Being inundated with everything POLYESTER/man made fabrics! Even luxury/designer brands are using polyester/man made fabrics

[papertiger]

Now the multi million dollar question - how does your pillow slip techniques work with the dreaded viscose?? Have you ever tried?

I should because a very useful little skirt (just high-street) has developed two little holes, and I'm sure it's from the washing machine .

Although I'm not a big fan of viscose because it's a heavily-processed yarn, at least it is natural. Kinda. But, I am cutting it out my life concerning new products because of the sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and sulphuric acid used in the process.

Ultimately, luxury or other, natural or manmade, I try to be most conscious of our Earth.

Before we get to the truth we have to unravel (sorry ) the greenwashing marketing of the 'eco' and technical fabrics that are basically plastic. Plastic will always be the worst for me because it never goes away (that includes acrylic).

 

[floatinglili]

I should because a very useful little skirt (just high-street) has developed two little holes, and I'm sure it's from the washing machine .

Although I'm not a big fan of viscose because it's a heavily-processed yarn, at least it is natural. Kinda. But, I am cutting it out my life concerning new products because of the sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and sulphuric acid used in the process.

Ultimately, luxury or other, natural or manmade, I try to be most conscious of our Earth.

Before we get to the truth we have to unravel (sorry ) the greenwashing marketing of the 'eco' and technical fabrics that are basically plastic. Plastic will always be the worst for me because it never goes away (that includes acrylic).

Surely the push to plastic fur and plastic bags are the biggest greenwash of all? I don’t get it. But perhaps a topic for another day. Linen, hemp and bamboo are my favourite hardwearing natural fibres and it would be wonderful to see them more available in all-natural blends.

 

[papertiger]

Surely the push to plastic fur and plastic bags are the biggest greenwash of all? I don’t get it. But perhaps a topic for another day. Linen, hemp and bamboo are my favourite hardwearing natural fibres and it would be wonderful to see them more available in all-natural blends.

100% correct IMO.

Part of the same discussion because of the way faux-fur is seen as anti-fur and plastic bags are ecological due to lux's greenwashing, neither one is true. The truth is they have far higher mark-ups $$$$$$$$$. Lessening quality by justifying manmade fibres is exactly what this thread is about.

Linen, hemp and bamboo (and Ramie) are wonderful underused materials. They can be mixed with cotton or silk for more textural variations, less creasing (linen) drape and hand-feel and therefore lessen dependance on cotton and silk processing. BTW, linen doesn't always crease and will show creases less if it's heavyweight and cut on the diagonal.

Most bamboo yarn can be made ecologically but Art-silk is made from bamboo but like viscose has some very toxic ingredients in the process of making including sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide.

Lotus thread (silk-like) mushroom-leather and pineapple-leaf could be used by luxury designers brands if they were really thinking about its vegan customers but they're more expensive than manmade, recycled and otherwise and viscose. Hopefully, these may become more mainstream soon which will be great for those that really want to do without animal products. Of course greenwashing is working so what do they care?


Ferragamo launched a collection with orange fibre 4 years ago that was created with ecology mind, beginning to end and entirely natural.

Ferragamo Orange Fiber

Ferragamo Orange Fiber Collection is an exclusive project dedicated to sustainability and innovation, launched by the Florentine maison for the forthcoming Earth Day.

group.ferragamo.com

Let's face it, if we don't look past the marketing-crap and do our homework (like on this thread) most luxury brands are not going to care about giving us plastic/manmade/toxic rubbish and passing it off as luxury.

 

[jennlt]

Now the multi million dollar question - how does your pillow slip techniques work with the dreaded viscose?? Have you ever tried?

I don't know if this is helpful but I have had great success machine washing a few Eileen Fisher viscose pieces that I own. I haven't had any shrinking or fading at all. Sometimes I place the items in a lingerie bag but often I put them in the front loader directly.

