natural living

our switch to natural fibers

if you follow me on instagram, you know that for the past year or so i have been investing in switching all of our wardrobes over from synthetic to natural fibers.

it started during my first pregnancy, when i noticed that my hair went staticky everytime i pulled certain pieces of clothing on, and that some of my super soft cozy maternity sweaters were clinging weirdly to me. i brushed it off at the time, but during my second pregnancy the static and dryness got worse and i began to associate them with the P word—polyester.

so as i needed to update my wardrobe postpartum anyway, out went all my synthetic fibers and in came the wealth of naturals—linen, cotton, wool, silk.

and i felt really good in it.

no more static, my dry skin was less painful, my body could breathe.

when i realized how good i felt in my natural fibers i also realized that i needed to know why, and if i needed to look into all natural fibers for children as well.

it turns out our bodies absorb harmful plastics and toxins through our synthetic clothes—think polyester, acrylic, nylon. and we absorb more when we’re running around, hot, and sweaty—which is all day long for my kids! those microplastics the fabrics are made with and the harsh chemicals used to turn plastic into fabric get into our bodies and cause health issues.

so not only are natural fibers more sustainable and healthier for the planet–they are healthier for our bodies as well!

when i learned that natural fibers are healthier, i pretty much threw away all our synthetic clothing overnight and invested in natural fibers.

 

 

yes, organic  natural children’s clothing is more expensive and harder to find. but it is possible to build a sustainable children’s capsule!  for my boys, this just looks like keeping our natural fiber wardrobes very small. our summer kid’s capsule looks like 2-3 pairs of shorts or lightweight linen pants for each of the boys, 4-5 shirts each, and a couple dress pieces for sunday. we wash only when they are visibly dirty, which is usually two loads of kid’s laundry a week for us. and  i buy pieces that i know will last and mend well so that i can pass them from one boy to the next!

my absolute favorite brand for heirloom natural fiber kids clothes has been treehouse kids. i’m going to share details about a few pieces that we’ve really loved below! all of these pieces are global organic textile standard GOTS certified and oeko-tex certified which means they are natural fibers and free of harmful chemicals.

the willow short:

these are really the only shorts you’ll ever need. my boys each have two pairs! they have adjustable elastic waistbands on the inside which my tall skinny boys really can’t live without. the fabric is thick and durable but breathable and stretchy. my favorite thing is the length—just long enough to give them full coverage but not so long that they look like teenagers!

the oak pant:

perfect breathable linen pants in the most fun color ever! these also have adjustable elastic waistbands on the inside. i would say they run just a tad big— i have the 2-3 size and it fits my 4 year old but not my 2 year old. keep in mind, all my boys are small for their age.

the oak henley tee:

these tee shirts are 100% GOTS-certified cotton but feels almost like a lightweight linen. they are breathable and super durable! they have no stretch so i recommend sizing up here too.

the oak tee:

this is my favorite shirt! it is a classic slub jersey knit, so very soft and flexible. the fabric is thick and durable and doesn’t shrink with washing. what i love best is that this shirt is a little longer than the norm so it gives my tall boys a little more growing room!

the birch romper:

oh my i couldn’t resist the cuteness level on this one. it technically wasn’t part of my plan for my two year old’s capsule wardrobe but i just love it on him. this is a soft, flexible slub knit made of 100% GOTS-certified organic rib and chambray cotton. the. upper is big enough that he can easily zip and unzip it himself making it easy for potty training!

the three leaf bucket hat:

i love this hat, and my boys do too–enough to actually keep it on! i bought it for my two year old but both he and my four year olds can wear it. this hat is reversible which is so fun! it’s made of OEKO-Tex certified linen and is both sturdy and breathable.

you can check out TreeHouse Kids to shop for all these and more here! and be sure to use my code LITTLETINYTWINS to save 15% on your order!