What is behind wrinkle-free textiles?
How wrinkle-free are you?
You start your day by putting on your freshly washed and wrinkle-free dress. But before you even get to the office, the garment is completely wrinkled and looks like you took it straight out of the laundry basket? No matter how well you ironed and cared for your clothes, after a few hours the wrinkles are back?
You are not alone in this. Many people hope that a piece of clothing will always look good and that they will look good in it too.
The desire for a perfect look and wrinkle-free clothing is great. There are actually textiles on the market that promise to be wrinkle-resistant or even wrinkle-free. But do you actually know what is behind wrinkle-free textiles?
Here you can find all information about wrinkle-free
Crease-free fabrics are usually achieved using chemical processes in textile finishing. This gives the fabric properties that it does not normally have. Cotton, for example, has the ability to absorb and store moisture. The fiber swells and the garment becomes susceptible to creases.
One method to counteract this is to use synthetic resins containing formaldehyde. This is a harmful gas that is used in many products despite its toxic properties. It has even been classified by the EU as a probable carcinogen.
What does it mean to add formaldehyde to synthetic resins?
When synthetic resins are treated with formaldehyde, plastics are created that contain formaldehyde. The yarns from which clothing is later woven are treated with the synthetic resin. You can imagine this as the yarn being bathed in it and the synthetic resin, i.e. the plastic, penetrating the fibers.
Another option is to finish the finished garment or the finished woven fabric first. The synthetic resin can be applied to the clothing over a large area like a kind of membrane.
No matter how formaldehyde gets into clothing, it is gradually released again when it is washed and worn. It is one of the most common contact allergens and should not end up on the skin or in the water cycle.
Why do chemicals harm us?
Dozens of chemicals, some of which are highly toxic, are used in textile finishing. They can often still be detected in the finished garments. Even the smallest amounts of these substances are harmful to our health and the environment. The skin, our largest organ, can absorb many of the substances it comes into contact with. Although our body has a detoxification system, harmful substances also accumulate in our bodies. They cannot be completely eliminated, especially when large amounts are used. This leads to overreactions and, in the worst case, allergies.
Why we like to be wrinkled
For our NINA REIN collections we use natural materials from organic and sustainable production. We do not work with polyester. Our fabrics are not chemically treated to be crease-free or non-iron. The fabrics remain as natural as possible. And YES, our fabrics wrinkle. We prefer that because as a fair fashion label we value our healthy skin and a healthy environment.
Our tips for fewer wrinkles in clothing:
Hang the item of clothing on a hanger and take it into the bathroom with you the next time you shower or bathe. The steam created by bathing or showering will do the work. Be careful: you don't want it to get soaking wet!
Remember:
When you buy wrinkle-free clothing, you must be aware that it has most likely been exposed to chemicals. Natural materials wrinkle, but they do not harm your skin or your health. With the tips mentioned above, you can reduce wrinkles in your clothing. Clothes are allowed to wrinkle, it is something completely natural and people are allowed to see it.
Sources:
https://www.br.de/radio/bayern1/ausschlag-durch-neue-clothing100.html
https://www.fairlis.de/post/nachhafte-textilien-und-welche-es-nicht-sind/
https://jugend-und-bildung.de/fileadmin/user_upload_jubi/02_PDFs/Textile-Kette-Arbeitsblatt.pdf
https://gruenes-kaenguru-shop.com/i/baby-und-fruehchenhaut
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilchemikalien
Photo sources:
Canva.com
