Sustainable Fashion Fabrics: The Complete Guide to Quality Materials

Why Fabric Matters

You can't build a sustainable wardrobe without understanding fabric.

It determines how a garment feels, how long it lasts, how it ages, and its environmental impact.

Fast fashion has conditioned us to ignore fabric. We look at style and price, but not what the clothing is actually made of.

That's backward. Fabric is everything.

The Most Sustainable Natural Fibers

Organic Cotton

What it is: Cotton grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers

Sustainability:

• Uses 91% less water than conventional cotton
• No toxic pesticides harming soil or workers
• Biodegradable at end of life
• Softer and more durable than conventional cotton

Best for: T-shirts, hoodies, sweats—anything against your skin

How to identify quality:

• Look for GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification
• Weight matters: quality organic cotton tees are 180+ GSM (grams per square meter)
• Pre-shrunk to prevent sizing issues

Linen

What it is: Fabric made from flax plant fibers

Sustainability:

• Flax requires minimal water and no pesticides
• Entire plant is usable (zero waste)
• Biodegradable and compostable
• Gets softer with each wash, lasting decades

Best for: Summer shirts, pants, lightweight layers

Characteristics: Breathable, naturally anti-bacterial, develops beautiful patina with age

Hemp

What it is: Fabric from cannabis sativa plant fibers

Sustainability:

• Requires 50% less water than cotton
• Grows quickly with no pesticides needed
• Actually improves soil quality while growing
• Produces 250% more fiber than cotton on same land
• 3x stronger than cotton

Best for: Durable pants, workwear, structured pieces

Characteristics: Extremely durable, softens with wear, natural UV protection

Wool (Merino)

What it is: Natural fiber from sheep, particularly fine merino sheep

Sustainability:

• Renewable resource (sheep regrow fleece annually)
• Biodegradable
• Naturally temperature-regulating
• Resists odors (less washing needed)

Best for: Base layers, sweaters, cold-weather pieces

Look for: ZQ Merino or RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) certified

Sustainable Synthetic and Alternative Fibers

Recycled Polyester

What it is: Polyester made from recycled plastic bottles or old garments

Sustainability:

• Diverts plastic from landfills and oceans
• Uses 59% less energy than virgin polyester
• Reduces petroleum dependence

Best for: Athletic wear, outerwear, technical pieces

Caution: Still releases microplastics when washed. Use a microfiber filter bag.

Tencel (Lyocell)

What it is: Fabric made from sustainably harvested wood pulp (usually eucalyptus)

Sustainability:

• Closed-loop production (99% of solvents recycled)
• Requires minimal water and land
• Biodegradable
• Naturally breathable and moisture-wicking

Best for: T-shirts, base layers, summer pieces

Characteristics: Silky smooth, drapes beautifully, temperature-regulating

Recycled Cotton

What it is: Cotton fiber reclaimed from post-consumer textiles or factory scraps

Sustainability:

• Reduces textile waste
• Requires no additional water, pesticides, or land
• Lower environmental impact than virgin cotton

Caution: Fibers are shorter than virgin cotton, so often blended for durability

Fabrics to Avoid

Conventional Polyester

Why avoid:

• Made from petroleum (non-renewable)
• Sheds microplastics into waterways
• Takes 200+ years to decompose
• Poor breathability and comfort

Exception: Recycled polyester for technical/performance wear

Conventional Cotton

Why avoid:

• Uses 25% of world's pesticides despite being 2.4% of cropland
• Requires massive amounts of water
• Harmful to cotton farmers and ecosystems

Better alternative: Organic cotton, recycled cotton, or hemp

Viscose/Rayon (non-sustainable)

Why avoid:

• Often made from endangered forest trees
• Production uses toxic chemicals released into waterways
• Not as durable as alternatives

Better alternative: Tencel/Lyocell (same feel, sustainable production)

Acrylic

Why avoid:

• Derived from petroleum
• Sheds microplastics
• Poor breathability
• Doesn't age well (pills easily)

Better alternative: Wool or wool blends

How to Identify Quality Fabric

The Weight Test

Quality fabrics have substance. Pick up the garment—does it feel substantial or flimsy?

Benchmark weights for quality:

• T-shirts: 180-220 GSM (grams per square meter)
• Hoodies: 350-450 GSM
• Denim: 12+ oz per square yard

Lightweight isn't always bad (summer pieces should be lighter), but weight indicates durability.

The Stretch Test

Stretch the fabric horizontally. Quality fabric:

• Returns to original shape immediately
• Doesn't create permanent distortion
• Has slight resistance (not flimsy)

If it stays stretched or feels like it might tear, it's low quality.

The Transparency Test

Hold the garment up to light. Can you see through it easily? If yes (unless it's intentionally sheer), the fabric is too thin or loosely woven to last.

The Touch Test

Run your fingers across the fabric surface:

• Quality fabric: Smooth, consistent texture
• Low-quality fabric: Rough patches, inconsistent texture, plasticky feel

The Seam Test

Check interior seams:

• Are they finished cleanly or raw/fraying?
• Is stitching tight and even?
• Are stress points reinforced?

Seam quality reveals manufacturing standards.

Fabric Blends: When They Work

Not all blends are bad. Strategic blending can improve performance:

Good Blends

• Cotton/Elastane (95/5): Adds stretch without compromising breathability
• Wool/Nylon (80/20): Improves durability while maintaining warmth
• Hemp/Cotton (55/45): Combines hemp durability with cotton softness
• Tencel/Cotton (50/50): Balances moisture-wicking with familiar feel

Questionable Blends

• High polyester content (50%+): Usually just cost-cutting
• Cotton/Viscose blends: Often means lower quality cotton supplemented with cheap viscose

Caring for Quality Fabrics

Washing

• Cold water always: Preserves color and fabric integrity
• Gentle cycle: Reduces wear on fibers
• Turn inside out: Protects exterior from friction
• Wash less frequently: Most pieces don't need washing after every wear

Drying

• Air dry when possible: Extends garment life by 50%+
• If machine drying: Use low heat, remove while slightly damp
• Avoid overdrying: Breaks down fibers faster

Storage

• Fold heavy knits: Hanging stretches them out
• Hang structured pieces: Maintains shape
• Use cedar or lavender: Natural moth deterrent for wool

Quality fabrics last decades with proper care. Fast fashion fabrics last months regardless of care.

The 1ABEL Fabric Philosophy

At 1ABEL, we only use fabrics that meet three criteria:

1. Durability: Must last years of regular wear
2. Comfort: Must feel premium against skin
3. Sustainability: Must minimize environmental impact

Our core fabrics:

• Heavyweight organic cotton (210+ GSM) for t-shirts and base layers
• Premium cotton fleece (400+ GSM) for hoodies and sweats
• Selvedge denim (13+ oz) for bottoms
• Sustainable blends only when they improve performance

No polyester fillers. No cheap viscose. No compromises on quality.

The Bottom Line

Sustainable fashion starts with sustainable fabrics. You can't have one without the other.

Before buying any garment, ask:

1. What is it made of?
2. Does the fabric feel substantial?
3. Will this last years, not months?

If you can't answer confidently, don't buy it.

Your wardrobe—and the planet—deserves better.