How to Build a Non-Toxic Wardrobe (Without Throwing Everything Out)

Most wardrobes are full of plastic. Polyester, nylon, acrylic, elastane are all synthetic, petroleum-derived fibres that shed microfibres, contain chemical additives, and sit against your skin for hours every day.

Building a wardrobe without them doesn't mean throwing everything out and starting over. It means making better choices as things wear out or as you add new pieces. Here's how to do it practically.

Start with skin contact

Not all garments carry the same risk. The ones closest to your skin matter most (underwear, t-shirts, shorts, activewear) are in direct, prolonged contact with your body, which means more potential for dermal exposure to synthetic fibres and the chemical additives they contain.

This is where to start your switch. Before worrying about your rain jacket or outer layers, get the basics sorted first.

Know your fibres

Natural fibres to look for:

• Merino wool. Fine, soft and naturally antibacterial. Works in heat and cold. Doesn't shed plastic. Best for performance wear, shorts, base layers and travel clothing.
• Organic cotton. Breathable and comfortable. Standard cotton is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops in the world, so organic certification matters here.
• Linen. Lightweight and breathable in summer. Gets softer with wear. Good for shirts, trousers and casual wear.
• Hemp. Durable, breathable and requires far less water and pesticide than cotton. Growing in availability.

Synthetic fibres to move away from:

• Polyester. The most common fabric in the world. Plastic-based, sheds microfibres, holds odour.
• Nylon. Another synthetic, often used in activewear, swimwear and outerwear.
• Acrylic. Synthetic alternative to wool. Sheds significant microfibres, poor breathability.
• Elastane / spandex / Lycra. Usually blended into other fabrics for stretch. Hard to avoid entirely, but worth minimising in base layers.

Check the labels

This sounds obvious but it's where most people start making better decisions. Before buying something, flip it over and read the composition label. If it's 100% polyester, you know what you're getting. If it's 95% organic cotton, that's a much better choice.

You're also looking for PFAS-free certification. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are "forever chemicals" used in water-resistant and stain-resistant finishes on clothing. They don't break down in the environment or in your body. Bluesign, OEKO-TEX and GOTS certifications are worth looking for, they at minimum confirm the fabric has been tested for harmful substances.

We covered the PFAS issue in more detail in our post on forever chemicals in clothing.

You don't have to do it all at once

The most practical approach is to stop replacing like for like. When a polyester gym t-shirt wears out, replace it with merino or organic cotton instead of another polyester one. When your shorts go, find a natural-fibre alternative. Over a few years, your wardrobe shifts without a significant upfront cost.

If you want to accelerate it, start with the highest-wear, closest-to-skin items first: underwear, workout clothes, everyday shorts and t-shirts.

Buy less, buy better

There's a version of this that becomes another form of consumption, replacing every synthetic piece immediately with an "eco" alternative. That misses the point. The most sustainable thing you can do is buy less overall, clothes that are made to last, that you actually want to wear, and that work harder so you need fewer of them.

A quality merino wool short you can wear for five days and wash twice is doing far less damage than four pairs of fast-fashion polyester shorts. The maths aren't complicated.

Where to start

If you're looking for natural-fibre shorts specifically, we compared the best options in our guide to the best plastic-free men's shorts in Australia.

FAQs

What are natural fibres in clothing?

Natural fibres come from plants or animals, not petroleum. The main ones are merino wool, cotton, linen and hemp. They don't shed microplastics and generally contain fewer synthetic chemical additives than polyester, nylon and acrylic.

What's the most important thing to switch first?

Start with the garments closest to your skin and worn most often, underwear, t-shirts, shorts and activewear. These have the most direct and prolonged contact with your body.

How do I know if clothing contains PFAS?

You usually can't tell from the label. Look for PFAS-free marketing claims and certifications like OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, which tests for a range of harmful substances. Water-resistant and stain-resistant finishes are the most common places PFAS appear.

Is organic cotton better than regular cotton?

For environmental impact, yes significantly. Standard cotton production uses large amounts of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers. Organic cotton avoids these. Both are natural fibres and don't shed microplastics.

Sources

• OEKO-TEX: harmful substances in textiles
• Textile Exchange: organic fibre market report
• ECHA: hazardous substances in textiles
• International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO)

Most shorts are made from plastic. These aren't. See the MARINE|O Merino Wool Walkshort →