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Why Most Clothing Is Plastic — And How It Impacts Your Health
When I first learned that nearly 69% of all global fiber production now comes from synthetic materials, I had to pause and let the weight of that number sink in. Almost seven out of every ten fibers made today are plastic-based — polyester, nylon, acrylic, and similar petroleum-derived materials woven into the clothes most of us wear without a second thought. For someone who has dedicated years to creating clothing that supports real wellness, that statistic felt both alarming and clarifying.
At BeachCandy Organics, this reality only strengthens my commitment to natural fibers. Understanding that the majority of the world is wrapped daily in petrochemical textiles pushes me to look more closely at the impact this has on our bodies and our planet. It’s not just an abstract environmental issue — it’s something that affects the clothes we put on our skin every morning, the garments our children grow up wearing, and the future landscape they’ll inherit.
Why so much plastic in our clothing?
There’s a reason the fashion industry leans so heavily into synthetics:
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Cost & convenience. Synthetic fibers are cheap to produce and offer durability, stretch, and versatility. Polyester alone — the world’s most common synthetic fiber — made up 59% of total global fiber output in 2024. Source: Fashionating World
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Scalability & demand. With global fiber production hitting record highs in recent years, the growth has come almost entirely from synthetic fibers. Source: Textile Exchange
- Consumer expectations. Fast fashion, frequent turnover, affordability — all push the industry toward cheap, easy-to-make synthetics rather than more expensive natural or organic fibers.
From a business perspective, I get the logic. But from a human, health-and-planet-centered perspective, these choices come with hidden costs that ripple far beyond the price tag on a shirt or pair of leggings.
Image by fabrikasimf on Freepik
The impacts in our daily lives — visible and invisible
Microplastic pollution & environmental contamination
When synthetic clothes are washed, worn, dried — even simply washed — tiny plastic fibers (microfibers) shed off and enter water systems. These microplastics are too small for most wastewater treatment plants to filter out. As a result, they flow from our washing machines into rivers, oceans, marine ecosystems, and eventually back into food chains — threatening wildlife, ecosystems, and even human health. Environmental agencies estimate that hundreds of thousands of tons of microplastic fibers enter marine environments each year.
What this means: every time we do laundry, we could be contributing to plastic pollution — even if we think we’re doing something as ordinary as washing a shirt.
Dependence on fossil fuels & climate cost
Synthetic fibers aren’t natural — they come from fossil fuels. Producing them requires oil, energy, and chemical processing. The global textile industry consumes a significant portion of global oil output just in fiber production.
Because synthetic fibers dominate fiber production globally, the climate and environmental footprint of clothing is massive. The convenience and affordability of polyester clash with its hidden ecological and climate costs.
Skin contact: what we wear every day matters
At BeachCandy Organics, we believe deeply that what touches the skin matters. Our skin is semi-permeable and biologically reactive — it absorbs a portion of what comes into contact with it. Synthetic fabrics are often treated with chemical finishes, dyes, softeners, brighteners, or coatings. Many of those may linger on skin, irritate, or carry long-term health effects.
By contrast, our clothes are made using fabrics processed under strict organic standards (GOTS or equivalent), with no genetically modified seeds, no toxic pesticides, and no harmful finishes like silicone softeners, synthetic scent coatings, or optical brighteners. They’re breathable, hypoallergenic, naturally antimicrobial — designed to protect your skin rather than tax it.
What this means for young lives — future generations
When we think of sustainability, we often think about recycling, reducing waste, saving water. But clothing is more than just utility — it’s the second skin many people wear daily, including children.
- Early exposure: Kids’ skin is delicate and more permeable, so chemical residues from synthetic clothing (dyes, finishes, softeners) may affect them more significantly. Wearing garments made from natural, organic fibers reduces that exposure.
- Long-term environmental legacy: The microplastics shed today don’t disappear. Younger and future generations will inherit the consequences — polluted oceans, contaminated water, and ecosystems clogged with plastic fibers. What we wear now helps shape the world they’ll live in.
- Normalizing sustainable habits: When families choose clothing made from natural fibers — especially for children — they help build a culture of awareness. As demand grows, it sends a signal to the fashion industry to invest in cleaner, healthier, more sustainable materials.
At BeachCandy Organics, our hope is that by offering organic, natural clothing options, we contribute meaningfully to a healthier future: for people, and for the planet.
