Merino wool comes from Merino sheep. After shearing, the fibers are combed (brushed) to make them smooth and straight and spun into yarn. The yarn is then knitted into a garment.

Benefits
It is soft and temperature-regulating.

What to be aware of
It can stretch, so I recommend wash it in a washing bag and dry it flat.

How sustainable is merino wool?
Merino wool can be a sustainable material, especially when it’s certified. Merino wool certified under RWS or NATIVA™ is considered a responsible and sustainable choice. I will share more about this soon.

Organic cotton comes from the cotton plant and is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. After harvesting, the cotton bolls are cleaned, the fibers are combed and spun into yarn. That yarn is then woven or knitted into fabric.

Benefits
Organic cotton is skin-friendly, soft, breathable, and produced with fewer harmful chemicals, making it better for people and the planet.

What to be aware of
Cotton can wrinkle and can sometimes cost more than normal cotton due to smaller-scale farming.

How sustainable is organic cotton ?
Organic cotton is generally far more sustainable than conventional cotton: it avoids toxic chemicals and improves farmer health. GOTS certification adds strict standards across the whole process. I will share more about certifications soon.

Linen is made from the flax plant. The fibers are released from the stem, combed smooth, spun into yarn, and woven into a fabric.

Benefits
Perfect for warm weather (it is breathable) and gets softer over time.

What to be aware of
Linen wrinkles easily.

How sustainable is linen?
Linen is considered one of the most sustainable natural fibers. The flax plant requires very little water, grows without the need for pesticides and you can use almost every part of the flax plant.

Virgin wool comes from a sheep’s first shearing or from wool that is new and never previously processed or recycled.

Benefits
Warm, breathable and good insulation.

What to be aware of
Virgin wool can feel itchy for some and may shrink if washed incorrectly.

How sustainable is virgin wool?
This depends on farming practices. Certifications like RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) help ensure better standards. More about this soon.

Lyocell is made from wood pulp that’s softened and dissolved with a safe solvent. The liquid is turned into fibers, which are spun into yarn and then made into fabric

Benefits
Strong, breathable and soft against the skin.

What to be aware of
It can shrink if not washed gently.

How sustainable is Lyocell?
Lyocell uses a closed-loop production process where over 99% of water and solvent is recovered and reused, reducing waste and chemical impact. TENCEL™ Lyocell is Lenzing’s trademarked lyocell fiber, made from sustainably sourced wood pulp in a closed-loop process.

A semi-synthetic fiber made from wood pulp. The pulp is dissolved with chemicals and turned into fibers that are spun into yarn.

Benefits
Lightweight, soft and breathable.

What to be aware of
It can wrinkle or shrink. Traditional viscose production can be chemically intensive

How sustainable is viscose?
It varies. Conventional viscose is often less sustainable due to high chemical and water use. Newer alternatives like lyocell based fibers are generally more responsible choices because they use safer, closed-loop production systems.

Leather made from young cattle. The skin is cleaned, preserved with salt, and then tanned so it becomes durable. Through tanning, the skin becomes leather that can be shaped and finished.

Benefits
Calfskin Leather is smooth, ages well and is durable.

What to be aware of
High environmental impact from tanning and chemicals, plus animal welfare concerns.

How sustainable is calfskin leather?
This depends on the tanning method. Vegetable tanning and Leather Working Group–certified tanneries have stricter standards and lower impact, while conventional chrome tanning can be more harmful to the environment.

A synthetic fiber made from recycled PET bottles or waste polyester. The plastic is cleaned, broken down into small flakes, melted, and spun into new fibers that can be woven or knitted into fabric.

Benefits
Durable, wrinkle-resistant and quick-drying.

What to be aware of
It still sheds microplastics during washing. Also, polyester can only be recycled a limited number of times.

How sustainable is recycled polyester?
It’s a better choice than virgin polyester because it reduces waste and lowers energy use. However, it remains a synthetic fiber, contributes to microplastic pollution.

Leather made from young sheep. After the animal skin is removed, it is cleaned, preserved with salt, and then tanned. Through tanning, the skin becomes soft, workable leather that can be shaped, colored and finished.

Benefits
Lambskin has a luxurious feel. It is soft, lightweight and very comfortable to wear.

What to be aware of
Lambskin leather is less durable than cow or calf leather and can scratch easily.

How sustainable is lambskin leather?
Similar to other animal leathers, the impact depends on farming practices and the tanning method.

Leather from cows.

Benefits
Cow leather is thick, strong, and very durable.

What to be aware of
It can feel stiff at first but softens with wear.

Is cow leather sustainable?
This depends on the source and tanning method. Vegetable tanning and Leather Working Group certified tanneries have stricter environmental and social standards, while conventional chrome tanning can have a higher impact.

Petroleum-based chemicals are melted and formed into long fibers. These are pressed through tiny holes to make threads and then spun into yarn.

Benefits
Durable, lightweight, strong and elastic.

What to be aware of
It is not breathable, fossil-fuel-based and sheds microplastics.

Is polyamide/nylon sustainable?
Conventional polyamide is not considered sustainable. It’s made from non-renewable resources, has an energy-intensive production process, and contributes to microplastic pollution. Recycled nylon is a better alternative, but it still sheds microplastics.

A highly elastic synthetic fiber. It’s made by creating long stretchy chains from petroleum-based chemicals, which are then formed into very fine filaments and spun into yarn.

Benefits
Provides flexibility, stretch and a comfortable fit.

What to be aware of
Elastane is weak on its own, loses elasticity over time and many washes and is non-biodegradable.

Is elastane sustainable?
Not really. It’s fossil-fuel-based, sheds microplastics, and can’t break down naturally. It’s often used in very small percentages to add stretch, which makes garments harder to recycle.

A natural silk fiber collected from cocoons

Benefits
Soft, breathable, lightweight and often considered more ethical since the moth is not harmed.

What to be aware of
Wild silk can feel slightly rougher than traditional mulberry silk and may have natural variations in texture and color.

Is wild silk sustainable?
Wild silk is generally more sustainable than conventional silk since it doesn’t rely on intensive farming and allows the moth to complete its life cycle. Still, sustainability depends on responsible sourcing and local biodiversity practices.

A natural fiber obtained from the soft undercoat of cashmere goats. The fibers are combed or collected during shedding season, then cleaned, sorted and spun into an extremely fine and lightweight yarn.

Benefits
Soft, warm, lightweight and comfortable against the skin.

What to be aware of
Cashmere can pill over time and it requires gentle care.

Is cashmere sustainable?
This depends on the sourcing. Conventional cashmere can strain fragile grasslands, while certified or responsibly sourced cashmere ( such as RWS, recycled cashmere, or programs focused on animal welfare and land management) is considered a more sustainable choice.

A plant-based wax made from hydrogenated soybean oil. After harvesting, soybeans are cleaned, cracked, and pressed to extract the oil, which is then refined and solidified into wax used for candles.

Benefits
Burns cleaner and longer than paraffin, has a natural, soft scent throw and is biodegradable.

What to be aware of
The quality varies by source, and large-scale soybean farming can contribute to deforestation if not responsibly managed.

Is soy wax sustainable?
It can be a more sustainable option than petroleum-based paraffin, especially when sourced from certified, non-GMO, or responsibly grown soy. Sustainability depends on farming practices and supply chain transparency.