he conversation around what is classified as “sustainable” or “ethical” has always been a nuanced debate in the conscious fashion world, but a leading consensus is that natural fibers need to be central to our consumption.

 

Under pressure to offer faster and cheaper fashion, most apparel brands are using toxic processes of manufacturing polyesters, nylons, and other synthetics, which are now used more widely than natural fabrics. They’re depleting natural resources at an alarming rate and the emissions associated with their production are wreaking havoc on the quality of our air and water, contributing to climate change the world over.

 

Adding to that, synthetic materials are not biodegradable and are piling up in landfills and leaching chemicals into our soil and water. Suddenly it becomes clear that we should not be building up our reliance on these materials.

 

Natural and renewable fabrics are a huge step in the right direction towards a sustainable supply chain.

 

Cue silk – the fabric so soft it became an adjective.

 

Sourcery Label is combating toxic synthetics with the launch of a new machine-washable silk collection.

Silk: The Natural Super Fiber

 

Soucery’s silk is sourced from the Zhejiang province of China, where silk production originated 5,000 years ago and remains central to the culture. Traditional southern Chinese silks are handmade in a closed-loop ecosystem in which silkworms that spin the superfine threads eat the leaves of mulberry trees planted by ponds, have their waste consumed by fish in the ponds, and in turn fertilize the mulberry trees.

 

Silk filaments can be up to 1,300 meters long – by far the longest naturally occurring fiber used in textiles. (You’ve probably heard about long staple cotton – those max out at about 2 inches).

 

These fibers lend fabric an incredible amount of strength and durability– and as slower fashion means investing in pieces that can stand the test of time, silk pieces are in it for the long run.

 

Although not the option for vegan consumers, silk is considered a renewable resource, as opposed to a finite material, such as fossil fuel derived textiles, like nylon, polyester or acrylic.

The Fashion Industry Has a Polyester Problem

 

60% of the clothing that hangs on the racks of major retailers is made of polyester, a petroleum-based synthetic fabric. Polyester is riddled with unregulated chemicals, relies on heavy emissions and, unlike natural fibers, it won’t decompose for hundreds of years. In fact, microplastic particles that shed from polyester clothing are being found in the ocean and digested by marine life.

 

“I think that the real future of fashion lies in innovative takes on completely natural fabrics. Those that come from the earth and return back into it with minimal impact,” says Nicole Rattner, founder of Sourcery Label.

From Fast Fashion Designer To Sustainable Textile Innovator

 

Once a designer for brands like Victoria’s Secret, Polo Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic, Rattner saw the scale of change needed to take place in the global supply chain first-hand through her travels to mills and factories in China, Vietnam, India and Bangladesh.

 

“I understood I was actually part of the problem”, says Rattner who witnessed hazardous conditions amidst the millions of garments being produced and dyed with unregulated chemicals. “So, I decided to use my experience to help change the future of fashion by creating garments that are safer against the skin, and lighter on the environment.”

 

With over a decade in fabric innovation and development, Rattner took it upon herself to create a polyester alternative made from a natural and renewable source: sustainable silk. She spent months with her team developing a 100% silk fabric just as easy to wear and care for as those made from fossil fuels, but with greater longevity, better drape and convenient machine washability.

Low Maintenance, Sustainable Silk — That You Can Toss in Your Washing Machine

 

“Silk had always felt a little out of reach to me. I’m spill-prone, ride the subway, and don’t have the time or budget for dry cleaning,” says Nicole Rattner, “The washable silk we’ve created is a step in the right direction, because it means we don’t have to sacrifice our values or quality for convenience.”

 

Using high quality silk grown without the use of pesticides or fertilizers, in a region of China that has been producing silk for thousands of years, Rattner’s sustainable silk fabric is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. It regulates body temperature, repels dirt, is hypoallergenic and great for sensitive skin because of its long, smooth fibers that give each style a sand-washed finish and velvety luster. Unlike other silk products, you can simply throw Sourcery Label silk in the wash, and tumble dry, forgoing the cost and carcinogenic properties of dry cleaning.

 

The prints and colors of the Sourcery Label debut collection are suitably inspired by natural stones. Sourcery Label’s ethically manufactured styles include elevated essentials, from the Byron collared shirt with open V neckline to the flattering Wide Leg Silk Crop pants with a comfortable stretch waistband.