Sunday, November 23, 2014

Discover The Importance Of 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.

The concept of textiles and fabrics possessing their own distinct energies which can affect the wearer dates back to thousands of years ago in India. The Sanskrit word "Ayurvastra" basically means "healthy clothes" and refers to clothing having the ability to influence vitality and spirituality. Qualities embodied in a particular fabric are determined by numerous factors such as its source, texture, physical and chemical properties.

The natural softness of cotton is believed to have the ability to attract positive energy to the wearer and help keep negative vibrations away. Silk possesses numerous healing abilities such as preventing infections and keeping skin healthy, as it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Organically grown bamboo is also antibacterial in nature and repels 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.

Fabrics truly possess a life of their own and should not be viewed as a lifeless, inanimate object, since they can benefit the health and mindset of the wearer. Today people also have more clothing choices than ever before which take the protection of the environment into consideration, and as more become aware of its importance, they make a point of recycling used clothing instead of dumping them in already overcrowded landfill sites.




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