ARE YOUR CLOTHES MAKING YOU SICK?

Did you know that the clothes we wear contain BPA, PFAS, and other dangerous substances and, that with all the knowledge available we still know little about their cumulative impact?

Every item of clothing we wear from shoes, underwear, outer garments, and even wedding dresses is subject to containing levels of toxic chemicals that could be harmful to us. Dangerous chemicals are not listed in the ingredients and the fashion industry is rife with toxic chemicals, like formaldehyde and chromium, which are both carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting polyfluoroalkyl substances (also known as PFAS, or “forever chemicals”), linked to infertility and other health issues. The truth is that producers of ‘dreamy’ wedding dresses made from cheap materials to which they use glues to attach beadwork, crinoline hemlines, and applique work to your gorgeous gown instead of using traditional techniques. The glues contain harmful chemicals that irritate the skin and can upset the immune system leading to wider issues.

After watching a program on Netflix recently, or perhaps I should use the phrase ‘binge-watching’ a series during an afternoon of hand sewing, the series titled ‘You Are What You Eat’: A Twin Experiment. Identical twins changed their diet and lifestyle for eight weeks in a unique scientific experiment to explore how certain foods impact the body.

Disclaimer: While the series may not be completely unbiased, its overarching message is undeniably positive and uplifting. It calls on each of us to play a role in making the world a better place.

The program prompted me to revisit the question: if, our choice of food has such an impact on our health and well-being, then what about other pollutants that enter our bodies externally, such as clothing, creams, toothpaste, lotions, body-washes, etc? This topic makes me feel rather uncomfortable because the levels of toxicity and chemicals present in the foods we purchase and consume are considered acceptable (passable) by the food standards agencies.

As I research and read more about the topic, the fashion industry rears its head and I stumble across the article asking if our clothes make us sick.

I almost choked as I read it! I then stopped to think about the number of skin-related issues my daughter had growing up. None of which were ‘gene-related’ and for which the doctor repeatedly handed out steroids like they were sweets. My thoughts then turn to my nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. A generation for whom fashion and trends move super-fast. I spied that much of their clothing is purchased from Primark, internet giants Shein and Temu (in the news again today as giants of the cheap fashion markets). It doesn’t take long to unearth the truth and make the connection between low-value clothing and its impact on the health of our children and families. A brief inspection will reveal the quality of their clothing has taken low to a whole new level and, this low-level quality has already infiltrated the bridal fashion market with cheap materials, poorly made low-budget gowns that cost next to nothing to produce overseas.

On the other side of this discussion on why our clothes are making us sick, is the millions of workers who suffer serious health-related problems resulting from exposure to toxic harmful chemicals. While you could say, I will only be wearing my wedding dress for a few hours – those few hours, are a few hours too many in our opinion; enough time for the body to absorb through the glands a whole host of poisons that you wouldn’t consider putting in your mouth.

Please understand that we are not looking down our noses at others on a tight budget; but because these gowns are poorly fitted and cost more to put right compared to a dress of better quality. So, in short, we raise the issue to educate others and not alienate.

I remember writing a paper in 2011 for my MA on the Future of Fashion. Retrospectively, focusing entirely on digital technology and its impact on how fashion is produced, presented, and received by consumers, seems juvenile. Nowhere in my wildest dreams, did I consider the contamination of materials in the production chain and its impact on health.

recycled decomposed materials reconstructed as a dress on a mannequin

So Why Are Our Clothes Making Us Sick?

The good thing about being in the industry for so long is that you become aware of patterns and changing norms over time. I cannot claim to be an expert on the scientific side BUT, I can honestly say, within the past decade, there has been a steady rise of brides coming to me with serious skin problems that they want to be concealed through the use of clever designs to enable them to have the confidence to wear the dress of their dreams on their big day. I know that skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer, and other skin-related diseases, have existed for longer than I have been in business, I cannot but note the increase of ailments among my customers with these common problems.

If you haven’t read anything for a while, The Guardian Newspaper took on the subject and this article makes a good read to keep us updated on the real cost of cheap clothing brands. I agree It is scandalous that we are not protected more, but we also need to take responsibility and make better choices for ourselves and our future families.

How We Practice Sustainably In The Everyday

. Real bride getting into her restyled heirloom wedding dress

On a daily basis, we are often asked for articles promoting sustainable products particularly if we use sustainable fabrics. In our opinion, it is a tick box excercise to sell magazines. The word is vastly overused as a sales tool and little understood; in much the same way as the word Couture is overused to raise the profile and legitimacy of mass-produced products. By the very nature of what we do, we are 100% sustainable.

We produce ‘one-at-a-time’ orders to minimise wastage,
We support locally based UK producers – many of whom have generational family-owned businesses – such as Nottingham Lace producers, who recently received a coveted Royal status as British Brand.
As a small business/creator/makers – we carry stocks of fabrics held in our production room as ‘deadstock’ fabrics and we purchase them from other companies who may be closing down to help our brides save money.
We carry rolls of Italian-produced silks suitable for ‘one-off’ designs. These rolls are what we call ‘off-cuts’. They are simply waiting for the right customer to choose them.
Silk is a naturally produced and sustainable product.
We recycle everything! Our latest collection ‘Dreams of Paris’ – many pieces are re-modeled from previous collections to reduce wastage.
We offer brides a Remodel & Restyle of existing family heirloom and pre-loved wedding dresses

The Truth About Shopping For Sustainable Wedding Dresses

The best approach for brides-to-be who want to be sure they are not contributors or partakers to the ongoing damage caused by fast fashion, is to adopt an intentional approach to wedding dress shopping.

Seek out investment pieces
Consider re-wearable pieces that last.
Avoid the use of cheaper materials, like polyester; to make these products requires fossil fuels, which do not biodegrade and sit in landfills and water systems
Make a point of sourcing and using ethical producers who produce to order.
Explore natural fabrics like silk, cotton, wool and linen
Don’t be fooled. Just because the label says sustainably produced, doesn’t mean that it is.

Sadly, many modern brides are unaware of the quality and availability of UK products purely because the price point of home-produced products is not at the lower pricing end to compete within the modern bridal fashion space. However, that does not mean that sourcing locally produced sustainable products is overly priced, it usually works out to be much the same as a shop-bought ready-made dress but without the high street mark-up.

Both PR and press agencies supporting the promotion of ‘Sustainable Bridal Gowns’, must take accountability for using the opportunity to boost sales without questioning and doing the homework on sustainable practices and products they are promoting.

Modern fabrics are said to be produced using environmentally friendly practices that use less water, produce less gases, yadda yadda yadda. But the question I raise is, if the raw materials are grown, like our foods with pesticides and other harmful chemicals; how can they even be considered ‘green products’? Add to this, the factories that continually practice unethical labour to produce garments made with ‘planet-friendly’ cloth. Do these products comply and operate in an environmentally safe and ethical way to maintain the integrity of the product?

And, did you know that the price per metre of an ‘environmentally friendly’ fabric, is compatible with some of the finest silks on the market, which makes no sense if the overall aim is to change the way we shop.

Ok, so I am almost 1300 words into this topic and could raise several more points. But, the idea is to share what I have learned in the hope it causes you to question and consider whether poor quality low-priced goods are worth sacrificing your health.

A few more articles below for you to read in your own time and should you feel encouraged to join the conversation, we’ would love to meet you over on Instagram.

Glued Swarovski Crystal Wedding Dress should come with a disclaimer – these stones will fall off when drycleaned

Bride develops allergy to wedding dress

Fast Fashion is not recylclable and its destroying our planet

How Toxic Fashion is Making Us Sick – Author Alden Wicker