With increasing interest in sustainability, many outdoors enthusiasts are edging away from synthetic fabrics, which offer amazing performance at a high cost to the environment, and towards natural fabrics once again. It used to be the case that all of our clothing was made using natural fabrics, but with the advent of mass production came synthetic alternatives like nylon, polyester and acrylic that often look and act like natural fabrics, but are more durable and are usually moisture-wicking and quick drying, qualities that are desirable for sweaty outdoor adventures hiking, trail running and camping. However, these synthetics have their drawbacks, and a major sticking point is that being made from plastic, once they arrive in the landfill at the end of their life cycle, they’ll be there forever.
Consequently, many of us are seeking natural fabrics that will keep us safe and dry on the trail with a smaller carbon footprint, and it can be hard to know where to look first. Is a fabric automatically more sustainable just because it’s natural? Which natural fabrics perform best when you’re sweaty or cold?
