#and wool is comfortable and does not shed microplastics

[half-algorithm-half-deity]

"I want to wear environmentally friendly clothes, but I don't want to support animal cruelty or factory farming by wearing leather"

WOOL. OH MY GOD WEAR WOOL.

[jessejunkocreates]

Do animals help you stay warm?  Are you anti fur?  Alden Wicker at Ecocult has an incredible story outlining the many sides of this issue - linked in the image from her article above and right here. There are so many complicated issues surrounding what we wear, and animal based materials like fur and leather surely have historic debates.  When it’s cold, we suit up, and often fur and leather helps us stay warm.  But did an animal have to die for us to stay warm?  Of course that’s not how things have to work in this age of convenience and comfort; But we absolutely use animals for our survival.  Food, warmth, even love from our domesticated pet are examples of us using animals for our survival.  Themis and Thread makes and sells Fur Head Warmers made with  real fur, and in the photo above I am also wearing a leather jacket, and here's how I justify it:  The Fur Head Warmers are created from factory deadstock of vintage fur rescued from a bankrupt coat factory.  Not only did this company go out of business, but there was a glut of materials they had yet to use.  These pieces came to me to avoid the landfill.  Something that has already been created is always better used than destroyed.  This head warmer is made from 100% post consumer product with an upcycled stretchy band making it comfortably wearable.  The leather jacket was an updated coat from the 80's that I completely redesigned.  It was otherwise hanging in a closet not being worn.  These are ways many of us feel comfortable using these materials.  

A close friend of mine was recently attacked for wearing fur at an Ice Bar event.  Like myself she has inherited family heirloom furs.  A fancy winter cocktail party with an outdoor feature seemed to be the perfect opportunity to wear her fur head piece.  She was comfortable defending her fashion choice, and the other woman was aggressively passionate about fur being murder.  Perhaps that animal had been killed for the pelt to create a fashion item generations ago.  Personally I agree that wearing an inherited vintage fur item is different than buying a new piece of fur fashion.  Regardless, these conversations are important and powerful.

Do you know what faux fur is?  Sometimes it’s actually real fur of animals that are “illegal” to use like rabbit or coyote; But most of the time faux fur is a synthetic petroleum based product not dissimilar from polyester.  Aside from these being highly toxic to produce, any petroleum based material sheds microplastics every time it’s washed, adding plastics to the water system, chronically harming animals, plants and people.  This is hardly a safer alternative. 

An artist friend of mine and @hectorhandmade featured artist, Lisa Baechtle traded some custom design work for a beautiful deer hide.  (If you’re interested in working in trade shoot me an email to let me know what you have in mind at jessecreates@icloud.com!)  This deer leather is incredibly soft and lovely, and very durable.  Here in The Finger Lakes we are very much in rural New York and hunting is a big part of life for many families.  Deer populations are in desperate need of regulation (population overgrowth means starvation, damage to farms and crops, and car accidents), hunters help maintain a healthy deer population and are only allowed to shoot a certain number of doe and buck. Almost everyone in my town at least eats venison, if they don’t do the hunting themselves.  But nearly no one uses or tans deerskin leather.  Lisa’s deerskin hide came from a Taxidermist in Minnesota. The process of curing and preserving a hide is very difficult and time consuming.  Deer hunters locally can sell the hide of their catch for only $10-$20.

But  the person who would buy that hide has a lot of work to do.  A friend of mine with a passion for “doing it herself” and a deep connection to Alaska (a land of do it yourself of die) tried her hand at preserving a buffalo pelt recently.  She knows someone who sells buffalo meat.  “Farming” buffalo for meat is arguably the only reason this magnificent animal is not extinct.  So any time we eat an animal there is waste, and often times the hide is discarded.  Trying, but not really loving buffalo meat, got my friend thinking, what about the rest of the animal?  So she asked the person who sold buffalo meat if she could have a hide, which he gave her with the understanding that she would have to do it herself.  Determined and head strong she dove into the challenge.  Twenty hours in, she was deeply saddened to admit defeat.  The thick skin and remaining flesh needed specific tools and skill sets she simply did not have.  Luckily she was able to find help, several hours away from her home.  A drive to a taxidermist was her only hope to save this hide she so desperately wanted to honor.  Do you think that she was doing a bad thing?  Do you think that the buffalo farmer or taxidermist is doing a bad thing?  These people all have one thing in common, they respect, and admire the buffalo population, which they are in some way sustaining.

