Things to Know Before Putting On That $9 Shirt

Have a seat. Seriously, for what you're just about to read, you might want to sit down. And make yourself a green smoothie while you're at it. Heck, you might even want to get naked.

Polyester is the new cotton – in all the wrong ways

In the past, there was barely a need to check the tag inside your shirt to see what it was made of. You could be pretty sure it was cotton, a natural fiber that is kind to your skin and the environment. But as demand for cotton started to outgrow supply, manufacturers began to look for an alternative. The answer was polyester, a synthetic petroleum-based fiber.

Yes, you read that correctly. You're currently wrapped in plastics that's used to make conveyor belts and ketchup bottles.

The first polyester felt awkward to wear, but later versions blended in better with other fabrics and now you can barely notice that you're wearing it. Around the year 2000, production of both cotton and polyester was at 25 million metric tons, but in 2020 polyester production is predicted to reach 100 million tons, four times that of cotton.

What polyester really is, and why you should avoid it

Polyester textiles are chemically dyed with petrol and coal-tar
Polyester prevents your skin from breathing and is linked to several skin diseases
Polyester can be cancerous
As if those things weren't bad enough, polyester can also make you stink

Suffocating our planet

Couldn't care less about those health risks? Perhaps this will make you reconsider. Polyester doesn't just jeopardize your own well-being, but that of 7.2 billion others as well. With the rapid increase of polyester textiles, our environment will take heavy damage. Here's why:

Polyester is non-biodegradable, which means it's a non-renewable resource and will persist in the eco-system
More than 70 billion barrels of oil are used to make polyester each year
Polyester and other synthetic garments are the biggest source of microplastic pollution in the oceans
It requires twice the energy needed to produce cotton and generates a lot more waste water
Carcinogens and other harmful chemicals used in polyester production can cause significant environmental damage if emitted in water, which happens daily in countries with lax environmental regulations where polyester is often produced

The solution

To put it simply: Buy less but better.

The average American throws away their body weight in clothes each year. When those clothes are non-biodegradable, this naturally creates a vicious circle that our planet isn't able to escape. We have to act before it's too late. And we can do so by buying less and buying better. Aizome Bedding is part of a new frontier of green companies that are taking this issue seriously, both when it comes to the destruction of our planet and our personal well-being. Our luxury organic bedding is made of natural indigo and organic cotton, a treat for body and Mother Nature alike. It is also GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified, having gotten the stamp of approval from the leading organic textile regulatory bodies. To purchase a set of Aizome bed linen, click the button below.

Sleep Aizome - your present to our future

Bed linen from Aizome Bedding uses 100% organic cotton and natural indigo dye, which soothes your skin and provides the ultimate sleeping experience. Handcrafted according to ancient Japanese tradition, our bed sheets are a treat for you and the environment. Buy your set below and put your sleepless nights to rest.

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