This is a complementary post to my recent article on Why You Should Avoid Synthetic Winter Fashion.
In a nutshell, fibres made from polyester or acrylic or nylon are synthetic chemicals, petroleum-based and very energy intensive to produce. Factories producing fast fashion cause a lot of environmental damage and pollution to our water and wildlife. Synthetic fibres seep into the environment as we are wearing them all the time and putting them through the washing machine, emitting microplastic pollution into the bodies of wild animals. Because of our obsession with constant consumption and fashion, we are poisoning our oceans and food supply.
Wearing synthetic fibres up against the skin is also contributing to our toxic body burden and is considered a health hazard.
Alright, so now that the bad news is out of the way, I’d like to share a couple of natural fibre winter accessories that I wear and love, both made from alpaca wool. Alpaca wool is much warmer than sheep wool and is also hypoallergenic since it has no lanolin. It is a safe to wear and biodegradable fiber that humans have been using for thousands of years.
It is also a high quality fibre, so alpaca wool garments will last for many years, reducing the need to buy new winter accessories every season. (Sometimes I think I am the only girl that has an aversion to shopping malls and finds it silly that people have to buy new clothes so often.)
Both brands state that their wool is sustain-ably processed and acquired in a fair-trade manner from traditional artisan families, and that low environmental impact dyes are used.
Winterbourne Alpaca Scarf
For such a thin scarf, it is SO warm. I was really attracted to the vibrant white contrasted with the brown. On the tag, it said that this is a filament as opposed to a wool, and for that reason it is considered Andean Silk. It is lightweight, but not flimsy and feels strong.
Winterbourne Alpaca claims to be organic, hand-crafted and fair-trade. I got mine from the Toronto Christmas Market as they had a booth there. Mine is 100% pure alpaca fleece, but a lot of their blends have 20% acrylic.
Wool and the Gang Wilson Hat
I’m pretty sure this would win a warmest hat in the world contest. It is so solid, but flexible and there is no way your head can be cold when wearing it. It is 100% Sugar Baby Alpaca, making it softer than wool.
Wool and the Gang get their yarn from small family farms in the Peruvian Highlands and their dyes are certified by REACH and OEKO-TEX. Read more about their wool and animals here.
Have you made the switch to natural fiber clothing and accessories?