You may have just read the title of this article and thought… surely they’re not about to try and convince me to wrap myself in the green, slimy and briny-scented algae as a piece of clothing?
Well, not entirely (but kind of). Here’s the low-down on seaweed.
It’s no secret, seaweed has a whole heap of vitamins and minerals and health benefits that are highly nutritious for our bodies; we love it in everything from food to our skin and healthcare and all kinds of other things.
But what about in our clothing?
Recently, seaweed has actually taken reign as a more sustainable version of cotton or polyester. The 2019 study found that it can absorb up to 20 times the amount of CO2 as plants. Even better? It’s completely biodegradable!
Let’s dive into what this looks like for the fashion industry, the future of sustainability and more specifically, here at Mereton Textiles.
Seaweed is ‘having its moment’ in the fashion industry
Eco-fashion is now everywhere you look; it’s not just the environmentally conscious, even your grandma knows that the fashion industry is going all in when it comes to trying to reduce its impact on the planet.
There’s no wonder that the likes of Pangaia, Frank & Oak, Katla, Letitia Credidio, lululemon and a continually growing number of clothing brands have jumped on the bandwagon.
These big-named brands have produced clothing such as knits, underwear and athleisure all made from seaweed fiber.
That’s because besides being a sustainable alternative to traditional textiles, seaweed fiber also has a number of other benefits including wearing comfort and moisture absorption. Some inventors even go as far as to say it has a positive effect on the body when worn next to the skin.
What makes seaweed fabric so special?
Seaweed fabric is a semi-synthetic textile, meaning that it’s a blend of natural cellulose from beech or eucalyptus trees combined with seaweed, then spun together to create a soft, stretchy and durable yarn.
Calling it special doesn’t even really come close to what it’s capable of; it not only champions zero-waste, but it also avoids harmful chemicals, is absorbent and biodegradable and is kind to our planet. What more could we want?
Seaweed clothing just makes sense (even if you’re not a mermaid)
We’ve only scratched the surface on the possibilities of seaweed fabric and as we move towards a future where sustainable, recycled and reusable textiles become the norm, we at Mereton are open to exploring more of these innovative textiles.
What are your thoughts on fabrics made from seaweed?
Post feature photo by Martin Dawson on Unsplash
