores selling both new & used goods. Non-profits & retail corporations alike are dumping all kinds of goods in secret🤫 every day across this country🤣. 😉They might bundle some textiles like denim, wool, cotton, & such to sell off to recyclers〰️but I bet that is the EXCEPTION rather than the RULE. I suspect if one of their 👩‍🦰workers👱 detects a stained or torn garment, it likely goes straight in the garbage 🚮 vs being 🚚shuttled to their bulk bins. 😊While it's a GREAT idea to market flawed clothing at a deep discount to hobbyists to repurpose♻️, they don't have interest or rack space to specifically sell them outside of the bulk bins. Goodwill used to be about 💲selling volume. Making sure their items moved fast off the floor before heading to final clearance, but many stores have upped ⬆️ their prices trying to compete w/trendy vintage retailers & clever online resellers. Many store locations have also stopped offering their 🟢 🔵 🔴 daily colored tag discounts too. 💚Bridget from Cali☘️ (using my pal's YT acct)

[@nonalouisa3812]

H and M, Monkie, Bershka, C&A, Zara, pimki and a lot more brands are getting more and more expensive but have the cheapest materials. It's so shady..

[@태이씨]

Oh how do I despise polyester, rayon and acrylic! I literally cannot find any clothes from normal natural fabrics for an adequate price. Good clothes should not be a luxury.

[@nim_19]

You need much less clothes than what’s the current norm

[@watada]

That’s where thrift stores are your friend! Yes, it’s very hard to sift through all the cheap SHEIN and whatnot there, but you can find natural fibers there as well.

[@asdjhksajhdkjsahdl]

There’s plenty of retailers that sell natural fibers for a reasonable price. Fast fashion has warped your expectations of clothing price, that’s a part of the problem.

[@maggiescarlet]

Plainandsimple does organic cotton basics for fair prices :) Lucy and yak is also reasonably priced (especially sale section) for more colourful clothing

[@sarahkinsey5434]

Rayon is nasty stuff to make

[@Ajb259]

Even “plant based” leather alternatives have a significant amount of plastic in them. I’m glad you’re talking about this topic!

[@lestranged]

I'm so glad you are educating yourself about textiles. I always was baffled when so many fashion youtubers don't know anything about textiles. (not just you- it's super common for thrift channel creators to only look at brand labels and never at the content labels) Now that you've started down the rabbit hole, you will find Once you start looking at the fiber content labels, soon you will be able to spot a linen or silk or cashmere item in the thrift store from 10 feet away. You will also know them by touch. I feel like I've found buried treasure when I find natural fiber clothes at the thrift. I care more about the fiber tags than the brand tags.

[@atomicalice0]

I’m always so astounded to see expensive clothing made with all polyester or acrylic, like where is the quality yall?! But like these days there is a caveat for anything. Great video!!!!

[@megananderson3891]

I do have to say 70s polyester is very different from modern polyester. It’s so much more durable. I also loved that video by Mina!!

[@kimberlyharvey125]

Found the CUTEST sweater thrifting a few days ago but put it back because it was acrylic, trying so hard to avoid synthetic materials, but it's SO hard!!

[@alexasunshine83]

I was thrifting for a friend that really wanted a 100% Wool coat and literally....couldn't find it! A majority of them were even like 80% polyester or even 100%! The best I was able to do was 50% wool sadly 😭

[@khazz33]

You should get it if it makes you happy :)

[@jacobjb]

I think you should just do it if it is still comfy enough for you. I only get poly or acrylic heavy clothing if it serves a valid function that natural fibers can not achieve or if it is second hand at a good price.

[@maya-gur695]

Amen, sister! I hate polyester, PU, PVC... it's getting more and more rare to find tops made from natural materials. It's honestly depressing.

[@MelinaStyles]

Nearly 4 min in and I’m just clapping in my head about the effort you put into this video, researching and so on!! Alexa, wow.