There is also a "Behind the Label" section on her website that discusses the factories, workers, company values and the fibers she uses in her clothing. Now if she'd only make more fashionable clothing, I would wear more of her pieces!

 

[Cheddar Cheese]

100% correct IMO.

Part of the same discussion because of the way faux-fur is seen as anti-fur and plastic bags are ecological due to lux's greenwashing, neither one is true. The truth is they have far higher mark-ups $$$$$$$$$. Lessening quality by justifying manmade fibres is exactly what this thread is about.

Linen, hemp and bamboo (and Ramie) are wonderful underused materials. They can be mixed with cotton or silk for more textural variations, less creasing (linen) drape and hand-feel and therefore lessen dependance on cotton and silk processing. BTW, linen doesn't always crease and will show creases less if it's heavyweight and cut on the diagonal.

Most bamboo yarn can be made ecologically but Art-silk is made from bamboo but like viscose has some very toxic ingredients in the process of making including sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide.

Lotus thread (silk-like) mushroom-leather and pineapple-leaf could be used by luxury designers brands if they were really thinking about its vegan customers but they're more expensive than manmade, recycled and otherwise and viscose. Hopefully, these may become more mainstream soon which will be great for those that really want to do without animal products. Of course greenwashing is working so what do they care?


Ferragamo launched a collection with orange fibre 4 years ago that was created with ecology mind, beginning to end and entirely natural.

Ferragamo Orange Fiber

Ferragamo Orange Fiber Collection is an exclusive project dedicated to sustainability and innovation, launched by the Florentine maison for the forthcoming Earth Day.

group.ferragamo.com

Let's face it, if we don't look past the marketing-crap and do our homework (like on this thread) most luxury brands are not going to care about giving us plastic/manmade/toxic rubbish and passing it off as luxury.

It's not a question of balance at all because wool is 100% recyclable.

Sheep can also live where no other farming can be done like on hills and rocky places and there's plenty of that. It's also self-sustaining as sheep renew on their fleeces every year and self-procreate. They keep vegetation down where needed and can act as lawn mowers.

Apart from people who are allergic to wool (usually self-diagnosed and overstated) there is no reason not to prefer woo ecologically. Manmade fibres usually leave people in a hot, sweaty mess which bring out prickly-heat and spots.

I have noticed this too this season and it is so sad and disappointing. I really love beautiful fabrics. I notice high end tops sold online as a “Silk Blouse” but when you read the material it’s 100% polyester.
“Cashmere sweater” with only 10% cashmere.
They are charging silk and cashmere prices.
Who decided this is ok?

Going with everything in moderation...

Grew up on a old traditional European working farm. It was a very different farming community. We now live in a NA farming community, cattle & racehorses, both fussy creatures when it comes to health and well being.

Defer to your much more current knowledge Paper tiger. I’ve been out of the business for a very long time now.

We had a number of large textile plants around the country I grew up in.

The fumes and toxic waste were awful. The sea could have been any number of lurid colours as the waste was pumped out.

Now I’m not saying that the wool & linen mills didn’t have toxic waste, just it was less so & not as extreme.

I grew up in a farming community. The health & well being of the animals was paramount.
Healthy animals equals superior end products.

 

[cerulean blue]

Viscose, Lyocell, Cupro, etc is a nice low-maintenance alternative to silk, the semi-synthetic fiber is great under machine washing environments like jennit said (silk, especially crepes, chiffons, and those with very intricate patterns can be fragile for a lot of people).

I spoke my tailor who's been in the business for decades about it, and while he's still partial to silk, he concedes to how viscose, etc is more breathable in silk (which is why some brands use cupro for lining when making spring/summer jackets), great for warmer weather, and vegan-friendly.

He also added a theory to the lowering quality of fabrics (like a lot of rtw fabrics being lower durability and thinner stuff) because too much clothing is being made, even in the luxury sector. Tons of luxury brands, making 4-6 collections a year, with 50+ looks, all fighting for the same fabric types, and the textile manufacturers are increasing production to make these demands, but sacrifice quality control. And the luxury sector doesn't care much because the new customers care more about branding than the quality older generations care more about.

