Is Your Clothing Toxic? What to look out for with dyes & treatments
Вставка
- Опубліковано 17 жов 2018
- Thank you so much to Sustain for partnering with me on this video and allowing me to dig into the very requested topic of fabric dyes!
Check out Sustain's beautiful naturally dyed garments: sustainbykat.com/
Also learn more about the process and benefits of natural dyeing mygreencloset.com/2018/clothi...
How I fell in love with natural dyes mygreencloset.com/magic-of-na...
Resources and further information:
River Blue riverbluethemovie.eco/
Report - Greenpeace Initial Toxic Threads report storage.googleapis.com/planet...
- Followup report - how is the detoxing going?storage.googleapis.com/planet...
Report - Greenpeace children's clothing report www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/Gl...
Types of Dyes and their Chemical Structures textilelearner.blogspot.com/20...
Report - The Environmental, Health and Economic Impacts of Textile Azo Dyes 2014.igem.org/wiki/images/2/29...
Wrap Report - best practice guide for water and chemical use in textile dyeing and finishing www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wr...
I hope you found this video informative. This is a HUGE topic and we're just scratching the surface, I'm definitely no expert and am still learning so much, so if you have more info or resources, please share them!
Thanks for watching #MyGreenCloset!
👗Want to shop more consciously? Find brands in my sustainable/ethical shopping guide mygreencloset.com/directory/
💚 ABOUT MY GREEN CLOSET
Hi! My name is Verena but most people call me Erin (my middle name). I studied Fashion Design & Technology and it was through this I became aware of and passionate about sustainable and ethical issues in the fashion industry. On this channel I share my journey to live more consciously and create videos to help you build a wardrobe that reflects both your style and values. 🌎
+ Subscribe to My Green Closet ua-cam.com/users/subscription_c...
+ Support My Green Closet on Patreon / mygreencloset
+ Join the My Green Closet Facebook group / mygreencloset
Thank you so much to anyone helping out with subtitling/translating for making this content more accessible! goo.gl/D93baJ
- - -
Blog: mygreencloset.com/blog/
Instagram: / verenaerin
Twitter: / verenaerin
Pinterest: / verenaerin
This video was kindly sponsored by Sustain by Kat, thank you for supporting the brands that support My Green Closet! #naturaldye #slowfashion
We're finally getting into dyes and this is a difficult area of fashion because it's very challenging and sometimes impossible to get info from companies about what our clothes have been dyed with. In the video I cover some main issues but I also want to go over a few FAQs I got on Instagram (also check out the description for more resources and information).
- Are the harmful chemicals washed out when you launder the garment?
Some are, NPEs for examples seem to be washed away with laundering (they also can be found in laundry detergents though) but this is also a problem because they are toxic to aquatic life, they can enter our drinking water and they also bio-accumulate in fish and shellfish that people eat.
The coatings and finishings can't be washed away though. Some of the concerns are actually as the chemicals break down. Certain azo dyes for example can breakdown into carcinogenic amines, although it's unclear to me (I'm definitely not a chemist) how or what causes the breakdown and if it can happen as you wear or wash the clothes.
- Another question I got a lot is: are at-home dyes safe and eco-friendly?
Again I don't have a definitive answer because there are a lot of different brands and types of DIY dyes, including fibre reactive, acid, universal/union, direct, and disperse dyes. I don't know a lot about all these different dyes and the brands, but fibre reactive (procion) dyes seem to be promoted as the better option for safety and sustainability, they also tend to be more colourfast then some of the other DIY dyes which you can argue is an eco plus if you have to dye your clothes less often. However they are also harder to use than the "1 step" dyes and typically require more equipment and a soda ash fixative.
- Is white clothing eco-friendly?
So it's important to know that almost all white or even "natural" colour fabrics you see have been dyed or at least bleached, natural fibres typically are a creamy to beige colour but for consistency even white fibres will be dyed. Bleach is not healthy for people or the environment but like dyeing hair it is often the base of fabric dyeing to achieve the brightest colours. Also sometimes optical brighteners will be added to keep whites extra bright.
