Oh Laura, you've hit a subject near and dear to my heart. I'm a chemist and worked in a water and wastewater treatment laboratory for nearly 20 years, and know well about PFAs and more. My son is an environmental scientist at an international engineering firm that deals with water treatment and pollution, and am learning more from him. I'm an advocate for natural fabrics, especially wool, even in Arizona; the coolest, most comfortable clothing I have for hiking or the gym is 100% wool, far superior to performance sportswear; I even wear wool underwear and bras, fantastically comfortable, like having nothing on. I intended to have my tiny house insulated with wool (yes, there's at least one company that makes wool insulation), but it turned out there was a problem with my particular construction so had to go with mineral wool instead.
I'll stop now, but let me say again how glad I am you wrote about this!
Thanks, Allison. I spent a good chunk of time covering sustainable materials as a journalist, but they were not popular stories. Perhaps I'll try to weave some more of this topic into the newsletter on a regular basis.
Branwyn.com and simplymerino.com are where I've bought mine. I like them both a lot, though they are quite different. Excellent quality, small businesses, very responsive. I know that wool&.com also makes wool bras, but I haven't tried theirs yet.
I should add that I'm small-busted, but my daughter is quite busty and she says the Branwyn busty bra I bought for her is the most comfortable one she owns.
Yes, that's my favorite, but it depends on why I'm wearing one. Honestly I mostly live in loose cotton t-shirts or loose linen shirts and can go without (36A, 6' tall, 155lb). If I need shaping for an outfit I wear an old nylon lightly padded bra (they get so little wear that they last forever) and I put merino nursing pads from simplymerino inside as liners for comfort (so not sweaty). I also sometimes use a simplymerino crop top as a bra when I'm going to be doing anything particularly active; at the gym I can get away with it as a top alone. (I'm pretty modest)
This piece was very eye-opening for me! I never really thought much about these types of fabrics, and I'm always shocked to remember that things like polyester are actually made from petroleum.
I live in a rental flat which came fully furnished… including with a fabric covered headboard on the bed. I’m a sweaty lady and I like to sit on my bed after I run … yes, it really bothers me that I can’t wash that fabric (and I don’t know how it’s been cleaned before I live here). It also attracts dust much more than a wooden or metal bed frame!
There are services that can come in and steam clean for you, if you felt motivated. Another option could be to make a simple slipcover for the rental headboard. I'm imagining something constructed like this: https://www.pbteen.com/products/footboard-cover/
Inspired by your "small changes" advice in a past newsletter, I recently conditioned our leather couch for the first time since we bought it a few years ago. It looks amazing after a solid wipe down and significantly better than our "performance fabric" couch which is showing the impact of two children in a small home. I was anxious when we bought it but a big driver for me was the idea that leather was actually easier to wipe down with kids than fabric. This is great advice!
Kelly, this makes me really happy to hear! We had leather sofas in the family room growing up and they were definitely a good choice for kids. Leather is also great because it can actually develop character and appealing patina with age.
Feeling so inspired by this. I've been looking at potential new sofas for our living room and figuring out how much we'd need to save to buy one. Now I'm looking into saving up for a new linen slipcover to be made locally and figuring out what I can do on my own to help out the seat cushions. (One of them has a rather pokey spring if you put the wrong side facing up, and they're getting a little lopsided after several years of vigorous use. But they're otherwise in good condition, so if anyone has any recommendations, please share!)
I'd talk to the upholsterer about the cushions--and sooner rather than later (if they deteriorate too much they may not be repairable). Reviving an old sofa is very expensive, and best only embarked upon if you truly love it. There are definitely times when it makes more sense to start over. But if you slipcover the existing one, get the help of a professional when you select the fabric, and make sure it has been laundered (to account for initial shrinking) before the seamstress sews the slipcover (often they won't do this for you). If your couch is from a major brand and they still make the sofa, it may be possible to purchase replacement cushions by calling customer service.
It's not a very old sofa, so I don't think the cushions are deteriorating. I just think we have kids who use everything hard! I hadn't even considered replacement cushions from the brand, though. I'll definitely look into that; thanks for the tip!
Hello! I found you from The Good Trade newsletter. So glad I did! I also write (partly) about living more sustainably (with less). My coffee hasn't kicked in so I have nothing else to say. 😅
I will check out your writing—glad to have a kindred reader. Didn’t know about The Good Trade, but I’d love to see the mention of you still have it and have time to forward laurafenton@substack.com
I’m an interior designer and I recommend natural fibers to my clients and talk to them about my PFAS concerns. In my experience some care, some don’t, but I definitely think it’s necessary to have the conversation and I am always excited when clients choose linen or wool. I totally agree slipcovers just make sense! I think many designers like performance fabrics because they worry less about unhappy clients that way (not condoning this, just offering that this could be related to the problem of perfection-seeking in the interiors industry). Most people are reasonable but it can be tricky to decide how much expectation-setting around materials a client can handle. The one area I’m open to something like olefin (plastic but not PFAS treated) is for outdoor furnishings but I’d love to talk about alternatives. From a human health perspective I think it’s ok but environmentally, no. Any readers have a brilliant idea here?
