8 Sustainable Winter Clothing Materials You Should Know About

Welcome back to our weekly blog! Well, for sure it’s damn cold now! You might find yourself in need of some new winter clothes? Forget about wool, we’ve got some cool sustainable options you gotta try right now! Find out more about 8 alternatives to a sustainable and cruelty-free winter.

#1 Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is the better version of cotton. It is grown organically, without any toxic substances or polluting pedicles. Organic cotton leaves the soil, air and water free from contaminants that cause harm. It uses methods that have a low impact on the environment, saving water and energy.

Why organic cotton is perfect for winter you might wonder? To start off, it is much softer than regular cotton. Organic cotton keeps its natural fluffy nature as no chemicals are used in its production.

Winter jackets tend to be quite pricey so why not buy one that you know will last? Organic cotton is extremely durable. It is handpicked, so all these long, strong fibres are preserved. You get super softness and amazing quality. This one’s a winner!

For further reading, we’ve also writing an in depth article on why you should buy organic cotton so make sure you check it out. 

#2 Linen

Linen is a natural fibre, made from the flax plant. The fibres are extracted from the plant and stored for long periods of time. This is done to achieve the desired softness.

No doubt, clothes made from linen are soft. As well, linen fabric gets softer and softer after every wash, how cool is that?

Due to its hollow fibres, the line is an insulating fabric. Exactly what you need for winter! It is also hypoallergenic, so your skin can stay nice and relaxed, with no allergies here.

Another property of linen fabric is that it dries faster than other fabrics such as wool. Lien releases moisture into the air. It can actually absorb up to 20% of its weight in moisture before it feels damp.

Ok, we spoke about why linen is so great, but it is also worth mentioning its sustainability impact. Linen uses the entire flax plant, almost no waste is left behind. It is organically processed, so no chemicals or intensive dyes are used. No water is wasted and no pollution is made!

#3 Hemp

Hemp is a very interesting plant with many properties and uses. As a fabric, it is a textile made from the stalks of the Cannabis sativa plant. Only the outer layer of the plant is used in textiles production, but the rest of the plant is also useful. The inner layer can be used for fuel, building materials, animal bedding etc.

Hemp fibres are long and sturdy, making this a very soft fabric. Generally, hemp fibres are also more absorbent and insulation than other natural textiles like cotton. Hemp has great breathability, it doesn’t trap heat and or allows the growth of bacteria as wool can. It is your perfect fabric for winter!

Hemp doesn’t need any toxic chemicals to grow. It is in fact naturally pest-resistant and can renew up to 3 times per year. Hemp fabric is fully biodegradable and compostable. As well as a great vegan alternative to wool.

#4 Bamboo

100% sure you’ve seen and heard of bamboo materials. Bamboo is the real deal. Bamboo fabric comes, well you guessed it, from the bamboo plant. But, bamboo isn’t only used in fashion. Bamboo is used in construction, homeware, food etc. 

The bamboo fabric is super soft and will 100% keep you warm during the cold winter days. It is also antibacterial, so you will smell fresh all day. Bamboo fabric is also very stretchy. Some comfy bamboo bottoms might become your favourite winter piece.

Not only bamboo is a sustainable fabric, but it is a renewable resource. After being harvested, it continues to grow new plants from its root system. This helps prevent soil erosion. Of course, it doesn’t need any chemicals to grow, which we know it’s always a plus!

#5 Soybeans

Now it’s getting interesting. Soya fabric is so cool, it is even known as “vegetable cashmere”. It is eco-friendly, made from a by-product of soya-bean processing. It is definitely cheaper than cashmere, and hey, cruelty-free.

Soya fabric has the softness of silk, the durability of cotton and the warmth and comfort of cashmere. All perfect combos for a successful winter piece. It is easy to look after this fabric and should last you for many, many winters.

As mentioned, this fabric doesn’t involve animal usage. It is also 100% biodegradable and compostable. Soya fabric also eliminates any waste as the soya beans are used entirely.

#6 Coconuts

Clothes made from coconut? Why not! Coconuts are not only delicious, but you will soon be able to buy a lovely coconut jacket. This can be possible thanks to a company called Nanollose. They have developed coconut fibres to produce a material similar to semi-synthetic fabrics such as viscose.

Clothes from coconut fibres are soft and warm, perfect for winter. Unfortunately, it is not 100% certain whether they smell like coconut, too. Coconut fibres are durable and versatile. They can be used in food, homeware and fashion.

Clothing items are generally used using coconut shells, meaning they are fully biodegradable. Coconut fibres can become a replacement for wood fibres, so it spares trees. This benefits the planet and wildlife. Growing coconuts also needs minimal land, water and energy use.

#7 Seaweed

Is anyone interested in some seaweed fabric this winter? That’s right! Seaweed is crushed, grounded and turned into the fibre, known as SeaCell, in which fabric can be made. You can in fact have a variety of textiles from seaweed fibres. Not to mention, this fabric has a lot of benefits for your skin.

SeaCell uses brown algae in its textile production, which is known to activate cell regeneration. So, goodbye to that itchy wool, yack! SeaCell remineralizes the skin, limits inflammation and in general detoxifies the body. The structure of this fabric promotes humidity intake and release, which helps keep you warm in winter. A seaweed sweatshirt sounds lovely!

SeaCell uses naturally dried seaweed, so no natural resources are being harmed. The natural components of the plant are also reserved as no chemicals are present. The resources are renewable, natural and clothing production uses an energy-efficient method. So, seaweed fabric is a very eco-friendly material.

#8 rPet

We love recycling, so a coat made from your old plastic bottles sounds about right. rPe, also known as “recycled polyester”, takes recycling to the next level. Whenever you put a bottle into the recycling bin, you might be helping rPet work on a new winter jacket.

Why substitute your wool garment for some cool rPet pieces? Unlike wool, “recycled polyester” fabrics are soft and won’t irritate your skin. You won’t get that itchiness and uncomfortable feel like you normally do when wearing wool. As a fabric, rPet garments are lightweight but strong. Literally, everything you need from a winter jacket.

Anyone who knows a little bit about the environment knows the damage of plastic. So recycling it and minimizing the need for new plastic is key. This is why rPet is a great choice, plus it is vegan and cruelty-free!

That is it for this week, everyone. If you’re unsure what textile to look out for this winter, you know where to find us, info@blondegonerogue.com