The 3 important reasons to wear recycled clothing.

Fashion is an industry that moves billions of dollars annually around the world. Billions of garments are made every day, of all types, uses and materials.

Particularly on this last point, i.e. materials, there has been much controversy and debate, as the vast majority of materials used for clothing are the same materials that have caused serious environmental damage.

Taking this reality into account, an important trend called sustainable fashion has inspired a remarkable variety of mountain clothing using recycled plastics or other materials. The best part is that this trend is booming and ready to change the numbers, as more and more people are interested in supporting the environment and of course dressing stylishly.

Outdoor mountain clothing made from recycled materials.

For any nature lover, it should be a matter of course to equip themselves with mountain clothing made from recycled and sustainable materials, shouldn't it? After all, we want to maintain and care for what we cherish and love so much.

Fortunately, the textile industry offers more and more clothing made from materials that respect and do not harm nature. This is excellent news, as it is in line with your ideals, values and of course your tastes. But...

Why choose to wear sustainable clothing?

There are at least 3 reasons why we might consider using recycled clothing or clothing made from environmentally friendly materials.

1. By using sustainable mountain clothing, we do our bit for the preservation of the environment. By using recycled materials in the manufacture and production of these garments, we recover materials that would otherwise end up as polluting waste.

To put the situation into perspective, according to statistics from the Iberian Textile Recycling Association, each person in the country purchases on average 34 items of clothing annually, which generates about 14 kg of textile waste.

Of course, these statistics involve clothing in general and not just mountain clothing, but they give an idea of the amount of waste we could generate per person. If we multiply these averages for every country in the world, the environmental damage is truly staggering.

2. For our own health. Yes, believe it or not, clothing is often made from materials that in the medium or long term can have adverse effects on our health. In fact, the garment production process, which includes transforming raw materials into materials suitable for the creation of mountain clothing, has an adverse effect on the environment.

For example, in the conventional textile industry, it is known that at least 8000 chemicals are used to transform raw materials into the textiles needed for clothing.

Also according to statistics provided by the non-profit organisation Earth Pledge, 25% of pesticides and insecticides used worldwide are intended to accelerate and protect the cultivation of non-organic cotton. This leads to irreversible damage to some people, not to mention the environment. 

3. Because it is a trend. Sustainable clothing, especially mountain clothing, is really booming. It has never been so easy for large chains and independent companies to make inroads into this sector, which has fewer and fewer limitations.

Today, many companies that have opted for this option have found that producing fabrics from used plastics means at least 50% less energy use and also generates one third less CO2. In short, creating plastic fabric using recycled materials is also very cost-effective.

For this reason, more and more small and medium sized companies are joining the sustainable clothing movement, achieving important advances with extraordinary designs, removing from the minds of buyers the erroneous perception that it is hippie, ugly or trashy clothing.

And it has to be said, a few decades ago, at the beginning of this trend, the garments were not very aesthetic or trend-setting. Nowadays, however, the situation is completely different, as the designs, models and utilities have nothing to envy to clothes made with conventional materials.

Mountain clothing made from recycled plastics.

In the Spanish market there is a wide range of mountain clothing made from recycled materials. Jackets, T-shirts, trousers and even footwear are just some of the products we can buy that are specially designed to withstand the inclemency of the weather and the demands of activities such as mountain hiking, trekking, climbing and more.

The textile catalogue of well-known Spanish brands such as Ternua, Mobel Sport, Lorpen or The Running Republic, to name but a few, is very varied. These companies use plastic from the sea, nut shells, feathers, fishing nets, disused garments or organic cotton to create impressive and durable designs.

Can you imagine hiking in trousers made from recycled fishing nets? Or going hiking and protecting yourself from the rain with a mackintosh made without the use of any toxic materials? And how about running in a T-shirt with anti-bacterial and anti-odour treatment made from materials taken from recycled coffee grounds?

Opening our minds to new possibilities can be a challenge. But if you think about the background and the reasons why it is worth trying these new options, you will surely be surprised at the high quality of the garments available, and you will feel the great satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing to the conservation of the environment and not making the situation worse.

Undoubtedly, opting for sustainable clothing allows us to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the future of the environment and the next generations. In order to make a change, however small, we need to be something different, and sustainable clothing offers us a good opportunity to start.