Reader Q: How to Rebuild a Fun, Non-Toxic Wardrobe?

Fashion should be fun! Here's how I've made a fun, natural, non-toxic wardrobe.

I got a private question from a reader, and knowing that this is a very common concern, I’ve decided to share my answer with you, my EcoCult readers.

It has been really enlightening to learn about the truth behind textile quality; not just in apparel but also with furniture/upholstery. I learned from you about plastic fibers, chemicals in dyes, etc, got pissed, and got rid of so much. Actually, almost everything tbh, lol.

My issue is I’m experiencing paralysis around actually re-building a wardrobe with better fabrics and safer dyes. I don’t have allergies or sensitivities, so this is all motivated out of my general concern for long-term effects of chemical absorption. I’ve read all your posts on companies making better clothes and tried to limit myself to those to rebuild. But I’m honestly just not finding enough that I like aesthetically. I think I need to shorten my list of must haves on the quality side unfortunately if I’m actually going to fill the big gaps in my wardrobe with stuff I like.

Any advice on what to prioritize when I’m assessing clothing, if my chief concern is chemical absorption? I was using Oeko-Tex as my litmus test and god, is it hard. I’m only at bras and activewear and I’m stuck, forget about the rest of my wardrobe. I was a little shy to post this in the group, but totally understand if you aren’t intending Substack to be DM access to you.

Thanks for your work!

Eleni

Hi Eleni,

Oy, I felt a bit guilty when I got your message. I don’t want to scare everyone so much that they throw out everything they own. In fact, I think I’ve literally said the words, “Please don’t throw out your entire wardrobe!” Normally, I would advocate for a slow and structured approach to cleaning out your closet. More on that here.

But, here we are. At least you have a fresh slate to start from? And, because you’re not currently dealing with chronic health issues or sensitivities, you can cut yourself some slack and let yourself have a little synthetic stuff, as a treat. No, not as a treat—as a necessity, depending on what you’re doing.