 

[floatinglili]

Viscose, Lyocell, Cupro, etc is a nice low-maintenance alternative to silk, the semi-synthetic fiber is great under machine washing environments like jennit said (silk, especially crepes, chiffons, and those with very intricate patterns can be fragile for a lot of people).

I spoke my tailor who's been in the business for decades about it, and while he's still partial to silk, he concedes to how viscose, etc is more breathable in silk (which is why some brands use cupro for lining when making spring/summer jackets), great for warmer weather, and vegan-friendly.

He also added a theory to the lowering quality of fabrics (like a lot of rtw fabrics being lower durability and thinner stuff) because too much clothing is being made, even in the luxury sector. Tons of luxury brands, making 4-6 collections a year, with 50+ looks, all fighting for the same fabric types, and the textile manufacturers are increasing production to make these demands, but sacrifice quality control. And the luxury sector doesn't care much because the new customers care more about branding than the quality older generations care more about.

What am I missing with the care of viscose? I manage to turn lovely silky light viscose into stiff brittle cardboard with a single cold ‘hand wash’ cycle front loader wash?

 

[Christofle]

What’s quite unfair is this issue seems to plague women’s ready to wear far more than men’s. You can still find ginza and sea island cottons from the big designer labels, super 160 and even super 210 wools… However when I look for gifting options for the women in my life; outside of The Row and a few others, it is rather difficult to find luxurious fabrics.

 

[Cheddar Cheese]

What am I missing with the care of viscose? I manage to turn lovely silky light viscose into stiff brittle cardboard with a single cold ‘hand wash’ cycle front loader wash?

Sorry this happened to to!

Maybe there was residue inside the washer under the basket. My machine died recently & I was completely shocked at the goo under the basket, I’d been using a EU washer cleaning product too!

Anything I truly love does not go in the machine. Almost anything short of sturdy jeans go into fine mesh laundry bags.

Muji has great laundry bags or Asian supermarkets( much cheaper & still great)
Good luck!

 

[Sparkletastic]

What’s quite unfair is this issue seems to plague women’s ready to wear far more than men’s. You can still find ginza and sea island cottons from the big designer labels, super 160 and even super 210 wools… However when I look for gifting options for the women in my life; outside of The Row and a few others, it is rather difficult to find luxurious fabrics.

This extends to the ability to have items custom made. Numerous options exist for non couture level excellent tailors for men’s shirts, suits, etc. I and my BFF are desperate to find a good tailor for womenswear and it’s like looking for a ball of cotton candy on the dark side of the moon.

I want quality (natural) fabrics, structure, excellent tailoring, unique style and flawless fit… I’m dreaming.

 

[Christofle]

This extends to the ability to have items custom made. Numerous options exist for non couture level excellent tailors for men’s shirts, suits, etc. I and my BFF are desperate to find a good tailor for womenswear and it’s like looking for a ball of cotton candy on the dark side of the moon.

Very true !

 

[rutabaga]

What am I missing with the care of viscose? I manage to turn lovely silky light viscose into stiff brittle cardboard with a single cold ‘hand wash’ cycle front loader wash?

IME viscose hardens and sometimes shrinks when wet, but softens and goes back to its original size after air drying. I have a couple viscose dresses that are 10+ old that I machine wash cold in delicates bags. They’ve pilled a little bit look ok for their age.

 

[tbbbjb]

I started this thread a couple of years ago and maybe others here maybe benefit from what our fellow members had to say:https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...-and-high-quality-brands.995747/post-33494990

 

[Brooklynite]

what a great topic. I've noticed this transition since the GFC. I just don't buy them...plasticky fabrics feel awful against the skin, no matter what brands they are.

 

[Sparkletastic]

what a great topic. I've noticed this transition since the GFC. I just don't buy them...plasticky fabrics feel awful against the skin, no matter what brands they are.

I completely agree.