Story at a glance
- The fashion industry has a big impact on the environment.
- This includes even “natural” materials like cotton and leather.
- New companies are trying to chart a new way forward using invasive species, mushrooms, and other sustainable materials.
(NewsNation) — The fashion industry (companies that construct clothing or make the materials for clothing) accounts for up to 4% of global climate emissions and an unknown but large percentage of worldwide water pollution.
“Natural” materials like cotton and leather have huge impacts on the environment and humans. Cotton relies on pesticides, and in many parts of the world it’s harvested by children and forced laborers.
Animal leather means raising cattle in ways that often lead to deforestation, water pollution and increased carbon emissions.
The alternatives aren’t much better. Legacy synthetic fabrics like polyester contain microplastics that shed into the water supply with every washing. And “vegan” leather is often made from products derived from fossil fuels.
As governments move to regulate fabric waste, environmental entrepreneurs have found various ways to make fabrics from sources never considered – or available – before.
“We have created a new category of leathers,” says the website for Inversa, a company devoted to making high-fashion clothing and other items from invasive species.
“By removing harmful animals, Inversa accomplishes two things: creating beautiful leathers for the fashion industry and reviving ecosystems around the world,” the site says.
Invesa co-founder Aarav Chavda says his company has caught 50,000 lionfish, Burmese pythons and carp – all invasive species that have no predators in North America. He hopes to increase that number to tens of millions in the coming years.
TomTex is a company based in New York City and Vietnam that’s constructing biodegradable textiles that mimic leather, suede, latex, vinyl and more using two main ingredients: seashells and mushrooms.
“We are designing fabrics that do not rely on harmful construction,” says the TomTex website. “There’s no toxic tanning or dying process, no petro-chemicals or plastics, and no harm to the planet or people.”