The Challenge of Sourcing Eco-Fabrics, A Visit to the LA Textile Show

We just left the ‪LA Textile Show in search of an all-star eco-conscious and socially responsible high-performance fabric manufacturer for our first line of Bōdysuits.

We only needed to spend an hour in the labyrinth of booth setups to realize that our options were incredibly limited. Sourcing eco-activewear fabrics is very challenging. The vast majority of textile manufacturers are not using earth-friendly practices.

“Why”, we asked? It costs about 20% more $$ to make Recycled Polyester (RPET) Fabric. Lululemon, Athleta, and the vast majority of other athletic clothing brands use Virgin Polyester because it keeps costs lower, and consumers are not demanding the cleaner alternative.

Getting to connect with these manufacturers has reminded us of the significance of making purchasing decisions in-line with our values: “voting with our wallets”. Every dollar we spend trickles back to the manufacturer and directly informs their operations. This might not be groundbreaking wisdom for those of you reading this. But it is essential to spread this message to the rest of the consumers participating in the fast fashion trend: Fashion is the second most polluting industry on Earth, right behind oil.

That being said, we’ve identified 2 manufacturers that have great quality RPET and another with a biodegradable offering. We’ve ordered sample fabric and will soon create round 2 of the Bōdysuit prototypes.

If you’re interested in learning more information on the backend of the Fashion industry, I highly recommend the movie, The True Cost.