In today’s age of social awareness, travelers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact in tourism.
A recent revolution which prioritizes responsible travel has swept up the travel industry, and it is becoming more and more difficult to ignore that irresponsible travel choices have a long-lasting effect on our planet.
But ecotourism goes beyond taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint, and if you’re truly committed to reducing your environmental impact, this should reflect in more basic choices too; like the fabrics you choose when purchasing travel clothing.
Some may think of eco-fashion as a hippie trend, especially when words like hemp and organic get thrown into the mix. But progressive, socially conscious brands like Tentree are changing the way people think.
With a particular focus on hemp for its environmental benefits and durable characteristics as a fabric, Tentree has succeeded in putting together a clothing range that proves eco-fabrics can not only be fashionable, but actually make for better travel clothing.
Why Eco-Friendly Fabrics Make For Better Travel Clothing
A Better Wear
Eco-friendly materials like hemp offer a far better experience when it comes to actual wear. And this is especially true when you’re traveling.
Hemp clothing offers great breathability, anti-microbial (resistant to mold and mildew) and UV-resistant features, making it one of the best choices for active travelers who enjoy time in the outdoors, and often find themselves wet / sweaty!
Hemp is 300% stronger and more durable than cotton, and the fabric is porous, fast drying and naturally provides SPF15 sun protection. It retains color better than cotton, and only gets softer with every wash (as opposed to wearing out like cotton does).
And because it is moisture wicking, it’s very comfortable to wear year round (breathable in the summer, but works to maintain body warmth by trapping air when it’s cooler).
It’s also hypoallergenic against allergies or chemical sensitivity.
In short; hemp products are guaranteed to be the most comfortable, long lasting and sustainably crafted clothing you will ever wear.
Environmentally Friendly
Making ethical travel choices isn’t always easy, but when it comes to choice of clothing, hemp products make the decision pretty straightforward. It’s basically the super star of eco-fabrics.
While there are a number of natural fibers that classify as eco-friendly (see below), hemp is one of the most sustainable natural fibers on the planet, with the least amount of impact on the environment.
Hemp requires very little land to cultivate; crops can produce 250% more fiber than cotton and 600% more fiber than flax using the same amount of space. It also requires very little water, 50% less than cotton does.
The process of transforming raw product into fabric (which can be done organically through a mechanical process that requires no chemicals) results in 60% less air pollution than cotton, and it is amazingly renewable; the plant returns 60-70% of the nutrients it takes from the soil.
Being pesticide free (meaning it’s non-GMO, vegan and doesn’t use any toxic chemicals), companies like Tentree who focus on hemp do so with nature in mind. It is sustainable, renewable, and grows quickly. And it uses less of the planet’s natural resources.
Cost Effective
Ethical travel choices often come at a cost, which doesn’t always make it appealing to make responsible choices. But hemp clothing is very affordable, if not cheaper than cotton products.
Hemp is less expensive too because it is cheaper to farm. With minimal growth requirements like less land, less water, and no chemical intervention, hemp can be produced at a far greater rate than other fiber.
Crops grow quickly, “producing 5-10 tons of cellulose fiber pulp per acre in four months.”
Where to Get Hemp Clothing
When it comes to corporate responsibility and dealing exclusively in eco-friendly clothing, trentree is ahead of the game. They have a fabulous range of hemp clothing for women and men, and every purchase supports their planting project.
By planting ten trees for every purchase, tentree is one of the most environmentally progressive brands on the planet. They don’t want to just reduce the negative impact of the apparel industry, they want to use it as a vehicle for change.
Their purpose is to revitalize our environment and inspire a generation to believe that they can do the same. And while hemp is a focal point of their range, they also embrace the following sustainable fabrics.
A List of Other Sustainable Fabrics
Every tentree item is made using a blend of sustainable fabrics. Here, you will find a few examples of some of the environmentally progressive fabrics they use in their products.
Whether it is organic cotton, recycled polyester, cork, or coconut; you can feel good about how your product is made, and what it is made with!
Organic Cotton
Cotton can be eco-friendly so long as it is certified as organic. This means that it was grown without the use of any harsh chemicals or pesticides.
Conventional Cotton uses more insecticides than any other major crop. Research has shown that this can cause many adverse effects on the soil, water, air, and more.
Choosing to support a brand like tentree who has a commitment to Organic Cotton prevents the use of tonnes of chemicals, which helps reduce the impacts on the environment.
Cork Trims
In an effort to create an even more environmentally progressive product, tentree introduced cork trims.
By stripping the bark from sustainably grown cork trees, it promotes growth and increases the lifespan of the tree. Cork is used instead of leather on our patches, drawcord tabs, zipper pulls, and more.
Recycled Polyester
The use of Recycled Polyester instead of virgin polyester is dramatically better for the environment with estimates as high as 75% reduction in CO2 emissions to create than virgin polyester.
Tentree’s Recycled Polyester is made using recycled bottles and/or PET manufacturing waste that is turned into useable polyester fibers.
The use of recycled polyester reduces their dependence on new petroleum based products and is a major step forward in creating a globally sustainable clothing industry.
TENCEL™ Lyocell
Tentree quotes TENCEL™ Lyocell as the most progressive fiber available.
The material comes from eucalyptus trees, which are fast growing, require no pesticides or insecticides, and need 1/5th of the land to make the same amount of fabric as cotton.
The yarn manufacturing process is fueled by 100% renewable energy and uses 80% less water than conventional fibers. To learn more, check out Lenzing.
Modal
Modal is a bio-based fiber that is made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beechwood trees. The trees are a completely natural and sustainable source of raw material as the beechwood forests self-rejuvenate.
Modal’s natural composition doesn’t trap body heat or perspiration, making it ideal for moderate and leisure activities. The end result is a fabric that is breathable and incredibly soft.
Coconut Buttons
Not only do they look amazing, coconut shell buttons are a durable and sustainable alternative to petroleum-based, plastic buttons.
Coconut buttons are made from the natural by-product of coconut shells and are used on our button ups, henleys and more.
For more info, or to view their eco-friendly collections, visit www.tentree.com
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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.
Having visited 50+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.
This post was completed in collaboration with Tentree. We are proud to support leaders in corporate responsibility and promote socially responsible / environmentally friendly brands. Visit tentree.com to do the same.
8 Comments
Eco-friendly fabric is definitely the better choice when shopping for clothes. It generally isn’t expensive, like the example you gave(TenTree), and it’s very high quality. If you are looking to buy clothing, renewable is the way to go!
Absolutely Susan, fab to hear we’re on the same page! Definitely check out the range at TenTree for when you next go to buy new clothes :)
Are these good for non travel?
Absolutely, eco friendly clothes are great even if you don’t travel :)
Hi Meg, our fabric is made by a novelty fibre that fuses cinnamon extracts with recycled polyester to give it permanent anti microbial function. This replaces short lasting coatings with toxic chemicals such as silver and zinc that wash out and harms the environment. Please let us know if you want to learn more :)
Hi Brian, thanks for reaching out, it sounds like you have a great fabric :) Feel free to email us at megan@mappingmegan.com if you would like to discuss a partnership.
Thanks!
Here you provide eco-friendly wonderful article related to fabric its very useful thank you.
Glad the article was helpful, and that we could introduce you to Tentree :)