[@alexasunshine83]

Seriously thank you so much!!!!! I really tried to put together all the information in the best way I could, still learning with putting together videos like this, but really had a great time with it ❤️❤️

[@erikao3982]

I used to not even look at what my clothes were made out of until I started sewing last year. I had to learn a lot about different fabrics because I had no idea what I was supposed to use for different patterns. Now I’m obsessed with cotton and wool, and you can get great deals thrifting online, filtering by fabric. I also noticed (although it could 100% be in my head, but it is supposed to be true) that my temperature is a lot better regulated with natural breathable fabrics. I used to always overheat in what I thought was breathable fabric (but was just a translucent polyester and not at all breathable). It is 100% worth it in my opinion to spend a little bit more on these fabrics if you can afford it (and again, if you thrift these materials, it can be super cheap)

[@erikao3982]

PS-this video was super interesting and I learned a lot. I hadn’t realized that natural fibers have their issues too

[@diamondcentury21]

also something I’ve noticed; my mom has few long sleeves from H&M from 10 years ago, they’re still soft and nice, I’ve few crop tops from two years ago and they’re stiff and discolored a💀

[@sunflowervibes3041]

I started to avoid polyester clothes because I'm really sensitive to stimuli... I can feel it clinging to me and the static electricity. So thrifting is the way that I get wool and linen clothes!

[@stuffinsthegreat]

Me too, I have always had this problem since I was a kid

[@xswtmiseryx07]

Another thing that people don't talk about enough is that plastic causes a lot of hormonal problems especially when we sweat into our poly clothing.

[@StephanieCeleste]

I am a sweaty gal so I check for cotton now, and it’s SO HARD. I find tons of styles I like (new or thrifted) are majority polyester and I notice it’s just not breathable for me alongside being awful for the planet 🥺

[@beepwrld]

Alexa!!!! I love you for this!!! What an amazing in-depth video, thank you for taking the time and effort that I know went into this. The state of clothing production today is truly a nightmare but I thank u for shedding light on it & offering hopeful alternatives while also understanding the nuances that there is no easy fix

[@DANIxDANGER]

I have a vintage leather jacket from FOREVER 21. Like real cowhide. I have clothes from high-school (2003-2007) that have lasted longer than current f21 clothing because a lot of the materials are 100% cotton, wool/cotton blend, etc.

[@robynloveschocolate]

I was in another city at a big shopping mall today and i was honestly so surprised by how cheap a lot of the clothing felt!! Like a $80 sweater felt like it should have cost $10! I live in a small rural town without a big shopping mall, but we have a big Value Village so 90% of my clothes come from there and I tend to buy natural fibers mainly because they feel nicer, but as long as the quality is nice, I don't really mind when it's thrifted. But when I'm buying new, i really think hard before commiting to something, and i try to get natural fibers when possible. This was a really good video Alexa! Thank you!

[@alyssakleinhans3190]

I just want to say thank you for this video! This is pure gold. I can see you put a ridiculous amount of time and research into it.

[@kateh6549]

This is why I sew most of my own clothes, so that I can choose fabrics that are not plastic.

[@ossaobscura]

Thank you for the research and your thoughts on all of this. It's like finding gold in the thrift stores when I come across any natural fibers. Great informative video.

[@KathleenIllustrated]

Thanks for sharing all of this important info, Alexa! The greenwashing of "vegan leather" in the last decade or so is just..... wowie wow. also, a hot (or cold???) tip that's an easy swap: i try to cut down on the release of microplastics by using cool water wash cycles (or just spot treating areas) instead of doing a big load using hot water that can release more microplastics/break down the pieces faster. i'm curious if other folks have easy swaps to share?? 💙

[@merppa9842]

You can actually Also longate the lifespan of some cottong items doing the opposite. Washing the atleast sometimes in atleast 60 degrees celsius (Sorry, I don’t know farenheit). Cotton as a fiber thends to ”hold on” to dirt more than some other fibers so washing the in too could crand make the fabric dull. 😊

[@erinnadia0409]

I'm vegan and I always choose second hand/pre loved leather bags. I will never buy "vegan leather" let's just call it what it is! Plastic that falls apart after one season and adding more damage to the environment

[@kylssky15]

Hi Alexa, I really enjoyed this video- very informative and topical! i just want to mention that you said methane is “80x worse to the atmosphere than CO2”. But generally in the carbon space when we refer to emissions factors without specifying a timescale, we would refer to emissions factors over 100-year timescales. So in the case of methane vs CO2 is more like 27-34 times more potent to GHG potential over a 100 year timescale. That being said methane’s GHG potential is front loaded, which is why over the course of a 20 year timescale it is more like 80-86 times more potent than CO2. Just wanted to mention this since many people don’t know that GHG potentials are linked to time-scales.

