So why are there so many chemicals in our clothes in the first place? And which ones are actually dangerous? Here’s how to avoid potential irritants without driving yourself crazy. While chemicals are not inherently bad (just consider the fact that water and oxygen are technically chemicals too), the fashion industry has taken a pretty lax approach to them over the years. The Federal Trade Commission1 asks U.S. clothing retailers to share only fiber content, country of origin, and the identity of the manufacturer on labels. They are not required to disclose any of the chemicals used in the production process, some of which could pose potential health concerns to humans and the environment. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones: Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
