Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Discover Your Personal Fashion Alchemy And Best Clothing Choices

By Tom Brady


While for many shoppers, the main quality of any piece of clothing they are interested in is how it looks, there are other factors which can influence one's selection that should also be considered. Fabrics are each unique from one another, and possess the ability to affect the wearer's emotional and spiritual state, health, and the environment. Making conscious clothing choices which reflect these aspects is part of fashion alchemy.

Ancient Indian civilizations recognized that fabrics and textiles have their own energies several thousand years ago as evidence by the Sanskrit word"Ayurvastra" which translates to mean "healthy clothes" and refers to wearing apparel being able to have an impact on the spirituality and vitality of those who wear it. A fabric's characteristics come from its physical and chemical properties, source, and texture.

Each material possesses its own special attributes. Cotton is a natural fiber, believed to draw divinity from one's surroundings and ward off negative vibrations. Silk, another natural material, is rich in healing power, its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial nature gives skin a healthy glow and wards off infections. Bamboo, a popular organically grown material, is also antibacterial and good for repelling odors.

As a synthetic textile, polyester is derived from petroleum, but today some manufacturers are producing a variation that is made from recycled materials that is more eco-friendly. Many vintage shops will resell classic polyester fashions too, which is another form of recycling itself. Lyocell is a fabric made from wood pulp that is processed in a environmentally friendly way and it does not wrinkle, so no ironing is required.

Soy oil byproducts are now being used to make soft, silky garments such as underwear and brassieres, its long fibers being naturally suitable for this. Hemp is another crop that is most often grown organically, is possibly antibacterial, and is highly versatile in its uses, being used for both rugged and soft material manufacture.

Most often used for sweaters, cashmere is made from the combed out hair of the Kashmir goat. That which is pure cashmere, not blended with synthetic fibers, processed or dyed with harsh chemicals is very strong and may stand up to years of wear. Linen is a breathable, lightweight material processed from flax, which can usually be grown organically, and is perfect for summer.

Alpaca sheep, which are the source of alpaca wool used for clothing, are usually raised without receiving any kind of injections or hormones, making their wool relatively pure and it is also durable and stays looking good for years if well cared for. A fabric called Ingeo can be made from fermented plant sugars, which does not require as much energy to process as cotton does.

The fabric which an article of clothing is made from can play a large role in how it will impact the wearer's health, energy, and comfort. As people become increasingly aware of the need to protect the environment, more and more new types of materials are being developed which meet this requirement. Donating or selling used clothes to a store or charity also helps the environment as it ensures that they don't take up landfill space.




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