[@alexasunshine83]

Thank you for the correction and clarity!!! I'm definitely still new to doing videos like this and diving into information further like this so I appreciate it!

[@sandnins]

Great vid! I appreciate the research that went into this! I'm a sweaty gal, and back in college when I was wearing mostly fast fashion I just couldn't figure out why I was sweating so much in my clothes. It didn't help that polyester trapped that awful BO smell after a while, no matter how much you washed it. Of course that made me more anxious causing me to sweat more lol 😅 Once I switched to natural fibers and mostly second hand clothing, the amount of sweat has pretty much been cut by half. Go figure.

[@kaiseayaandruis1597]

polyester summer clothes are my biggest enemy, it's the absolute worst combination bc the weather you're supposed to wear them for makes the sweating even worse

[@sambradley3179]

OK, just a thought… You know how they put photos of like lung disease on cigarette packages? What if clothes that were produced unethically were required to have a tag on the inside of each piece that had a real photo from a landfill… I wonder what kind of an impact that would have.

[@Melody_Oks]

18:52 I don’t really think it’s about construction, cause typical polyester shirts I used to wear are dead at the end of the season. Polyester clothes expires earlier than natural fabrics if being worn and later if being untouched. It’s just the fact that it’s easier for it to be stretched and after returning in the same position it can’t establish the way it was. The perfect analogy is actually the bank with layers of colorful sand. Being untouched it will look like rainbow for ears, unlike the sands in wild nature. But if you shake it, it will all mix and won’t return in the same position.

[@tleigh4583]

Aw yay I opened KZbin just to find an old video of yours to play. Only to be graced with a 40 minute video from you? Thanks for bringing the sunshine to what’s otherwise a rainy day ❤

[@deidref96]

I’ve never paid attention, either. Never occurred to me those materials were plastic.

[@coolm3th]

I LOVED this video!! I really, really enjoy your deep dive styled videos so much, the care for them really shows through

[@benjimintin3523]

I honestly like watching Alexa’s videos because her style is entirely different than mine . Like I never wear most things she wears but it’s good to see that to figure out what your own style is

[@nikkikenny1165]

I straight up refuse to wear anything that's not at least a majority natural fibers. I used to work for a shoe company and my manager used to laugh about how much vegan leather was promoted cos it often means it's plastic and people would still spend a ton of money on it.

[@karengrohs4942]

Thanks for bringing exposure to this issue. Since living here (southern Nevada), I've made sure that almost everything I buy is cotton or linen (in the summer) and stick to wool and cashmere in the winter. I also buy about 90 percent of my clothes second hand. But it's really impossible unfortunately to avoid it completely.

[@Sgetti688]

Theres a surf shop near where I live that me and my wife love to shop at. The owners all live locally and they actually make a lot on site with either cotton or linen. Kind of pricey but super high quality like vintage stuff from the 90s and 80s.

[@Tilly03]

Thank you so much Alexa for talking about the fun parts of fashion as well as the downsides! There is so many cons with things now and it’s important to try the best that we can to help our lovely planet. Always look forward to watching your videos!

[@sur9ery]

ive been looking to learn more about polyester and the different type of materials/fabrics that are made from our clothing and then this video came out! loved the video & how informative it is i hope you can make more of these videos!!

[@NiaSmores]

loving the more long form video essay style videos!!!

[@alexasunshine83]

Glad you like them! Definitely take a little more time to put together, but I’ve been really enjoying dipping my toes in it a bit ❤️❤️

[@EmL-kg5gn]

I think our waste systems have ended up being disastrous for us. It’s helped brands to hide the cost of our purchases from consumers until we’d collectively lost the skills to live more sustainably. If we actually had to deal with our own waste I don’t think we’d have let things get so out of hand! We’d live very differently. Also why should places like Ghana have to live with our messes? Maybe we should repatriate rubbish. Also absolutely no hate to the workers involved in handling our waste, it’s an incredibly dangerous job and also requires knowledge and skills to do so safely. They deserve so much more respect than they get. I just wish we hadn’t literally dumped the consequences of our actions onto other people because it prevents us from learning!