You can find undyed fabrics - even colourgrown cotton in shades of green and brown which is really cool, and Sustain actually has a few garments which are naturally whitened with a combination of plants sustainbykat.com/collections/ayurvedic
Finally check out the blog post for more info about natural dyeing! mygreencloset.com/2018/clothing-dyed-with-plants/
I hope you found this helpful! Sorry I can't have more concrete answers but this is a very complex topic that I'm still learning so much about.
Let's talk about fabric on furniture
Let's not forget the massive amount of high end New clothes that end up in landfills so there is no competition or that the brand doesn't devaluate
ITs honestly a really complicated topic. I’ve gotten into my beauty and skincare stuff. Clothes is next.
I watch a documentary last week where it was shown how people work in garment industry where they dye the garment. It was heartbreaking to see people working there unprotected and contaminated water goes to rivers. 💔 I'm super happy that natural dye exist. It's actually a traditional way of dyeing. It takes longer, but it's mucb better for people, animal and our planet 💖
Thank you for covering this topic of dyes! I’ve been slowing weeding my closet of synthetics in favor of cotton and natural fibers but haven’t thought of dyes as well! As well as getting into capsule wardrobes and sustainable fashion, I have really sensitive skin so this is awesome for multiple reasons! 😁
This is something I always struggle with. As I love to sew my own clothes but how do I know where the fabric came from and how it was dyed and produced. Plus there's not a lot of people talking about this side of minimalism/capsules/diy so it's really hard to find information.
Oh my gosh, I'd never even considered this, but it seems so obvious now. I love the look of Sustain's garments and it's surprising to see how bright some of the natural dyes can be.
Hi Verena, I was wondering if you could make a video about the ways we can protect our oceans from the micro plastics/fibres that come from washing clothes that we already own? I have some clothes that are 100% polyester and like you, I now also try to avoid them as new pieces as much as possible but obviously I don't want to throw them just for the sake of getting rid of them. I know there's the Guppy Friend wash bags that capture the fibres but are there any other ways we can help? Thank you as always for your wonderful videos :)
I use a Guppyfriend bag, but the only other thing you can really do with existing garments is wash on cold and air dry because it breaks down the fibres less. I have heard of people developing filters to put directly into washing machines but I don't think this is available yet.
Right, at least I'm doing what I can then. Thanks :)
Thank you for this! Truly informative and it helps to have a channel like yours that I can show me friends for their own reference when needed.
Î never thought about dying, just about fabrics.... and I completly fell in love with sustainbycat! Thanks to you :)
Off to rewatch your video on natural dying :) I love the colour of your pj set.
Stunner!
Not gonna lie- learning about this makes me feel pretty helpless. I didn’t hear much about it before. It’s similar to when I learned about the Food Empowerment Project and how many ways we still negatively impact people and the environment even if the bases of vegan and low waste are covered. But of course I know for progresses sake we have to take into account every thing that makes an impact. And it’s nice hearing you lovingly describe all the natural dyes.
thanks, that was very informative and important it turned out!
Very interesting, thank you for the informative video! Btw, you look stunning!!
Wow, this was such an amazing video! I have never taken into consideration the harmful effect of dyes and I will definitely look more into this. I do hope that you will make more videos on topics related to sustainable fashion. Thank you & keep up the good work! :)
Thanks!! 💚
I definitely will and If you look back through my videos there are lots on different topics around sustainable fashion 😃 This is a great playlist to start with ua-cam.com/video/WwOfO_fOKMY/v-deo.html
interesting topic! thank you for spreading the information 😁
Hey Erin! Thank you for making these incredibly informative videos. Sustainable and ethical fashion has grown to be a major interest and passion of mine, and I've learnt so much from you! Lots of research goes into uncovering the (dirty) details about the fashion industry and learning how to make conscious choices, and it's so great to hear your passion and have your videos as a resource.
A couples questions:
1) How do you get others involved in the conversation on sustainable fashion, etc.? I find that I'm misinterpreted as an elitist fancy-pants when I try to explain my fashion choices. For some people, I think it can turn into an awkward conversation since it indirectly induces guilt (because they buy fast fashion and are being told of the damages of fast fashion). I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on that, please. Possibly a good video idea?
