Z: Zero Plastic Week

As an ecofashionista who’s joined Zero Plastic Week for the second time in a row, I’m up for a challenge. So let’s go beyond the fight against plastic wraps of cucumber, tofu, toothpaste and the like. Because once we take a look at our daily outfits and weekly clothing shopping sessions, it becomes obvious that plastic plays a major role in our wardrobes.

Obviously, the average fashion store is not a particularly plasticfree environment. It’s plastic bags, price tags and clothes hangers galore. The basic step for those striving towards a low plastic lifestyle? Consume less, or go vintage or thrift shopping. And, of course: keep those foldable, reusable shopping bags within reach at all times.

The thing is: a more hidden plastic world lies behind our closets at home. And I’m not talking about those raincoats or fleece vests here. The average wardrobe consists of 50% of polyester items. (The other half is cotton; unfortunately a not so environmentally friendly fabric either). In many cases, natural fibers such as cotton and silk will be blended with nylon or lycra to make them more durable or to give them a better fit. In addition, the availability of contemporary high quality polyesters – which are not as uncomfortable to wear or cheap looking as their predecessors – means that even designer wear can now be made from artificial fibers.

What’s wrong with the abundance of polyesters in our closets, you may ask? The most important issue when it comes to plastic in clothes concerns our washing routines. Every time we wash an item made from polyester, some 1900 plastic fibers end up in the oceans and seas. And once there, the microplastics contribute to the deadly plastic soup.

Even for dedicated ecofashionistas like myself, dressing in style while supporting the fight against the plastic soup is not an easy feat. My search for animal friendly alternatives to leather bags inevitably seems to lead to plastic. For example, slow fashion designer Ellen Willink's bags are made from recycled (plastic) banners. And let’s not forget that even Envirosax’s reusable bags are made from polyesters.

On the upside, anyone who’s seen the images of the plastic soup, and more importantly, its effects on birds and other marine animals, will be stimulated to continue to strive towards a zero plastic life. Because surely, plastic can never be fashionable.