[@stuffinsthegreat]

Absolutely this. It goes beyond out clothes, too--single use plastics for food etc would be a lot less common, I think, if we all saw the volume of it during our everyday lives

[@susanastinson3897]

Alexa, I just want to say thank you for making his video. I appreciate how you are using your platform and audience to talk about these important issues and how you provided so much helpful info!

[@hanarobertson515]

I love these styles of videos! This was so great to watch and listen along to. Even if a lot of us are more conscious about our textile fibers, it's so important to dive deeper into the history in addition to the current stuff in order to reach more people.

[@isabeljac]

thank you for platforming this!!!

[@dakotashaddix4149]

I'm happy you made a video on this Alexa! All of this has been a concern of mine ever since I learned of it. It was informative, and I deeply appreciate you included all the pros/cons to the different fibers/methods. It was well rounded. And I'm glad you added that some people are trying to make a difference. I think this was an excellent video and I'm sure was time consuming to make, as you covered many bases. I hope this video reaches those that have no clue about what any of this is. I think making more video like this would be great, and at your own pace. Thank you ❤️

[@nonoticarly8778]

Babushka, is that you? I know next to nothing about fabrics, so this video was very informative! It also reminded me of Safiya Nygaard's history of fashion vidoes with the great level of quality! Halara LOVES polyester

[@ArtichokeHunter]

the functional benefit for activewear is real. i just went on an adventure vacation where i needed neck-to-toe synthetic leggings, socks, shirt etc. to wear under a wetsuit, and i'm sure folks are familiar with the value of synthetic swimsuits. it's just not practical to use natural-fiber clothing when you're swimming or otherwise moving in water and then needing to dry out your clothing in a timely manner. a lot of hiking pants and other adventure clothing are similarly synthetic to better handle the elements, mud, and sometimes be more snag-resistant. i'm personally in the process of thrifting more synthetic pants these days because my usual cotton ones are falling apart and get torn very easily even just on a walk in the park, which i'm doing more often. (linen is ideal though for breathability for those hot-but-you-need-to-be-covered places with sun, bugs, and intense heat. but some synthetic clothing does manage to be quite breathable) i don't buy any of these things new and i agree with most of what's being discussed here. different fabrics just have different functional advantages and disadvantages as well as differences in environmental impact (and economic factors). i'm curious about the idea that synthetic fabrics are less repairable than natural fiber fabrics; i guess it's harder to patch? will have to look into that more. mostly my experience has been with seams needed to be resewn, which is easy, but my cotton pants snag and tear frequently and i've yet to tear my synthetic hiking pants. (however I have snagged and torn synthetic yoga pants, so less about the natural v. synthetic and more about being designed to wear well against nature, i think)

[@salviaexpedition]

I think activewear, swimsuits and hiking gear should use the materials that work the best, and often it is plastic based. The most long lasting pieces are best for the environment and comfort is important. I also think those clothes are not super large fraction of all clothes🤔

[@lexilou5893]

Natural fibers are typically “larger” than synthetic fibers. Natural fibers are collected then spun into yarn, then woven/knit together . You can see the fibers and yarns within the garment. With synthetics, it starts as a liquid then spun into microfibers, really tiny yarns that are woven to the point that you need a microscope to see the individual yarns. It can make it easier to repair when you can see what went wrong, and “reconnect” threads.

[@heyitsLizzy]

Very great video. Learning about the importance of the materials of what I buy has been my biggest lesson in my later years. I think one of my biggest fashion regrets was not thinking about this sooner. I’ve wasn’t a lot of money in my early 20s on bad quality garments

[@cutekittenmask]

Alexa are you familiar with Shay Sew Shop in LA. They recycle and remake textiles, repair, and do monthly dye baths even for synthetics. You should check them out!

[@cutekittenmask]

Sorry, it autocorrected. “Suay sew shop”

[@lexilou5893]

Textile and fashion student here! Love this video. Blended fabrics cannot be “unblended” for recycling purposes. All of the 20%/50% synthetic blends can’t be recycled into new shirts for production. The best thing you can do is to make everything you own live a very full life! Buy less, buy smart (second hand!), Mend your items, turn fabrics into bags, pillows, rags, etc, THEN toss. It’s radical today to use your fibers for their entire lifetime. Our grandparents bought clothes to last years, we buy clothes to last months. That’s why garments from 50 years ago are in mint condition. Thank you for talking about this Alexa!

