Sustainability
6 Surprising Truths About Your Wardrobe’s Environmental Impact
Truths about clothing that might change the way you think about what fabrics you wear…
We scrutinise our food, our skincare, and even our energy use – yet we rarely give the same thought to our wardrobes. But what your clothes are made from, how they’re worn and how long they last all have a real impact on both people and planet.
1. A lot of our clothing is essentially wearable petrol
We’re rightly moving away from fossil fuels in our cars. We think about emissions, fuel sources and long-term environmental cost. Yet many of us wear plastic against our skin all day, every day – without a second thought. Our skin is our largest organ. It breathes, regulates temperature and interacts with the world, yet it’s often wrapped in synthetic fibres that don’t exist in nature.
Fabrics like polyester and nylon are made from oil. They’re the same fossil-fuel derivatives we’re trying to reduce elsewhere, simply spun into thread and softened enough to feel like fabric. Over time, these materials have become completely normalised in clothing, especially in activewear and everyday basics.
2. We already have enough clothes to last generations
This might sound unbelievable, but it’s true: there are already enough clothes on the planet to dress the next six generations of people – without making a single new item. The real challenge now isn’t producing more clothing, but dealing responsibly with what already exists.
Whilst a lot of attention is placed on recycling, clothing is far more complex than a plastic bottle. Most garments are made from blended fabrics, which makes them difficult to recycle at scale.
The most advanced recycling systems focus on polyester. Plastic clothing can be melted down and turned into new fibres. While this is progress, it also means plastic is being recycled back into more plastic clothing – extending our reliance on fossil fuels rather than reducing it.
Until we can develop better “feedstock” solutions, the most powerful thing we can do is surprisingly simple: make the clothes we already have work harder. Wearing items for longer, buying second-hand, repairing what we love, and choosing quality over quantity. That’s where well-made, nature-based fabrics really matter.
3. Natural fabrics aren’t just “feel-good” – they’re shed-free
Fabrics like bamboo, organic cotton and wool don’t release microplastics into our waterways when washed, simply because there’s no plastic in them. That’s a quiet but powerful difference. For BAM, we do add elastane to some of our more “active” pieces to help give these nature-based fabrics the stretch needed to perform. This is our way of giving you as much of the natural fibre as possible, without compromising on performance.
They also feel a joy to wear on the skin – breathable, soft, comfortable. Though it’s important to be honest: not all natural fibres are yet as easy to recycle as polyester. One of the most effective solutions right now? Resale. Keeping clothes in circulation works across all fabric types and dramatically extends their life. You can explore our online marketplace to buy and sell pre-loved BAM items and help keep great clothing in use for longer.
4. Water is the biggest hidden cost of clothing
When we talk about the environmental impact of clothing, water often matters more than we realise – often more than manufacturing or transport. The biggest water footprint usually comes at the very beginning, when raw materials are grown and again during processing of that fibre. That’s why there’s no such thing as a perfect fabric. Every option involves trade-offs. What matters is understanding them and making more informed choices.
How a fabric performs day to day also makes a difference. With most synthetic tops, moisture sits on the surface of the fabric. After exercise, sweat has nowhere to go, which is why the fabric feels damp and starts to smell.
Bamboo works differently. Its fibre structure absorbs moisture and draws it away from the skin. It’s around 40% more absorbent than organic cotton, and because the moisture is held within the fibre, odour-causing bacteria struggle to develop. The result is clothes that stay fresher for longer – meaning less washing, lower water and energy use, and savings at home too. Small details in fabric choice can have a bigger impact than we think. Learn more here.
5. The charity export model is breaking down
For years, the UK has relied on exporting unwanted clothing. That system is no longer holding. Many countries no longer need our discarded fast fashion because new clothing has become cheap everywhere, not just here.
It’s an uncomfortable reality, but an important one: the UK can no longer export its clothing problem. We have to take responsibility for what we buy, wear and throw away.
That means slowing down what we put into the system in the first place, choosing better-made pieces, and keeping clothes in use for longer – through repair, resale or reuse. Because once the clothes are made, the impact is already there.
6. Traceability is a layers problem – and simpler is better
Many brands only know their direct supplier. Digging deeper into the supply chain is complex, fragmented and often opaque. One advantage of bamboo as a fabric source is it’s a relatively simple supply chain. There are only two major bamboo fibre farms globally, which makes traceability far more achievable. Fewer layers means greater transparency and accountability.
We made it our mission to trace our supply chain right back to the bamboo growers. Learn more here.
So, what can we actually do?
There’s no single “right” fabric – only trade-offs and choices.
- Wear what you already own
- Buy second-hand where you can, access our pre-loved marketplace here.
- When buying new, prioritise our nature-based fabrics for what sits against your skin
- For outerwear, look for certified recyclable options – not just made from recycled fibres, but designed to be recycled at end of life too
Clothing choices don’t have to be perfect to be better. Small shifts, made consistently, add up.
