Reading · The Mood Board · RSS Amplifier

I don’t remember when my fascination with the makeup of our clothing began, but I suspect it really became a special interest of mine in college. I listened to so many podcasts on sustainable fashion back then. I learned about the horrifying statistics around fast fashion, the fact that polyester is just plastic, and that clothes that pile up in the countries where we dump so many of our “donated” clothes. A few years later, I went to a panel at Milwaukee Fashion Week, where a designer spoke about how she has shifted from buying clothes all the time to “curating” her wardrobe like it’s art pieces.

“Over the past few years I’ve truly shifted the way I shop, the way I look at my wardrobe, and the clothes I put on — and frankly, can tolerate on — my body.”

All of these things have stuck with me, settled into my bones, and over the past few years I’ve truly shifted the way I shop, the way I look at my wardrobe, and the the clothes I put on — and frankly, can tolerate on — my body. And on top of my fascination with and values around sustainable and ethical clothing, I also have incredibly sensitive skin and sensory sensitivities around touch as someone who’s neurodivergent. And once I started having control over — and knowledge about — what I put on my body, I started to realize that I hated the feeling of materials like polyester, microfiber, and acrylic. To me, they feel itchy and unbreathable, and sometimes I feel like I’m crawling out of my skin if I even just run my hand over it when browsing clothes at the store.

Coupled with my personal experience around sustainable and natural fashion, I also started writing product and commerce guides for The Good Trade, a sustainable lifestyle publication, which involves a lot of researching and writing about textiles and materials. This has only further informed the decisions that I’ve put into my wardrobe choices.

So, over the past year, I made a vow to myself to truly think about how I feel in the clothes I own, slowly phasing out anything that doesn’t feel good on my body. (Thankfully, I haven’t been buying polyester for years now, so there wasn’t much to get rid of.) I also promised to myself that I would only buy clothes that have at least 90% natural materials (unless the joy for the piece significantly outweighs the materials). This, of course, is often more pricey, but as part of this, I also promised myself that I would invest in clothing that makes me feel good all around, with the understanding that this would significantly change the pace with which I purchase clothing.

“I also promised myself that I would invest in clothing that makes me feel good all around, with the understanding that this would significantly change the pace with which I purchase clothing.”

With that mental framework and promise to myself, I feel proud of my closet. I love the clothes I have. They’re soft, timeless, stylish, and feel like me. I can mix and match and rewear all I want, and it feels good. My clothing is art. It’s an expression of who I am. But it’s also really freaking comfortable. Honestly, I wouldn’t wear it if it wasn’t. I take a lot of time and effort to find brands and clothing that feel aligned with my values and preferences, and I wanted to share a glimpse of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe made with natural materials. And since it’s spring/summer, all of these are specifically made of cotton. :)

So without further ado, let’s dive in. xx