Another person I know who respects, admires and sustains a unique animal population is Sandy Liggett from Whispering Spirit Alpacas in New Mexico.  Wool from alpacas and sheep are the most gently procured warm materials.  Alpaca fur is incredibly soft and very warm.  At Themis and Thread we send specialty fabric scraps to Sandy to felt alpaca onto, creating a new, warm, durable, beautiful fabric.  Our most recent creation with this fabric is our Alpaca Lined Headbands and Texting Gloves.  Alden Wicker agrees “Alpaca Is Eco-Friendly and Cruelty-Free” and has written about her experiences in Peru.

How do you feel about all of this?  These conversations are complicated and important, please think about it and talk about it!  The value of an entire life is ultimately what we’re discussing every time we consider or debate the price of a burger or morality of wearing fur.

[nuiorganics19]

THE REAL REASON ORGANIC COTTON CLOTHING MATTERS FOR YOUR CHILDREN

As parents, nothing matters more than the health of our children. Whether it’s what they eat, wear, or the environment they grow up in, we try to make the most conscious decisions that will be best for them long term.

 And while most people know the importance of choosing organic fruits and vegetables and food made with more natural ingredients so you can avoid harmful chemicals, many parents question the investment in organic clothing.

 Does it really matter? After all, they don’t eat it.

Here’s the REAL reason (a few of them!) why you will never doubt seeking out organic cotton clothing options again.

 REASON #1: Your Baby’s Got Thin Skin

 A baby’s skin is roughly five times thinner and much more sensitive than the skin of an adult. Research shows newborn baby’s skin is super permeable as well, which means it’s easier for toxic chemicals to pass through that protective layer we’re all born with. Babies are in a crucial stage of development where everything they come into contact with can have either potentially damaging or productive results.

And even though a child’s skin thickness does increase in strength over time, wearing conventional cotton can result in skin irritations, rashes, and health issues due to the harsh chemicals used in the production process.

 The best and the only way to prevent this is to avoid it completely with organic clothing. With organic, you can always be assured that your child will be safe in clothing that is GOTS-certified—meaning the item is 95 percent organic and free of toxic dyes or finishes.

 REASON #2: Organic Sleepwear Helps You Sleep Better

The majority of children’s pajamas are polyester, which is most often made from petroleum. By law, flame resistance is added to all children’s man-made materials to counteract the flammable nature. Unfortunately, these toxins are damaging to your child’s health and the environment.

Sleepwear made with organic cotton is natural, breathable, and temperature regulating - which makes it perfect for children’s pajamas in both winter AND summer!

This is also why organic merino wool is such a popular natural fiber to use for kids sleepwear. Naturally flame resistant, no chemicals are needed to protect your child, ensuring that your baby will sleep sounder and you will too!

REASON #3: Organic Cotton Clothing Washes Better

Let’s start with microplastics - as in NO microplastics shed into the ocean when you wash organic fiber clothing such as organic cotton or organic merino wool. Synthetic fiber clothing on the other hand, sheds 750,000 microplastics into the ocean with every wash!

Additionally, organic cotton waffles for kids (and merino wool) is more durable! Because no harsh chemicals are needed to treat natural fibers, they are chemical-free and remain stronger overall.

Because synthetic fibers are treated with harsh chemicals in production, it breaks the fibers down, making the garment more prone to wear and tear.

Additionally, since organic cotton isn’t treated with chemicals, it actually FEELS softer. Softer and longer lasting, your child AND your wallet will be thanking you.

REASON #4: Saying No To Pesticides and Insecticides Saves Your Children AND The Growers

The cotton industry is responsible for administering 10% of the entire world’s pesticides. That number goes up to 25% for all the world’s insecticides. This is considerably more chemical distribution than any other crop on the planet.

It has been reported that 7 of the 15 regularly used cotton-crop pesticides are carcinogenic.

Conventional cotton is grown with more insecticides and pesticides than most other crops on the planet. Those toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, asthma, reproductive disorders and birth defects.

Organic farmers bypass those chemicals for more natural materials derived from mineral, plant, or animal matter to protect their cotton crops, according to global nonprofit Textile Exchange. It’s safer for your family and safer for the workers, too.

REASON #5: Cotton Clothing Production Is A Chemical Process

The chemicals used to produce cotton are not just limited to the growth stage. Chemicals are also used at the manufacturing stage to repel:

●     Fire

●     Wrinkles

●     Stains

●     Fading

●     Chemical dyes are also used to create vibrant coloring.

That is a lot of chemical use to produce non-organic cotton clothing. Is that a risk you want to be taking?

Organic Wins Hands Down

There is no comparison of organic vs synthetic when your family’s health is at stake. And it’s especially great for children of any age as they continue to grow and develop.

