How the chemicals in our clothes affect our wellbeing
Humans are no strangers to the use of dangerous chemicals in their everyday products. From the use of lead in make up products to arsenic soap and mercury infused hand creams, we’re sure to have made some mistakes. Luckily, all of those harmful substances have since been eliminated from use and been made illegal due to the serious harm they caused to people’s health.
Queen Elizabeth the I’s make up was made from white lead and was considered to be a potential cause of her death.
While the beauty industry is now more heavily regulated to protect consumers from similar harms, the fashion industry has no such rules. Therefore, as consumers we find ourselves in the ungrateful situation of being advertised and sold clothes that contain harmful chemicals that can have distructive effects on our endocrine system and overall health. And they come with no warning label.
The rise of fast fashion has created a historically large demand for fabrics that can be produced quickly and at very low prices. And while we have known about the damage of producing clothes this way has caused to the environment, we are now finding out about how they’re also impacting the wearer’s health.
Ideally, regulations should be protect consumers from harmful chemicals in their clothes or brands should engage in safe business practices. Sustainable brands take this into consideration and offer safe alternatives for consumers. But until it becomes common practice, it’s important to understand how to choose garments that are made without harmful substances
The Invisible Ingredients in Performance Fabrics
In recent years, the intersection of wellbeing and fashion has hit a troubling paradox: instead of supporting through their fabrics the very healthy practices they championed, brands were revealed to be using materials containing elevated levels of BPA (Bisphenol A), PFAS (or “forever chemicals”), and synthetic phthalates.
When we sweat, because we are in the sun or working out, our pores dilate. Our skin, the largest organ, acts like a sponge and absorbs whatever is held right against it. A lot of synthetic performance fabrics are treated with heavy chemicals to achieve water-resistance, moisture-wicking or artificial softness. Because there are no mandatory “ingredient lists” stitched into our garments, consumers are left completely exposed to unknowingly wearing clothes with endocrine disruptors that can mimic hormones, alter metabolic health and trigger systemic inflammation. Therefore, it is up to brands to make sure they choose the best fabrics for their customers.
The Only Current Solution Against Toxic Textiles: OEKO-TEX®
Ig government regulations have not caught up yet to what goes onto retail shelves, how can conscious consumers protect themselves and how can sustainable brands help them do so? The answer lies in stringent, independent third-party certifications; most notably, the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification.
Unlike basic factory inspections, an OEKO-TEX® certification means that every single thread, dye, lining and microscopic fibre has been laboratory tested against a rigorous list of over 1,000 known harmful substances. The test criteria is globally standardised and update annually to keep up with chemical developments. For a fabric to pass, it must prove to be completely harmless to human health, ensuring that your clothing is safe to wear for a prolonged period of time and under multiple conditions.
A Conscious Choice: The KÕRARU Standard
At KÕRARU, we believe that true luxury cannot exist if it compromises our health or that of our planet. This is why we craft our swimwear from high performance Italian fabrics, OEKO-TEX® certified. Engineered from 78% ECONYL regenerated nylon yarn (sourced from discarded post-consumer waste), and offering fantastic stretch and comfort, these fabrics represent the pinnacle of luxury and innovation.
Beyond its remarkable environmental credentials- possessing an 80% lower global warming impact than virgin nylon, Carvico fabrics are fully certified under the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 (Product Class I).This is the strictest possible testing tier, legally required for baby articles, meaning that the fabric is exceptionally safe for prolonged intimate skin contact. It delivers elite physical performance: hyper-resistance to chlorine, sun screens and pilling- without relying on toxic chemicals to get the job done.
KÕRARU’s dedication to purity goes far beyond skin-deep chemical screening. The very fabric of our collections is backed by rigorous, global sustainability frameworks that protect the planet just as deeply as they protect your body. The Aquafil ECONYL® yarn used to create our swimwear holds the prestigious Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold standard for Material Health. This certification guarantees a truly circular lifespan, verifying that the fabric uses safe, non-toxic circular ingredients, prioritizes renewable energy, and safeguards clean water during production.
Furthermore, our textile partner Carvico proudly carries Italy's elite Made Green in Italy designation. Governed by the Ministry of Environment, this certification uses advanced Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodologies to prove that the fabric’s entire lifecycle meets exceptionally low carbon footprint thresholds and high eco-sustainability standards. For our costumers, this offers ironclad proof that your luxury swimwear was made under fair, transparent European labor laws and innovative environmental stewardship.
Choosing what touches your skin
We live in an era where we carefully read the labels on our food at the supermarket or our skin products in our shopping cart. It is time we bring the same level of scrutiny to our wardrobes. Until clean business practices become the baseline requirement for the global fashion industry, the power (and responsibility) rests with us. It starts with brands: giving customers the best possible options; but ultimate it ends with us as consumers: making sure we encourage those brands whose business practices align with their values and our benefit. By choosing sustainable, independently certified garments, we can protect ourselves and helping fund a cleaner, safer planet.
Invest in clothing that treats your skin with the respect it deserves.
