If you’ve spent any time thinking about your carbon footprint or watching one of the many documentaries on the damage fast fashion can do to the environment, then the chances are that you’ve considered replacing your wardrobe with eco-friendly clothing. That’s great news, and it means you’ll no longer be supporting fast-fashion brands who produce clothing in sweatshops, using harmful chemicals and materials that cause lasting damage to our planet.

And whilst many benefits of wearing eco-friendly clothing may be obvious, there are some other surprising reasons why you should switch to natural clothing. Below, we share them…

Better on the skin

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why you should consider switching to organic, natural clothing is that it’s better on your skin. Cheap fibres and synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester have to be treated with thousands of toxic chemicals before they’re sold, and over time, these chemicals can cause damage to your skin. According to a study from Stockholm University, polyester had the highest concentrations of harmful substances, which can cause your skin to become dry or itchy. That’s bad news - especially for those with sensitive skin.

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Aside from the chemicals, synthetic fabrics don’t breathe as well as natural cotton. You’ll likely know all too well that some fabrics can trap in sweat and unwanted bacteria. Switching to an organic material makes sense, keeping your clothing cool and breathable. At Ultra Tee, all of our clothing is made from organic and conventional cotton, as well as Tencel - a fibre made from eucalyptus pulp - which is better for the environment and for sensitive skin.

Helps you stand out

We’ve all done it: arrived at a party wearing a new dress from the high street, only to spot someone else wearing the exact same outfit. There are obvious benefits to mass-produced clothing, like price and convenience, but the good thing about buying from an ethical, eco-friendly clothing company is that you’ll stand out from the crowd, and find a tee or dress that none of your friends will own.

At Ultra Tee, we’re passionate about flying the flag for small, independent fashion boutiques and designers, so as well as recommending our own tees and jumpers, we encourage you to check out these eco-friendly clothing marketplaces. There are so many up-and-coming designers and brands who work hard to create unique, attractive outfits that prove you can be both fashionable and conscious of the environment.

Advocates for a greener world

There’s something pretty special about wearing an outfit made from organic materials - you quite literally become a walking advert for a greener, more environmentally-friendly world. If you’re passionate about reducing your environmental impact through fashion, wearing green clothing makes you an advocate, and any time someone asks where you bought your tee, you’ll be able to tell them where you got it and start conversations about the fashion industry.

We get it - buying one t-shirt made from recycled fabrics rather than synthetic materials is not going to change the planet on its own, but as more people become conscious of their carbon footprint and replace their clothing with greener, cleaner materials, we can together make a bigger impact - and encourage major fashion brands to change their behaviours.

Makes you mindful of waste

Finally, a quick word on waste. The high street has made it easy for us to buy an entire outfit for less than £20 and throw it away after a night out - but that’s bad for the environment and results in millions of tonnes of landfill waste every year. It’s also lazy - we should buy clothes because we like them and want to wear them 100s of times, not just for a single occasion.

Eco-friendly clothing is naturally more expensive than cheaper high street alternatives as it requires more craftsmanship and expensive materials, but whilst you might pay a little more for a tee, you’ll get high-quality garments that will last for years to come. When you make the switch from mass produced to ethically-sourced fashion, you’ll be more mindful about what you buy, and less likely to throw it away, helping to reduce landfill waste. When you have had enough, then you’ll probably want to recycle or repurpose your clothing into something else, whether that’s a cushion, a teddy bear, or by donating it to charity for them to resell.

Transitioning to eco-friendly clothing isn’t an overnight thing: it can be tough to make the switch and find pieces you like, but by making small changes, you can have a lasting impact on the planet. If we all take more care and pride in where we buy our clothing, and how we dispose of garments when we no longer need them, we’ll help to reduce the use of toxic chemicals and the millions of pieces of clothing that goes to landfill every year. Let’s do this!