Tips For Purchasing Sustainably

Eco-friendly fabrics should be at the top of our priority lists. I received feedback from my clients in the past advising against using natural fabrics, specifically natural cashmere and organic cotton. 

People feel that these fabrics are too difficult to maintain because they tend to pill over time. I understand that frustration completely, although I would say that these are two of my favorite eco-friendly fabrics being offered today. Not only are these fabrics good for the earth but they feel so good against the skin. They breathe because they are natural fibers. 

Let me help with simple care instructions. For the natural cashmere - (100% natural), this is an investment piece so its important to treat well. When cleaning, make sure you source an environmentally friendly dry cleaner. Or, even better, if you have a porch you can hang your sweater overnight with a spritz of lavender linen spray. Aim for one dry cleaning per season. These garments can be worn many times without the need for cleaning. 

For the natural pills that form on the yarn, you can use a sweater stone from www.containerstore.com or use a boar bristle brush to lift them from the surface of the yarn. Find a small battery powered sweater shaver. These are easy to use! This will help minimize pills and you will enjoy the softness of this fabric for many seasons to come. This tip works on any and all types of cashmere that you may already own. 

Care instruction for organic cotton fabric is easy. This fabric, like natural cashmere, also has a slight surface pill that develops over time and wear. Simply washing in cold water with a mild soap and hanging dry versus using the dryer solves the problem. The same sweater stone can be used to remove any minor pills that do form over time.