[@sarahkinsey5434]

I did a presentation in my Environmental Biology class about fashion waste and talked about fiber content. There are pros and cons to everything. While cotton is breathable, it soaks up all moisture, which is why my boyfriend says cotton kills. It's bad in winter because once you stop moving or get when, you get cold fast. Polyester is more affordable than wool but holds onto odor

[@tashakayatsky]

I also feel like specifically Halloween costumes that you buy at chain stores feel horribly constructed, so you definitely wouldn't save it for next Halloween because it feels so sh*ty. If they were made with better quality I would just re-wear it every year.

[@KaboodleDoodle]

I love how much care you put into this video Alexa, you’re amazing, thank you for educating us all

[@rayx530]

I’m glad you talked about the recycled polyester coming from bottles etc instead because it is a big problem that we bring the plastic waste from other industries into the fashion industry as it just enlargens our waste problem. I believe only nylon 6 is circular in the way of recycling back into fibres again continuously and all else is destined as waste pretty much. correct me if wrong.

[@rosestormwolf]

It really is unfortunate how shopping in ethical and sustainable ways can be incredibly expensive and out of many consumer's price ranges...

[@mcjs8640]

Due to being allergic to synthetic fibres I have been aware of what my clothes are made of since I was a little child. I was once sewn up with nylon thread after an operation - boy did that cause problems! I never wear anything but cotton, which makes life quite hard!

[@sharonlausin3892]

Thank you for researching about polyester! This is very educational to me. I do not like polyester whatsoever. It is getting to the point where it is hard to find 100% natural fibers.

[@emh.1178]

I bought (what I thought was) a second shirt of one of my favorite button up shirts. Same company, same cut, same store, same price, but the new one started disintegrating immediately and looked horrible, where my old one still looked great. I looked at the tag and the old one was 100% cotton and the new one was 100% polyester. Always check the tags! I've honestly had to start sewing my own clothes bc everything is made of plastic and I hate how it feels and wears

[@TreasureForeverOfficial]

There are some clothes you put on and you immediately feel disgusting horrible trapped and suffocated all at once-- this happened to me with a shein shirt !!! 2 actually! But now I am noticing more with clothes that aren’t so obvious as well… I live in a hot climate so this is really important for me for my clothes and bedding to be breathable

[@lilyhazel32]

so happy you mentioned mina le!! shes my favorite:))

[@evemorgan1318]

Loved your video Alexa❤. Also I heard of brands, that are trying to make vegan leather from cacti. Such a cool idea

[@KafkaCartoon]

I dont have much money BUT: I simply dont know how one could not notice. Clothes that are made from synthetic fibers mostly look and feel horrible and bad. Could never walk around in a thirt like that all day, also think of the static on a polyester sweater or scarf ughh. I can accept 70% wool and 20% acrylic for example tho

[@Janiz1998]

I own mostly polyester, and a lot of it nowadays is soft and silky. Like probably 90% of my dresses/skirts are polyester. I actually have a silk organza dress from a high-end brand that is way more uncomfortable than any of my polyester stuff

[@Hollaiz11]

This was an awesome video! I loved it and definitely took a lot away from your research.

[@Janiz1998]

I always check because i actually despise cotton. It gets wrinkled so easily unless it is like denim weight. Also I know a lot of people are allergic to wool so they have to do synthetic for warmer clothes. I will say i prefer leather. I have a friend that is a leathercrafter and I definitely make sure to buy shoes and purses now that are genuine leather

[@fairymystonight1783]

I have a vintage forever 21 white top, I believe it’s mostly cotton because it’s so soft and durable. You can tell it’s made to last and it has been!

[@reemali5220]

Amazing video with quality content. The question for the average consumer (who’s full time job is not to thrift/make KZbin content) where are people supposed to find the time or money to thrift all their clothes and make sure they’re natural quality too? Even if they found the time, in my area thrift store prices exceed retail

[@ytknits4892]

Online thrifting is a great option these days! There are tons of sites selling second hand/vintage clothes, and sellers will usually provide fiber content and measurements for each item. I’ve found some of my best second hand finds online!

