In Vogue with Organic

Wearing fashionable clothing has always allured the human kind. In the annals of history, we find pictures of innumerable people dressed in elaborate clothing of their times, which took a long time to sew as it was all hand-made and some of the materials had to be procured from distant places, which also took months to arrive.  So it seems that fashion clothing was not only organic, but expensive and was generally worn by the wealthy. The less wealthy had to make do with whatever was available locally.

With the advent of industrialization, invention, economies of scale, speed of transportation and other advancements the luxury goods have been commoditized, made easily available to all and affordable.  Now it is not just cotton, silk, linen that we can easily buy, but other types of fabricated or synthetic materials like rayon, polyester, nylon etc. The textile industry has made incredible inventions with fabric texture which has made designer clothes more affordable. From a style perspective it is wonderful that anyone can wear the designer clothes and look their best in social and professional settings.

However these fabricated clothing material like polyester, nylon, rayon etc have by-products of petroleum and plastic, which are toxic for the system and the environment. We not only breathe through our nose, but also through our skin. The skin is the largest organ and whatever it touches can be absorbed through our pores and into our blood stream. The skin has tiny pores through which it releases sweat, which means that tiny particles are being absorbed.  By wearing these unnatural fabrics, your skin is in constant contact with toxic substances, not to mention these are hard fabrics, cutting out the breathability of your skin. Especially if spending time outdoors it is important that fresh air, vitamin D, and sunshine is seeping in through the pores of your skin. Imbibing these natural nutrients enhances our overall wellbeing. As an experiment, wear only organic clothing like cotton, raw silk or linen for a week.  There is a huge difference in the way your body functions when you wear synthetic clothing and when you wear organic clothing. You will notice that your entire system feels much more alive and responsive to everything around you.

Wearing fabricated clothing is certainly alright once in a while. There are certain kinds of sports like swimming, for instance, where you have to wear synthetic or fabricated material.  In casual, social and business settings, organic clothing works very well and looks fashionable too. Certainly, if you are doing yoga then organic clothing is the best. Yoga is a fantastic practice of detoxifying the entire system – starting with the body, working on the mind, emotion and lastly, the energy system. How our energy system functions is largely dependent on the amount of toxins our body is exposed to.  In order for the mind, body and energy to be in tune with each other, it is important to be conscious of what we wear, what we eat and how we think.  For “modern yogi’s” this is a journey to an awareness, mindfulness and connectedness about the health and wellbeing of not only ourselves, but the environment.

Organic clothing is more durable than synthetic fabric and lasts longer.  Organic clothing means less chemicals and better for your body and health. Shopping organic is good for the environment as well. It also comes with its owns unique style and fashion sense.  By wearing sustainable fashion, you’re also making a statement that  you care about others, the environment and that it matters to you where your clothing comes from and how it’s produced. This goes along with what it means to be passionate about the yoga lifestyle, when you care about everyone’s wellbeing including your own.

So the next time you go to the store, look for that organic clothing section. The price tag may be intimidating but the benefits outweigh the costs. Purchasing synthetic fibers is cheaper, but in the long run, it’s cheaper to invest in quality because it will last longer through wear and wash.  You end up buying fewer clothes, but it is well worth it, as you don’t have manage that huge wardrobe and use that time that you spend shopping and managing the wardrobe doing things you love. If affordability is in question, at the very least ensure that your undergarments are made from organic fabric  In a nutshell, think quality over quantity while shopping.