Some of the most essential benefits of organic cotton are:

 ●     Decreased exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins

●     Enhanced comfort

●     Increased safety

●     Higher durability

●     Greater longevity

●     Social responsibility

●     Environmental responsibility

 The most important benefits of organic cotton clothing as a parent, are likely for the safety and comfort of your child. But what about the planet they will grow up on?

The garment-production industry is notorious for poor treatment of workers and human rights infringement. Conventional cotton production is no exception, and may be one of the worst offenders.

Support your child, human rights, and the environment with organic cotton clothing.

COUNT ON QUALITY

Hopefully these tips will help you to buy better, but you’ll know that you are investing not just in your child’s wardrobe, but their long term health and the health of the planet.

At Nui Organics, we share your values and care about the world we live in.

Putting people and the planet first. Our planet. We care.

[sherristockman]

How Clothes Are Polluting the Food Supply Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Every day, each and every one of us contribute to the ongoing destruction of the environment simply by participating in modern society. Not only do people inappropriately dispose of drugs by flushing them down the toilet, the cleaning and personal care products we use and the clothes we wear and wash on a daily basis also contribute to the environmental pollution. Indeed, the environmental impacts of our clothing choices are shocking, as studies assessing toxic effects of various fabric treatments (such as dyes, flame retardants and stain resistant chemicals) to laundry detergents and the fabric fibers themselves need serious attention. The Drawback of Fleece Microfibers1 in particular have gained notoriety for posing a serious threat to marine life and migrating into fields and onto our plates. As noted by NPR:2 “The innovation of synthetic fleece has allowed many outdoor enthusiasts to hike with warmth and comfort. But what many … don't know is that each wash … releases thousands of microscopicplastic fibers, or microfibers, into the environment — from their favorite national park to agricultural lands to waters with fish that make it back onto our plates. This has scientists wondering: Are we eating our sweaters' synthetic microfibers? Probably, says Chelsea Rochman, an ecologist and evolutionary biologist at the University of Toronto, St. George. ‘Microfibers seem to be one of the most common plastic debris items in animals and environmental samples,’ Rochman says.” Microfibers Have Become a Very Significant Water Pollutant Indeed, synthetic microfibers make up 85 percent of shoreline debris worldwide,3 and tend to be found in higher concentrations in beach sediment near waste water treatment plants.4 Water testing done by the Rozalia Project also showed microfibers are showing up in most water samples collected from the Hudson River.5 The fibers have also been found in both table salt6 and fish sold for human consumption.7 A 2015 study from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) directly linked microbead plastics and man-made microfibers to the pollution in fish,8 and when Abigail Barrows — chief investigator for Global Microplastics Initiative — sampled over 2,000 marine and freshwater fish, 90 percent had microfiber debris in their bodies. Near identical results have been reported by Amy Lusher, a microplastics researcher based in the U.K. who co-authored a study9 on microplastic pollution in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, published in 2014. There really does not appear to be any place on Earth that remains unspoiled by plastic pollution. As Abby Barrows, a microplastics researcher for Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation told The Washington Post:10 “Working in this field of research … can be really depressing. I open up a box of water — it’s from some beautiful place in Palau, and it’s just full of plastics. Or it’s from Antarctica, and I think there’s definitely not going to be anything in here. And it’s just full of fragments. I haven’t seen a sample that doesn’t contain an alarming amount of plastic.” Microfibers Are Also a Potential Food Contaminant Microfibers, which are more prevalent than microbeads (found in face scrubs and similar items), are particularly detrimental as the fibers are easily consumed by fish and other wildlife, accumulating in the gut and concentrating in the bodies of other animals higher up the food chain. In one study, microfibers raised mortality among water fleas.11 In another, the presence of fibers were found to reduce overall food intake of crabs, worms and langoustines (aka Norway lobster),12,13 thereby threatening their growth and survival rates. Making matters worse, these microscopic plastic fibers actually soak up toxins like a sponge, concentrating PCBs, pesticides and oil in ever higher amounts as you move up the food chain. Factors That Worsen Microfiber Release Tests show each washing of a synthetic fleece jacket releases an average of 1.7 grams of microfiber, and may release as much as 2.7 grams.14,15,16 For comparison, a paperclip weighs about 1.5 grams. The older the jacket, the more microfibers are released,17 and lower quality generic brand fleece was also found to shed 170 percent more over its lifespan than higher quality fleece. Separate research18,19 published in Marine Pollution Bulletin found that the type of fabric also makes a difference in the rate of microfiber shed. In a comparison of acrylic, polyester and a polyester-cotton blend, acrylic was the worst, shedding microfibers up to four times faster than the polyester-cotton blend. Different types of washing machines may also release different amounts of fibers (and chemicals) from your clothes. Tests show top loading machines release about 