[@rachelneal9313]

great video! the company marine layer recycles old tees and uses them in their clothing. I haven't tried it yet, but if you bring in old tees you can get them recycled and get a discount! but of course I think the real solution to all this is to just consume less 🌱

[@deemayhew4211]

Thank you for all this information. It will help me to be more aware. I only shop thrit store so I love that I’m helping at least this way. Love your videos

[@Alex.Harward]

Love how informative this video is!

[@heather5933]

This is amazing! It’s soo hard to find items with just natural fibers…

[@disasterfred]

I am allergic to all those synthetic fibers. It gave me literal rash. I am alwais looking at the tags for 100/100 coton, silk, linen or wool.

[@mallshoggoth]

real question why do people say polyester doesn't pill and natural fibers do? that's the exact opposite of my experience

[@alexasunshine83]

That's been my experience as well, but those reasonings kept popping up in article so maybe like better quality items made with polyester? not sure 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@cpaw1613]

One of my favorite sweaters is nearly all acrylic and it sadly probably won't last past this season. It's itchy and doesn't look good anymore 😢

[@jessv4300]

Same, I thrifted an urban outfitters turtleneck that I love the look of but I have to layer under to avoid itching. I feel bad for the poor fool who paid like $60 for it new and ended up donating it cuz of the itch!

[@EvaLoVerde]

An important thing to note is that not all polyester is the same quality. Fast fashion is mostly made of bad quality polyester that will disintegrate anyway

[@joydawnb]

You did a great job breaking down the specifics on this subject. A lot of new info to digest. And once I do that, I can be even MORE fun at parties 🎉 ;)

[@ImpulseKombucha]

Cotton isn't a great athletic wear fabric because, though it's breathable and can be woven to have stretch, it's a fabric that holds moisture and can make you cold when doing things like hiking or outdoor running. The natural fibre way to go for athletic clothes is definitely merino, it's quick drying, good quality merino has antibac properties (lanolin) so it doesn't get smelly as quickly as polyester or cotton, it's quick drying, stretchy, breathable and lasts ages if you're caring for it well.

[@duchessedeberne3909]

15:18 my mom gifted me an iron and ironing board when I left home ten years ago. Used it twice since. Bought a hand steamer. I hate ironing!

[@rebekahnewman3876]

I love this more documentary style content! keep it coming! ❤

[@verynormalgf]

love this style of video from you! would really enjoy more video essay style fashion videos from you in the future if it's something you enjoy making :-)

[@liubovliubov]

There are not many ways to avoid polyester with workout/sports clothes and swimsuits. They need to be stretchy and dry fast, and that pretty much means synthetic fibers. Fleece polartec is also a godsend when it comes to hiking clothes. The best I can do is to buy second hand, buy the minimum I need, and donate some sports clothes if they are still in good condition.

[@Random_Viewer978]

So interesting, Alexa! Thank you for making this video.

[@els2231]

this is exactly what i needed

[@MaiaArstad]

Loving the fashion video essays youve been making recently!

[@MissMEhere]

I honestly just wish that companies would focus more on making good quality items. 100% polyester can be okay (not my fav since it isn’t breathable), but when it is made so cheaply that it looses its best characteristics (i.e. wrinkle resistance), there is a huge problem.

[@ranmount]

the funny thing about microplasts is that washing clothes is bad, but actually wearing plastic-based textiles is times and times worse. 😅 so i am trying to eliminate polyester etc from my wardrobe all together even with new technologies and processes taking place. until micro and nanoplastic can be filtered from the air itself, I will try to avoid it as much as I can. 😖

[@rubysushi]

such a wonderfully informative video, thank you!!!

[@mandyhackman9740]

Pact, 4-rth, and Ripple yoga wear for folks looking for non-poly active wear. I have also had luck with some things from outdoor voices (I’m a personal trainer and circus artist and can vouch that you can do just about anything in these brands, and they have stood up to heavy use over several years). Of these, ripple is pretty size inclusive, but the others definitely have some growth to do there.

[@awilson8521]

I have to make my own clothes most of the time, if I want natural fibers. I'm currently hand spinning some wool to weave, and use for clothes.

[@baby.nay.]

In my experience, polyester pills a lot and it’s cotton that doesn’t if cared for properly.

[@M1995C]

Fantastic video, would love more video essays from you

[@kaitlynsvintagecloset]

Im just starting the video, but I do have to say, I have plenty of beautiful vintage that is synthetic and has stood the test of time, but of course lile so many things, the vintage quality was made to last and simply better.