What we’re doing — and how our Organic Clothing helps
BeachCandy Organics was born out of a desire to offer clothing that doesn’t just look good — but does good for your body and the planet. Here’s how we live up to that promise:
- We source all fabrics under strict organic standards (GOTS or equivalent). No GM seeds. No toxic pesticides. No harmful chemical finishes.
- Our garments are made with breathability, hypoallergenic comfort, and natural antimicrobial properties — a protective barrier between you and the environment.
- We support ethical, transparent manufacturing: from artisan partners in India to small-batch production — ensuring traceability, fair labor standards, and respect for water and environmental resources.
On our Organic Clothing page, you’ll find organic staples like cotton/hemp blend shirts, linen tops, natural fiber dresses, and more. Each piece lets you step away from petrochemical-based synthetic fashion and choose garments that are healthier, kinder, and more sustainable.
Spotlight on Natural Fiber Pieces You Can Wear Today
At BeachCandy Organics, we don’t just talk about a healthier, more sustainable wardrobe — we build it. Below are a few of our favorite garments, each thoughtfully made with organic or plant-based fibers, free of toxic finishes, and designed to feel luxurious on your skin while gentle on the planet.
1. Organic Handkerchief Hem Dress – An elegant, flowing dress crafted from natural-fiber fabric. This dress moves with you, breathes with you, and offers a soft alternative to the scratchy, synthetic dresses flooding fast-fashion racks. It’s comfort and style — without compromising wellness.
2. Women’s Organic Activewear Legging & Women’s Organic Activewear Crop Top – If you’re working out, stretching, or simply running errands, this activewear set offers the freedom of movement you need — but with clean, non-toxic materials. Unlike most synthetic workout gear (which can trap sweat and release microplastics or chemical residues), these pieces are breathable, plant-based, and designed to support your body, not stress it.
3. Organic High Neck One‑Piece Bathing Suit, Organic Convertible Bandeau Bikini Top, and Organic Adjustable Swim Bottom – Beach days don’t have to mean plastic against your skin. Our organic swimwear line proves you can enjoy the sun, sea, and sand without compromising on health or environmental values. These bathing suits and bikinis are made with natural fibers rather than petrochemical-based synthetics, bringing a refreshing alternative to typical swimwear.
4. Women’s Organic Underwear – Perhaps the most intimate piece we wear daily. Most underwear on the market is made with nylon, polyester, or spandex — materials that can trap heat, moisture, and even harbor chemical residues. Our organic hemp-cotton underwear replaces those synthetic fibers with breathable, naturally antimicrobial, hypoallergenic materials. It’s skin-safe, health-conscious, and aligned with our belief that what touches your skin daily matters deeply.
5. Organic Hemp Bandeau Bralette – A gentle, supportive bralette made from plant-based fibers. Because it avoids synthetic elastic, chemical finishes, and unnecessary additives, it offers a clean, natural feel — ideal for those with sensitive skin, or anyone committed to minimizing toxin exposure from clothing.
Each of these pieces represents more than a garment — they’re a small but meaningful act of rebellion against the “fast fashion” norm. By choosing organic, plant-based fibers, we reclaim clothing as something that supports our health, respects our bodies, and honors the Earth.
If you’re reading this and feeling inspired, I hope you take a moment to explore these options. Investing in even one “clean” piece is a step toward a gentler wardrobe — for you, your skin, and the planet we all share.
Why we must shift: small choices, big ripple effects
It’s easy to think our individual clothing choices are insignificant. A shirt is just a shirt. But consider this: with nearly 70% of global fiber production tied to synthetics, and with microplastics entering our water systems every day, each time we choose natural, organic clothing — or even thrift, repair, reuse — we reduce demand for fossil-based plastics. We cut down potential microfiber pollution. And we reclaim clothing as something close to nature again.
For me, that’s part of the mission of BeachCandy Organics: to help create a world where what we wear nourishes us and protects us — and where the young lives stepping into the future don’t inherit a planet suffocating in microplastic pollution.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I care about what touches my skin, and I care about the world I leave behind,” I invite you to explore our organic clothing line. Even small shifts — one shirt, one pair of pants — can send a powerful message: we don’t accept pollution as a given. We choose better.
Because at the end of the day, clothing shouldn’t just cover us — it should care for us.
