How to Read Clothing Labels (Natural vs. Toxic Fabrics)
A simple guide for clean, long-lasting wardrobes.
This guide isn’t here to tell you what to buy. It’s here to help you think more clearly about fabrics, so you can decide with fewer impulse purchases.
Before we start: how I look at materials
You’ll often hear comments like: “But my COS jumper lasted five years,” or “This brand uses wool and recycled cotton too.” And both can be true.
When I talk about fabrics, I’m not judging individual lucky finds. I’m looking at patterns at scale — the fibre choices brands rely on entirety of their collections, not strategically picked.
And remember:
Popular brands optimise for cost, softness on first touch, and low return rates.
Ethical brands optimise for breathability, longevity, recyclability, and worker + planet impact, which leads to simpler blends and higher natural content.
Step 0 – Look at the fabric before you fall in love
Before the cut, before the color, before the pric, check the tag.
- 100% of what, exactly?
- Are synthetics mixed in, and why?
- Does this garment really need stretch, or is it cheap construction?
- Would you actually follow these care instructions?
A beautiful piece made from the wrong fabric becomes uncomfortable, smelly, or shapeless faster than most people expect.
The rest of this guide is inside The Collective
Locked in this guide:
- the “label translation” cheatsheet (what terms really mean)
- natural vs synthetic vs semi-synthetic
- which fabrics to prioritise for basics, knitwear, activewear, coats, underwear, shoes, bags etc.
- what to watch out for in blends
- a simple “toxic-ish” shortlist and why brands use them
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