Thank you Subrina! Love love love this essay - so much food for thought. These restrictions-based approaches do feel very linked to white supremacy and diet culture. I keep thinking of something you wrote a while ago regarding your own need for a variation of styles in boots, versus this idea of finding THE perfect boot that will work always and forever (never mind that this is an impossible pursuit). Life changing perspective for me - I know understand my own need for variation and flexibility in my wardrobe (and also in other areas of life) and that that is what will create longevity, as opposed to “the perfect” whatever. That’s the main takeaway for me personally from this article too - not all clothes will work always - synthetic, natural fibers or blends all have their place, depending on what the purpose is.
I love your take on restraint/restriction. That's what it all comes down to. It's so troubling to me that the natural fibers mob talks about linens, cottons and wools from Zara et al as if they were great options just because they're not synthetics. The cost to the environment and the people who make these cheaply produced natural fibers is unacceptable.
I'm most definitely a proponent of good quality natural fibers, and even though microplastics terrify me and I fear and loathe the oil industry, I wear my Pleats Please poly skirts like nothing else in my wardrobe. I have no patience to press my wool trousers after every wear so I need them to come with some poly. I will not accept acrylic though. Acrylic has no redeeming qualities and I will fight anyone who claims otherwise!
I despise acrylic knits with every fiber (hehe) of my being. The staticky feeling and overheating while wearing them made me cross acrylic yarns from my list, although maybe in an overcoat it could work for me if I didn't live in a hot and humid city with really short winters.
love this… i love flax brand 100% linen pants but i wear through the crotch in 6 months and patching it up is a total pain. I got some nice barrel legged linen/rayon blend pants and have worn them at least once a week for a year and they look exactly the same in the crotch as when i got them! great news for my budget and i don’t get attached to pants that i know won’t last.
title lol. makes me think of the off the charts, literally impossibly high thread counts presented to us by makers of “luxurious” egyptian cotton bedding
Thank you Subrina! Love love love this essay - so much food for thought. These restrictions-based approaches do feel very linked to white supremacy and diet culture. I keep thinking of something you wrote a while ago regarding your own need for a variation of styles in boots, versus this idea of finding THE perfect boot that will work always and forever (never mind that this is an impossible pursuit). Life changing perspective for me - I know understand my own need for variation and flexibility in my wardrobe (and also in other areas of life) and that that is what will create longevity, as opposed to “the perfect” whatever. That’s the main takeaway for me personally from this article too - not all clothes will work always - synthetic, natural fibers or blends all have their place, depending on what the purpose is.
Stellar take on the materials debate!
I love your take on restraint/restriction. That's what it all comes down to. It's so troubling to me that the natural fibers mob talks about linens, cottons and wools from Zara et al as if they were great options just because they're not synthetics. The cost to the environment and the people who make these cheaply produced natural fibers is unacceptable.
I'm most definitely a proponent of good quality natural fibers, and even though microplastics terrify me and I fear and loathe the oil industry, I wear my Pleats Please poly skirts like nothing else in my wardrobe. I have no patience to press my wool trousers after every wear so I need them to come with some poly. I will not accept acrylic though. Acrylic has no redeeming qualities and I will fight anyone who claims otherwise!
I despise acrylic knits with every fiber (hehe) of my being. The staticky feeling and overheating while wearing them made me cross acrylic yarns from my list, although maybe in an overcoat it could work for me if I didn't live in a hot and humid city with really short winters.
diabolical linen skirt sets 😅
This is a phenomenal essay! Thank you for this, I will return to it often.
thank you for giving us so much to think about and consider! This whole read was 🎯🎯🎯 for me, really enjoyed it.
love this… i love flax brand 100% linen pants but i wear through the crotch in 6 months and patching it up is a total pain. I got some nice barrel legged linen/rayon blend pants and have worn them at least once a week for a year and they look exactly the same in the crotch as when i got them! great news for my budget and i don’t get attached to pants that i know won’t last.
title lol. makes me think of the off the charts, literally impossibly high thread counts presented to us by makers of “luxurious” egyptian cotton bedding
I love this post. The first half reads like the manifesto from Jerry Maguire and I’m so here for it.
So good! Im so excited to learn as much as possible about the clothing i love to buy! Very educational !