I hate performance fabrics too, and wrote a letter on plastic-free swimwear. I just got a MASA one-piece that's 100% cotton and it was suprisingly perfect at the beach— similar to my Hunza G without the plasticky feel.
Drying time was comparable to synthetic fabric, but at the beach it felt stickier afterwards compared to the pool. There's a gauzy cotton gusset in the crotch which is so nice.
I have several plastic-free swimsuits but it's my fave since it doesn't look as granola as some of the other brands.
OK I’m with you on performance fabrics - I fell for them on a sofa that’s now about seven years old and let me tell you… it looks it!! Performance twill resisted nothing extra when it came to pet and kid mess.
That said, I recently bought a velvet sofa — mostly bc that’s the fabric cats scratch the least. And they are not scratching it, but my kids ARE still dropping stuff on it that stains (burritos, melty chocolate, etc). What gets burrito paste out of velvet? (Yes I hear you that a different parenting approach could be valid here but I’m trying to be realistic here…)
We definitely have a 'no burrito on the couch' policy in our house--hah! Folex is considered to be the best upholstery cleaner you can buy (I am sure it's probably full of toxic chemicals).
I should also probably have noted that I have a large painter's dropcloth that I drape over the sofa when dogs visit. As someone without pets, I haven't had to think about what a cat would scratch!
Thank you! I feel validated 🙂. After reading your work and others’ a few years ago, I stopped buying new synthetic fabric clothing. Most of my clothes are second-hand anyway but new items are only natural fabrics. Somehow in my quest for a few chairs for an apartment in recent, my brain completely ignored my fabric desires and I ended purchasing polyester based faux leather. But, hey, progress over perfection, right?!
Oh Laura, you've hit a subject near and dear to my heart. I'm a chemist and worked in a water and wastewater treatment laboratory for nearly 20 years, and know well about PFAs and more. My son is an environmental scientist at an international engineering firm that deals with water treatment and pollution, and am learning more from him. I'm an advocate for natural fabrics, especially wool, even in Arizona; the coolest, most comfortable clothing I have for hiking or the gym is 100% wool, far superior to performance sportswear; I even wear wool underwear and bras, fantastically comfortable, like having nothing on. I intended to have my tiny house insulated with wool (yes, there's at least one company that makes wool insulation), but it turned out there was a problem with my particular construction so had to go with mineral wool instead.
I'll stop now, but let me say again how glad I am you wrote about this!
Thanks, Allison. I spent a good chunk of time covering sustainable materials as a journalist, but they were not popular stories. Perhaps I'll try to weave some more of this topic into the newsletter on a regular basis.
Do you have a link you’d share of where to purchase these wool items? Especially interested in the wool undies and bras!
Branwyn.com and simplymerino.com are where I've bought mine. I like them both a lot, though they are quite different. Excellent quality, small businesses, very responsive. I know that wool&.com also makes wool bras, but I haven't tried theirs yet.
I should add that I'm small-busted, but my daughter is quite busty and she says the Branwyn busty bra I bought for her is the most comfortable one she owns.
Thank you so much for the info. I appreciate it. As I am a very small busted woman I would love to know what your go to bra is?
Thinking the ‘Essential Bralette’?! That one gets amazing ratings. I’ll definitely be checking that one out.
Yes, that's my favorite, but it depends on why I'm wearing one. Honestly I mostly live in loose cotton t-shirts or loose linen shirts and can go without (36A, 6' tall, 155lb). If I need shaping for an outfit I wear an old nylon lightly padded bra (they get so little wear that they last forever) and I put merino nursing pads from simplymerino inside as liners for comfort (so not sweaty). I also sometimes use a simplymerino crop top as a bra when I'm going to be doing anything particularly active; at the gym I can get away with it as a top alone. (I'm pretty modest)
This piece was very eye-opening for me! I never really thought much about these types of fabrics, and I'm always shocked to remember that things like polyester are actually made from petroleum.
It's so easy to forget!
I live in a rental flat which came fully furnished… including with a fabric covered headboard on the bed. I’m a sweaty lady and I like to sit on my bed after I run … yes, it really bothers me that I can’t wash that fabric (and I don’t know how it’s been cleaned before I live here). It also attracts dust much more than a wooden or metal bed frame!
There are services that can come in and steam clean for you, if you felt motivated. Another option could be to make a simple slipcover for the rental headboard. I'm imagining something constructed like this: https://www.pbteen.com/products/footboard-cover/
Inspired by your "small changes" advice in a past newsletter, I recently conditioned our leather couch for the first time since we bought it a few years ago. It looks amazing after a solid wipe down and significantly better than our "performance fabric" couch which is showing the impact of two children in a small home. I was anxious when we bought it but a big driver for me was the idea that leather was actually easier to wipe down with kids than fabric. This is great advice!