2) I (urgently) need to decide whether I trust Aritzia as a slow fashion, sustainable fashion brand. I've read into their corporate responsibilities and human rights and it seems reliable...but a second opinion would be so helpful. Please (someone) let me know!!
Thanks,
Hershy (RawCoco because I was too nervous to start my own sustainable lifestyle UA-cam channel years ago, haha.)
Thank you so much 💚
1. That's a great topic for a video!
2. I don't think Aritzia is a slow fashion brand. To be honest I haven't looked into them recently, but I have a lot of personal feelings since I used to work retail for them and they were pretty brutal to their staff - we had insane sales goals to meet and were constantly pushed to up-sell which I don't at all consider to be sustainable, plus they always had new product coming in which is another sign of fast fashion. I'm not sure how transparent they are or what their wages, safety policies etc. are like but I don't think they do much in term of sustainability? Again haven't really looked into them and maybe they've made big changes, but based on my experiences with them I don't trust them very much.
Thanks! Looking forward to your next video :)
Hi Erin, thank you for covering this topic, it was not on my radar so it's enlightening. I need to get a few items for my baby and don't want to expose him to harsh stuff! So is OEKO-TEX a good one to look for, does it specifically check for the use of non toxic dyes? (NB the link to your blog on natural dyes in description does not work!)
There are a few different Oeko-Tex certifications, and they have requirements for chemicals used throughout the textile process, although you want to look that the final product is certified and not just the raw materials for example. Although I'm not totally sure but I think they have slightly different standards for kids products.
You can also look for GOTS certified products, it's an organic certification but also includes chemical inputs and even has ethical requirements for workers so it's a good overall certification. :)
@@MyGreenCloset thanks that's super helpful! Good to know GOTS is well rounded and a good one to look for beside oeko tex.
found this video after reading to dye for by alden wicker. i've followed your channel for years and am shocked i haven't seen this vid! :)
I'm just finishing reading it!
Can you tell me what type of mordants do you use to dye?
Have you watched the BBC documentary called ‘Fashions Dirty Secrets’ by Stacey Dooley? I’m sure there’s nothing in it you don’t know but it’s still a good watch nonetheless. And it’s positive that the issue is getting some tv air time.
I've heard great things about it, but sadly you can't seem to watch it outside the UK :(
😍
miss your My 5
what about blue jean dye...my hubby got a pronounced skin rash from wearing a new pair of dark blue jeans. it went away when he stopped wearing them but now he gets a rash from even light blue jeans. can i wash the jeans on something to nullify any dye bad effects? anyone know?
Try a baking soda and water bath. Let it sit over night and wash it again. I found it when googling and it supposedly helps detoxify fabric.
@@deadinside8781 interesting solution; we later threw out the jeans; then found out it was ALSO his bp drugs that were also part of the problem; solution: much more raw fruit n veggies; way less meat/dairy reduced the bp nicely.
Arent there issues with indigo dying still? Even if it is natural
There can be depending on the process used. Indigo requires an alkaline vat and you need to reduce the oxygen for it to work. This can be done different ways, some use different chemical combinations (some worse than others) but you can also do it with fermentation. I'm actually hoping to try out a fruit fermented indigo vat probably this winter :)
Is it true that the color of naturally dyed clothing degrade when hang dried under the sun and synthetics don't?
Check out my blog post more about natural dyes! mygreencloset.com/2018/clothing-dyed-with-plants/
Blue jeans started giving me sinus problems dry eyes and skin irritation. Maybe from a chemical
It still blows my mind a little that in all the little steps of the clothing industry something is so terribly wrong... It's just atrocious that mankind is killing of rivers and making people sick just so we can dress ourselfs 'in style'. So it is heartwarming that you're the kind of channel that in the same video offers alternatives and giving forums for people who are trying it differently :)
Since you keep informing yourself about all these aspects of making clothes, I was wondering if you were ever temped to try and start an ethical brand of your own? :)
It is pretty insane, I think a big reason though is that so much of these issues are completely hidden from the average fast fashion consumer, so either people don't know about it or never think about it/don't understand what a huge impact fashion has. And on the other side the brands have very little regulations on what they can and can't do and are just profit driven so will do whatever to save money :(
I actually used to have a little clothing line, it was mostly custom work but I ended up stopping because I ran into the issue I think all slow fashion brands face - most people just aren't willing to pay the higher prices that come with sustainable and ethically made clothing. I would love to have a collection though, I really miss designing, pattern making, dyeing, and I even was getting into knitwear a bit which I loved, so maybe one day I'll try it again. :)
@@MyGreenCloset Some people just seem like they will never care, even though they know about it or are a part of it. But when I hold that kind of view it makes me sad so I prefer to think about the people that DO care, they will be the ones that inspire the others that áre open to it, and changes could be made :) however, it's not all about the customers like you said, there should be (stricter) regulations indeed for brands. Because right now it is really hard to avoid it when it is so whidespreadly used...