[@quorrakai]

I love those vintage ads! Polyester doesn’t breathe and is just ick most of the time. Same with rayon and those cheap plastics used for faux leather. Retailers are going as cheap as possible which means using these chemical materials. Real wool, cotton, silk, cashmere, linen, real leather and fur are goals. Nothing better than a 100 percent cotton button down. I have thrifted cashmere sweaters and leather jackets for cheap! However, at the end of the day, wear what you fancy because that is what matters! 😊

[@makennanelson222]

I wrote a 14 page essay recently for class about the downfall of quality in clothes. It takes 20-200 years for polyester to decompose!! If you can look for cotton, Milberry silk, wool, leather, hemp, denim, linen, plant fibers, etc. Some synthetic fabric is good but the overwhelming production of plastic material is bad for the environment, yourself because you have to repurchase more and the fast fashion companies taking advantage of poverty areas. In china children and women are getting paid less than 23 cents an hour. Thrift if you can buy from sustainable sources

[@Certified_Fairy]

this was very informative ty! 💕

[@AGirlNamedMary]

What a great video! Thank you for talking about this.

[@RTCIvory]

Quick answer: Cotton kills Cotton is a thirsty crop Cotton, and sometimes wool, does not have the same performance properties as synthetics. Buy second-hand yay!

[@kenzieglaspell7164]

In the vintage wrangler add they spell right wright 😂 they were also sold for around $4 😮

[@huanglyla4149]

Synthetic fabrics are also great with moisture wicking (hence their usage in activewear) though terrible for odor management. Tonnes of outdoor gear are also synthetic because of their durability and lighter weight as well. Especially outer layers (merino wool for inner layers). It's also easier to waterproof. The lack of breathability also helps with insulation/wind resistance (hence polyester is commonly used for fleece layers). So the idea that "synthetic = cheap useless crap" is really a misconception thanks to fast fashion brands. I don't disagree with your points but I feel like we should be wary of veering into the plastic straw conundrum once again - demonise the plastic straw and people forget that the entire cup is also made of plastic. The best thing we can do is to be more mindful of our purchases and consume less overall.

[@palasiksivain]

cotton isn't always going to disintegrate in use though. i have a lot of clothes made of cotton that were bought like twenty years ago and are still in good shape. i feel like people aren't educated enough on how to even handle different textiles, how you're supposed to wash them and so on. some textiles are not supposed to be thrown into the washing machine, and some textiles require a lower temperature. you can't wash cotton the same way you wash polyester - but if you do, you're gonna end up with a worn-out fabric quicker than necessary. coming from a poor family, my parents taught me the proper way to take care of my clothes because we couldn't afford to buy new ones more than once a year max. if you handle the clothes you own with dignity and respect, you're gonna be able to wear them longer.

[@columbiacutri8958]

Great job on this video!!! Very informative!

[@sarah_the_tea_queen1404]

I’m I the only one here who actually does not care about being “sustainable” at all? call me a bad person but I have enough problems even without worrying about ecology and I very rarely throw out clothes, I wear most of my clothes until they can’t be wore anymore

[@dopesoul999]

Any suggestions on how to sustainably dispose of polyester fabrics you already own? ..since donating and recycling them will only contribute to the problem

[@sabrinabeeart]

I'm sorry but the selkie exuse just kills me haha. Every Polyester fabric was made to mimick one made of natural fibres that existed before, mostly to drive down prodution cost. Silk chiffon exists, they could absolutely make these dresses out of natural fibres if they chose. They just don't want to give up their huge profit margin. Every brand is lying to you bc they want to sell. Their only motive is to tell you what they think you want to hear so you give them your money.

[@lestranged]

So much of the discussion about sustainability focuses only on the end of the products life. Is it biodegradeable, is it recycleable, etc. But the whole environmental footprint of any item includes the manufacturing process (or growing process for natural fibers). For example: Cotton feels nicer , looks nicer, and is natural... but it takes immense amounts of water to grow, chemicals are used to process and dye it, etc. Every new product will have a footprint. The smallest footprint is pre-owned things. Thrifting will always be better for the environment than some expensive, ethically grown , organically dyed, sustainable NEW item. The best way to reduce your footprint is just consume LESS THINGS overall.