Kelly, this makes me really happy to hear! We had leather sofas in the family room growing up and they were definitely a good choice for kids. Leather is also great because it can actually develop character and appealing patina with age.
Also that Andie suit is gorgeous AND comes in a long torso?! Jackpot!
BOTH come in long torso—very important for tall ladies!
Feeling so inspired by this. I've been looking at potential new sofas for our living room and figuring out how much we'd need to save to buy one. Now I'm looking into saving up for a new linen slipcover to be made locally and figuring out what I can do on my own to help out the seat cushions. (One of them has a rather pokey spring if you put the wrong side facing up, and they're getting a little lopsided after several years of vigorous use. But they're otherwise in good condition, so if anyone has any recommendations, please share!)
Thank you for the motivation!
I'd talk to the upholsterer about the cushions--and sooner rather than later (if they deteriorate too much they may not be repairable). Reviving an old sofa is very expensive, and best only embarked upon if you truly love it. There are definitely times when it makes more sense to start over. But if you slipcover the existing one, get the help of a professional when you select the fabric, and make sure it has been laundered (to account for initial shrinking) before the seamstress sews the slipcover (often they won't do this for you). If your couch is from a major brand and they still make the sofa, it may be possible to purchase replacement cushions by calling customer service.
It's not a very old sofa, so I don't think the cushions are deteriorating. I just think we have kids who use everything hard! I hadn't even considered replacement cushions from the brand, though. I'll definitely look into that; thanks for the tip!
Please report back!
Hello! I found you from The Good Trade newsletter. So glad I did! I also write (partly) about living more sustainably (with less). My coffee hasn't kicked in so I have nothing else to say. 😅
I will check out your writing—glad to have a kindred reader. Didn’t know about The Good Trade, but I’d love to see the mention of you still have it and have time to forward laurafenton@substack.com
I’m an interior designer and I recommend natural fibers to my clients and talk to them about my PFAS concerns. In my experience some care, some don’t, but I definitely think it’s necessary to have the conversation and I am always excited when clients choose linen or wool. I totally agree slipcovers just make sense! I think many designers like performance fabrics because they worry less about unhappy clients that way (not condoning this, just offering that this could be related to the problem of perfection-seeking in the interiors industry). Most people are reasonable but it can be tricky to decide how much expectation-setting around materials a client can handle. The one area I’m open to something like olefin (plastic but not PFAS treated) is for outdoor furnishings but I’d love to talk about alternatives. From a human health perspective I think it’s ok but environmentally, no. Any readers have a brilliant idea here?
I love that you wrote about this! Thank you.
I hate performance fabrics too, and wrote a letter on plastic-free swimwear. I just got a MASA one-piece that's 100% cotton and it was suprisingly perfect at the beach— similar to my Hunza G without the plasticky feel.
Swimsuits are one of the hardest categories to go plastic-free! Glad you found something that you like! How's the drying time?
Drying time was comparable to synthetic fabric, but at the beach it felt stickier afterwards compared to the pool. There's a gauzy cotton gusset in the crotch which is so nice.
I have several plastic-free swimsuits but it's my fave since it doesn't look as granola as some of the other brands.
OK I’m with you on performance fabrics - I fell for them on a sofa that’s now about seven years old and let me tell you… it looks it!! Performance twill resisted nothing extra when it came to pet and kid mess.
That said, I recently bought a velvet sofa — mostly bc that’s the fabric cats scratch the least. And they are not scratching it, but my kids ARE still dropping stuff on it that stains (burritos, melty chocolate, etc). What gets burrito paste out of velvet? (Yes I hear you that a different parenting approach could be valid here but I’m trying to be realistic here…)
We definitely have a 'no burrito on the couch' policy in our house--hah! Folex is considered to be the best upholstery cleaner you can buy (I am sure it's probably full of toxic chemicals).
I should also probably have noted that I have a large painter's dropcloth that I drape over the sofa when dogs visit. As someone without pets, I haven't had to think about what a cat would scratch!
I have gone through phases where I used a dropcloth for my children! Maybe it’s time to bring it back till we’re over the burrito thing. 😂
Oh yes, I have been known to deploy it when a wildcard toddler or a pack of nine year old boys is expected too.
The new swimsuit is much sexier than the first! Go for the sexy!
You're right: It is! Thanks for the encouragement.
Thank you! I feel validated 🙂. After reading your work and others’ a few years ago, I stopped buying new synthetic fabric clothing. Most of my clothes are second-hand anyway but new items are only natural fabrics. Somehow in my quest for a few chairs for an apartment in recent, my brain completely ignored my fabric desires and I ended purchasing polyester based faux leather. But, hey, progress over perfection, right?!