Oh I didn't know that, but I did have that feeling that would have been something you'd like to be doing, hence the question :) And yes it is a pity slow fashion just has to fight it's way against all the giants... Now reading you telling about your desire to do it again, I can almost feel it, I hope you can get to it again one day! :) Maybe now might be easier, since your platform has been growing and reaching more people, you could maybe team up with someone/some people? :)
I really love more brands would use natural dyes, but sadly, so far it's very difficult to find them. I would also love to find more information about how to dye clothes yourself, but the information is scarce or simply unclear.
Lown-Dog sent me
I do hate as well that there is no info on what dyes are used, it frustrates me to no end.
They should make laws like they made for food here in the EU, that force them to mention the ingredients of their clothing.
Even when going to natural dyes, you will find a problem, not in the pigments (colors) themselves, but you will with the 'mordant'.
Mordant is the thing that binds the pigment to the clothing, like a glue.
I just don't know what the alternative is or was back in pre-historic times. Perhaps they just didn't wash it so much...
Well people were poisoned by everything. In Tudor times mercury was used like makeup for paleness and faces fell off.
@@deadinside8781 For sure.
@@faramund9865 we are unlucky to be in the following century after the victorian era which sort of ended in the 1900s, where there was mercury in hats, or poisons in threads etc, arsenic in everything. We're still phasing it out. I have chemophobia so I'm suffering quite a bit right now at finding out about toxic clothing, but ... I'm not the only one who suffered in history. Like those people, we have to accept that we're victims and make do.
@@deadinside8781 Very true!
natural dyes often use toxic heavy metal mordants. Natural dye isn’t a clear good option.
Why do you say "often"? Most natural dye brands I've spoken with who are making clothes commercially uses natural tannins and alum - they typically choose natural dyes because they are concerned about toxicity. Natural dyers might use heavy metal mordants for their own projects but it doesn't seem to be common with sustainable brands using natural dyes.
@@MyGreenCloset there are some non fugitive plant based dyes that don’t require heavy metal mordanting. Many do. Logwood was mentioned? Fades real fast. If you buy pigments & dyes from Dharma trading they’ll have material safety data sheets and state mordants. I got sloppy & burnt my bronchi good on an indigo vat over a decade ago. I also know booth sellers that’ll tell you anything.
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make? Sustain By Kat, the brand mentioned, uses myrobalan, oak galls, alum, and soy milk as mordants. Not heavy metals. And many of the other natural dyed clothing brands I've spoken with also don't use heavy metals. If you want to know what a brand uses you can ask.
@@MyGreenCloset my point is ‘natural’ does not mean non toxic and are companies abusing ‘natural ‘’sustainable’ ‘recycled’ labeling. What %? Deep rabbit hole. Most garments contain petro fibers and the knowledge of how to care for natural fibers is being lost. (Heads up, linen iron straight out of the wash then hang to dry. Won’t wrinkle easily.) purity comes at a high price! Look how much a soft merino blanket costs today or set of linen sheets, but can last a life time.Why I spin from fleece and weave my own blankets. Naturally fire retardant. Shoes, petro pleather and non repairable soles. Damned plastics everywhere. 😖getting hormone disrupting chemicals out of our lives might be a simpler goal. Good luck on your journey.
Oh yeah for sure, I've been discussing those topics for years on my channel! But you can't blanket say that natural dyes are often toxic because it simply isn't true.