Two years ago, Fanny Rodriguez (@fannyrodriguez) was shopping for an evening gown when she had an “aha” moment. Ready to splurge for an event where her husband would be honored, she went to a boutique and tried on a fancy dress. The fit was good, but something didn’t feel right. She looked at the tag: $900 and 100-percent polyester. “Something just clicked,” says the Florida-based digital creator. “I didn’t feel good about spending that much money on plastic.”
Rodriguez says that moment took her down a rabbit hole. She learned more about the impact polyesters have on our planet and our bodies. As someone who had long been passionate about health and the environment, she couldn’t unsee what she’d discovered. “If you’ve done your research, you see how gross polyester is,” she says. “I decided I need to change my whole wardrobe to natural fibers.”
Today, Rodriguez wears only wool, linen, cotton, and silk. “I actually look forward to getting dressed in the morning. I feel this excitement,” she says. Plus, she educates others on how to make the transition away from petroleum-based clothing that contains forever chemicals. Read on to learn more about expert tips from Rodriguez and other advocates about how to make the switch.
Fanny Rodriguez
What are natural fibers?
First it’s helpful to know your options. Natural fibers come from the earth. They are plant- or animal-based materials and stand in contrast with synthetic materials, which are chemically produced. Natural fibers include:
- Wool
- Cotton
- Silk
- Linen
- Hemp
- Alpaca
Benefits of natural fibers
Aside from the shower, the occasional skinny dip, and sleeping in the nude if you’re into that, we are almost always wearing clothes. And the research is clear: What we choose to put on our bodies matters. There are so many reasons to choose natural fibers over chemical-based alternatives, but here are just a few of the most important:
- Gentle on our planet. Natural fibers decompose easily into the earth, while synthetic fibers take centuries to break down and leach toxic chemicals into our waterways and soil.
- Comfort and breathability. Many people who make the switch to natural fibers do so because it just feels better—they let our skin breathe and don’t disrupt our microbiome.
- Better for our bodies. From forever chemicals to microplastics, synthetic clothing comes with some scary risks that can be especially harmful to women’s delicate endocrine systems.
- Heirloom quality. Natural fibers almost always outlast synthetics if you care for them properly. (Think of your grandmother’s wool sweater).
Of all the natural fibers, superfine, naturally sustainable Merino wool has even more benefits. It’s completely regenerative as sheep just need a haircut each season and their coat naturally grows back. It also has natural UV protection from the sun, antimicrobial properties to ward off stink, and it can hold up to 30 percent of its weight in moisture without ever feeling wet, thereby keeping us cool and dry. Learn more here.
How to make the natural fiber switch
If you’re natural fiber curious, check out these expert tips:
Tip 1: Notice how your clothing feels.
Award-winning designer, creative strategist and founder of Weird Speciality, Gretchen Jones says that her journey to natural fibers started with an awareness of how her clothing felt. “Even as a little girl, I didn’t like the feeling of synthetics,” she says. “I'm more validated as I get older, paying attention to what fibers feel good on my body.”
She recommends finding natural materials that really work for you in different circumstances. For example, Jones says that for an easy walk she loves cotton, but for anything sweaty, including yoga, skiing, cycling, or Pilates, wool works best. “It’s my power material when it comes to activity.”
Gretchen Jones
Tip 2: Do some research
When you’re ready to start purchasing natural fibers to replace items in your closet, it pays to do your research. Rodriguez says one of the simplest steps is to look at your clothing tags. “Sometimes what you see on the website doesn’t match what you get in the mail,” she explains. “The easiest way to get started shopping for natural fibers is to check the tag before you buy.”
Rodriguez says she makes sure to know not just what she’s buying, but who she’s buying it from. She’ll look at a brand’s website to learn more about their manufacturing process and their values. “I look for transparency,” she says. “How much do they put on their site so a person can be as informed as possible.”
Tip 3: Liberate yourself from the consumer churn.
Jones says that if you’re used to buying things on trend, this is a great time to question that behavior. Instead of getting new outfits every season, she recommends rotating your closet. As the weather turns cold, she’ll put away her warm-weather clothing until the following year: “Allowing your clothing to be for only certain facets of your life and seasonalities can really help you maintain a relationship with the products that you're wearing and keep you excited about them.”
Tip 4: Streamline your wardrobe.
Content creator Michelle Greer (@capsuleincolor) found her way to a natural fiber lifestyle after having her first child. “Having a baby definitely changed a lot of my priorities and focusing on fiber content was a big one,” she says. Today, she wears only natural materials. A more intentional wardrobe means a smaller closet. The trick? “I try to keep everything pretty coordinated as far as style and color, so I’m able to mix and match nearly everything I own with everything else. Only keeping pieces I love helps me to enjoy the process.”
Michelle Greer
Tip 5: Start small and stay intentional.
Rodriguez says that one of the most common questions she gets from her followers is how to do a complete wardrobe overhaul. And she gets it—once the natural fiber switch has flipped, often you don’t want to wear anything else:“It’s easy to want to buy everything new and replace everything you have.” Still, she advises making a priority list. The things you wear every single day and are closest to your skin—like your bra and underwear—make for a great place to start.
Tip 6: Learn how to care for your clothes.
Care for natural fibers, and they can last a lifetime. “Don't treat it like trash,” says Jones, who advises getting used to washing your clothes less. “Americans over launder,” she says. Instead of washing, “I'll usually freshen it up with just some natural sprays in the grossest sweaty parts and air it out in the cold.” Rodriguez agrees that learning to care for natural fibers was critical to her journey. Her best advice is to wash on cold, separate whites from colors, and hang dry immediately after washing—and embrace a little bit of wrinkling. “Natural fibers are like curly hair,” she says. “Every day will look a little different.”
Rodriguez in the linen dress she opted for for her big event.
Tip 7: Stay on the journey.
Jones is an advocate for natural fibers, not just for environmental and personal reasons, but because she believes feeling comfortable and confident in your clothing has real power—especially for women. “The most beautiful thing to me is for a woman to feel so good in what you're wearing, that you're more present than you've ever been in your entire life. The more comfortable and chic you are, the more present you are. The more present you are, the more empowered you are. The more empowered you are, the more impactful you can be."
Have you ever considered transitioning your closet to natural fibers? Let us know your best tips! We’re always eager to learn. Connect with us at @branwynofficial on Instagram or email us any time at info@branwyn.com.
