Earth Day Illustration: How the Fashion Industry Needs to Return to Natural Handmade Textiles to Save the Environment

I remember when I was a kid, my clothes were all made from natural materials; real wool, real cotton, real linen. Even my Barbie had muted, non-flashy clothes that were mostly made of cotton. And then something happened and artificial fabrics — like rayon and nylon — took over the earth! I created this illustration to honor and remember earth’s abundant heritage of handmade, hand-sewn, and hand-printed fabrics that were once humanity’s only kind of fashion!

I often wonder why is it ethical for the fashion industry to create clothes from non-natural materials, and to charge an arm and a leg for something that is 100% rayon or 100% polyester?

Do you check the label (tucked away inside your new garment) before buying any piece of clothing? I do. You’ll be surprised to learn that the leather shoe in the high-end shop you’ve been lusting after has a viscose interior, and a cheap sole!

Another point I often ponder is why would anyone in their right mind create a sweater that is 30% wool, 40% rayon, and 30% polyester? Our bodies will still be able to know the difference and react accordingly! This kind of hybrid fabric will still be artificial to the touch, and unnatural!

The earth has an abundance of folk, tribal and traditional fabrics, made from natural materials, patterned with cool hand-sewn or block-printed motifs and patterns, and created to last a lifetime.

That’s why I think the fashion and the textiles industries have lost their way and must now return to our roots — to honor the environment, and to start selling us durable, natural, and healthy fashion items that are worthy of their price tag!