530 percent more microfibers than front loading models.20 Other factors that can influence the amount of shedding include water temperature, length and agitation strength of the wash cycle and the type of detergent used. Up to 40 percent of these microfibers leave the wastewater treatment plant and end up in the surrounding lakes, rivers and ocean. As reported by Fusion:21 “To get a sense of the macro-scale of this micro-problem, the authors calculated that a city of around 100,000 people could send anywhere from 20 to 240 pounds of microfibers into local waterbodies daily, which averages out to around 15,000 plastic bags.” Potential Solutions To address these problems, scientists are calling for appliance companies to investigate the effectiveness of adding filters to catch the microfibers.22 Wexco is currently the exclusive distributor of the Filtrol 160 filter,23 designed to capture non-biodegradable fibers from your washing machine discharge. The problem with this solution is what becomes of the microfibers when they’re disposed of in landfills (the same issue that is raised if wastewater treatment plants install filters to keep the tiny fibers out of waterways). The fibers may simply end up entering the environment via another route. Another novel potential solution — a waterless washing machine — was developed by Tersus Solutions in Colorado, with funding from Patagonia. It washes clothing using pressurized carbon dioxide instead of water.24 An even simpler strategy would be to wash your fleece and microfiber clothing less often. Patagonia is also looking for mitigating solutions, including product redesign to prevent the shedding of microfibers. Polyester Downfalls Beyond Microfiber Pollution Beyond microfiber pollution, polyester and other man-made materials have many other environmental drawbacks. As previously noted by Environmental Health Perspectives:25 “[P]olyester, the most widely used manufactured fiber, is made from petroleum. With the rise in production in the fashion industry, demand for man-made fibers, especially polyester, has nearly doubled in the last 15 years, according to figures from the Technical Textile Markets. The manufacture of polyester and other synthetic fabrics is an energy-intensive process requiring large amounts of crude oil and releasing emissions including volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and acid gases such as hydrogen chloride, all of which can cause or aggravate respiratory disease. Volatile monomers, solvents and other by-products of polyester production are emitted in the wastewater from polyester manufacturing plants. The EPA [Environmental Protection Agency], under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, considers many textile manufacturing facilities to be hazardous waste generators.” Even seemingly innocuous garments like jeans are often produced using a laundry list of toxic chemicals, including perfluorochemicals, phthalates and azo dyes. It’s not only man-made materials that are the problem, however. Even conventionally grown genetically engineered (GE) cotton is problematic due to the cotton industry’s heavy use of hazardous herbicides and insecticides, including some of the most hazardous insecticides on the market. This is one reason why I strongly encourage you to choose organic cotton, organic hemp and/or wool items, ideally colored with nontoxic, natural dyes whenever possible. Organic fabrics will not be genetically engineered and subject to this onslaught of toxic exposures. And, while this will not solve all of the environmental problems related to the garment industry, it's a step in the right direction. Change Starts at Home Benign by Design,26,27 a program created by ecologist Mark Browne in 2013, aims to show clothing companies “exactly how textile wear leads to fiber pollution and ways to control their emissions.” According to the website, the program — which is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — “developed a trade-off analysis system that rigorously and scientifically selects the most cost effective material with the smallest impact; fabrics that emit fewer fibers and less toxic fibers.” But while some companies are actively investigating ways to produce clothing that is more environmentally-friendly, each and every one of us can contribute to the solution by buying less and becoming more conscious consumers when it comes to clothing. As described in my previous article on “fast fashion,” the entire life cycle of a piece of clothing would ideally be taken into account before buying, as most of your discarded clothes actually end up in landfills, or are resold to third world countries where local clothing industries then suffer instead. Westerners have a tendency to think we're being generous by donating our cast-offs, allowing those with few means to get clothes they might not be able to afford otherwise. The reality is, the second-hand industry is struggling with an overwhelming amount of clothes. They cannot even house it all — which is why charities will only keep donated items in their thrift shops for a month before shipping them off for bulk liquidation. There's simply no shortage of second-hand clothing, so you're not really doing the world any favors by routinely adding to the donation piles. If you really want to make a dent in the problem, give more thought to what you buy in the first place and curb your consumption. Most Americans have enough clothes to outfit entire villages in some other countries. There’s little doubt that many would do well to absorb some of the life-affirming suggestions offered by the minimalism movement. As the director of environmental strategy for Patagonia told CBS in 2015:28 “People need to learn how to buy less and companies need to learn how to be profitable in selling less … Something has to fundamentally shift in the consumption world that reduces the pressure on the raw materials, which reduces pressure on the planet …”