I got rid of all of my clothes...

All of my synthetic clothes (except my workout gear 😅).

I finally pulled the trigger after seeing this tweet a couple weeks ago.

Guess I need to go down the frequency rabbit hole at some point

It was a reminder that synthetic materials are causing health problems around the world and that I've been too lazy to fix it in my household. No better time to fix it than the present. It's also a good excuse to finally clean up the mess that is my closet.

What are these health problems I speak of?

Synthetic materials have major problems

Research over the years has shown that polyester, chemicals, pesticides, and other synthetic materials in our clothes, rugs, bedding, and anything else that touches our skin are...

Check out Nads references page for several more studies

and the list goes on.

Most of my synthetic clothes were 100% polyester or close to it. While I didn't notice how they were affecting my health, I did notice some of them were smelly, uncomfortable, and itchy. Good riddance.

Unfortunately, I can't operate in the world without clothes.

And polyester isn't going anywhere. It's expected to be produced far more than natural alternatives like cotton and wool.

The production of polyester compared to cotton & wool fibre.
The production of polyester compared to cotton & wool fibre

So what's the solution to this problem?

The solution is to search far and wide for natural clothes

Just because polyester production is increasing, doesn't mean natural materials aren't available. You just have to look for them. I'm here to help you with that.

The tweet I shared earlier recommends clothes with the following materials

Get clothes with the following materials: 100% organic cotton (110mHz), 100% alpaca wool (5000mHz), 100% cashmere, 100% linen (5000mHz). Get basics/neutrals for an every day look to pair them with anything. Wool is for winter, organic cotton is for summer & winter, linen is for summer, and cashmere is for winter. Don't mix wool and linen.

I decided to start by getting organic cotton basics/neutrals. Why organic cotton? Because it works well in the heat and cold.

So I took a look at the stores recommended in the tweet. Their products looked great, but they weren't quite the style I was looking for. I wanted basic clothes with no logos.

My fiancée recently bought clothes from an online store named Quince. She informed me that they sell clothes made from natural materials. Perfect. I bought shorts, polos, and a couple fleece sweaters. They're all 100% organic cotton and they feel great!

I also purchased organic cotton boxer briefs from Nads since I've heard great things about them. They feel amazing! But are they worth $32 for a single pair of underwear? Hell no! It's safe to say I'm keeping my options open for a cheaper alternative.

I'm happy with my purchases, but there are some downsides.

It's not all rainbows and sunshine with these materials

They require...

  • Extra care when cleaning them
  • They're more expensive
  • There aren't great alternatives for combat sports

I'm a heathen when it comes to using my washing machine and dryer. I run everything on the normal setting. That's too rough for these sorts of materials.

They require the delicate setting on my machines, but that's not easy to find while traveling. It's a minor inconvenience, but one to keep in mind.

My biggest issue is finding alternatives to wear for wrestling and jiujitsu.

I spend several hours a week doing both. They require tight athletic clothing that's full of polyester and spandex.

I haven't found any promising alternatives, but @FarmerBills did share a brand that caught my eye for normal workouts.

I'll be trying out Ryker Clothing for my normal workout clothes.

If one of you out there starts a natural combat sports brand, I'll be your first customer.

Clothes-ing remarks

Synthetic Clothes

  • Reduce sperm quality and counts
  • Reduce testosterone
  • Cause all sorts of acute and chronic issues

Over time, get rid of them and replace them with clothes that are

  • 100% organic cotton
  • 100% wool
  • 100% cashmere
  • 100% linen

Below are stores that offer clothes with these sorts of materials

Since I started this clothes experiment, I've only purchased clothes from Quince and Nads. My fiancée and I love them! If you buy from Quince, check the materials for the items you like before you buy them. Not everything is natural.

You can use my Quince affiliate link to get $20 off your first purchase when you spend $200 or more. I get $20 towards my next order

The next steps in this part of my journey are to finish buying basic clothes, start buying new workout clothes, and find an alternative to my polyester-ridden grappling gear.

P.S. Want to remove synthetic clothes from your life and replace them with natural alternatives? Click the button below to find stores & products I'm using now. Check in periodically to find more that make the list.

My favorite stores & products
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