On our blog we have mentioned many times that microfiber towels or polyester bedding are not a good choice for toddlers or allergy sufferers. What’s more, these artificial and synthetic fibers can cause skin reactions even among customers who have not previously reported dermatological or allergological problems. We decided to take this idea a little further, proving that natural fabrics – with linen at the forefront – are definitely a safer and healthier option. We will show you all the advantages of natural materials!
A FEW WORDS ABOUT ARTIFICIAL AND SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
Let’s start from the beginning – i. e. by explaining what synthetic and artificial fibers are. As the name suggests, their origin has nothing to do with the environment or nature. The source of fibers is the laboratory, where both natural ingredients (e. g. wood cellulose) and completely artificial are used. Color, formula, and texture are applied to them chemically and using different (not always ethical) techniques. While plastics (e. g. viscose) are not so dangerous, synthetics can be a source of many problems. In the further part of the post, we will list you the advantages of natural materials.
They are dominated by the ubiquitous, cheap, and popular polyester, which is made from dicarboxylic acids and polyhydroxy alcohols. These fibers are treated and undergo many processes, which makes it very difficult to dye them.
POLYESTER, LYCRE AND ELASTAN ALLERGY?
When we talk about allergenic materials, we mainly mean not the fiber itself, but additives or processes that affect their structure and color. Allergies to lycra or elastane are mainly due to the methods used by manufacturers to reduce the cost of fabric production. Among the ingredients that cause rash, redness, excessive dryness, inflammation, or allergies on the part of the respiratory system, are listed:
- Pesticides – popular plant protection products that can contaminate tissues, contributing to skin inflammation.
- Chlorophenols – they are used not only in the textile industry but also as a component of water and wastewater disinfection. It has been proven that contact with this group of ingredients can cause a number of ailments – also from the side of the digestive system.
- Formaldehyd – lotne związki, unoszące się w powietrzu i osadzające się na włóknach. Stosuje się je do produkcji filtrów węglowych. Udowodniono, że już 1ppm może działać drażniąco na skórę czy śluzówkę oczu.
- Dyes – mainly nitrogen dyes – have been analyzed in textile industries since the 14th century. Among the most harmful are: Suspension Blue 35 (1% occurrence) and Suspension Orange 1, which cause severe allergic reactions.
- Heavy metals – mainly cadmium, lead, and chromium, which is often used di tanning leather and dyeing fabrics. Each of them is highly toxic.
LINED TO THE RESCUE! ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL MATERIALS.
Now we will list the advantages of natural materials. In response to these harmful techniques, natural fabrics come to the rescue, which completely uses the gifts of nature and the beauty of the environment. This is how the flax we use comes from European crops – specifically French and Belgian – and is 100% natural. In its cultivation and subsequent use, we do not use mentioned pesticides, chlorophenols, formaldehyde, allergenic dyes, prohibited azo dyes, or extracted heavy metals. In addition, the fabric is OECO-TEX certified – which means that all products are free from harmful and hazardous substances. This means that both linen bedding for adults and linen for children, for example, is the best option for delicate and demanding skin.
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