The Don Kaka vision and reasoning behind everything…
***This page is a work in progress and the structure will be updated to flow seamlessly** ** research on toxicity of plastic clothing is towards bottom the page*
I wanted to document and write out the reasoning, my vision, and what I have been learning about plastic/synthetic clothing (polyester and nylon), as well as current yoga and athletic outfits.
I can see the future of clothing going in either direction—positive or very grim. If things continue with fashion and clothing in their current state, a few things will happen. First, I am convinced that 99 percent of all clothing made will be composed of pure chemically processed plastic or synthetic toxic materials( polyester, nylon, spandex, ect.). Right now, that number is almost 70% and steadily increasing. Nothing will stop or get in the way of these profit motivated corporations from making this happen if no action is taken. Next, a practice that will continue as usual due to lower costs for companies is a little-discussed fact: almost all clothing is made in foreign factories where there are no environmental or labor laws. This means workers can be treated like modern-day slaves and the environment can be destroyed with no repercussions. People today believe that slavery has been completely abolished around the world, but this is not true in the slightest; the fashion industry is keeping that tradition alive and well. Lastly, something equally serious is the impact of producing, wearing, and disposing of synthetic clothing on the environment. Since plastic is made from oil, even if the world moves away from using oil for energy, the production of plastic clothing would still necessitate the continued operation of the oil industry. Additionally, plastic does not degrade, so every time a piece of synthetic clothing is discarded—which is very common—it ends up in the environment. Synthetic clothing also requires a multitude of chemicals in its production and use, which leach into the environment.
The vision: My vision of the future of clothing is different. First, plastic will no longer exist in clothing or fashion, replaced by the purest natural materials. Clothes will no longer be produced under horrid conditions. People will not over-consume clothes; instead, they will buy fewer clothes, choosing outfits made from the best materials with timeless designs, and will hold on to them for their lifetime to be passed down through generations.
Our plan is to develop the finest natural materials into fabrics from start to finish, use them for our own clothes, and also sell them to small fashion companies, eliminating any excuses they might have for using toxic materials. We will also reach a point where we design the most beautiful clothing humanity has ever seen for everyone to wear, not just a small elite. The goal is to create the most spiritually pure natural clothing at a price that everyone can attain. For now to fulfill the mission of eliminating plastic clothes, we have to start somewhere.
You might ask me what compelled me to take this new direction in thought and fashion and why I feel so strongly motivated to do something about it with my team. Well, it’s for the reasons I mentioned above.
The basic idea is to create a spiritually pure future that not only looks beautiful but actually feels new, rather than just repetitive cycles of trends that are marketed and used over and over again into oblivion. The future should look like the future, and that includes what we wear and how it looks. Beautiful design has the power to make people feel positive or negative.
Interestingly enough, you can almost pinpoint every period of humanity over the last 7,000 years and identify it with the clothes people wore. This is the first time in history that clothing is a mass-marketed product made not to coexist with the environment and your body in a beautifully designed manner but as a weapon of profit against a brainwashed, trend-seeking population. And yes, I do believe you are brainwashed to wear certain clothes. The vast majority of ‘celebrities’ are paid to wear the clothes you see them wear; they are just as brainless as the rest of the population.
Below, you can read what formed my thoughts and compelled me to start this new path of saving the future. Yes, I agree that in this world we live in, there are endless wars, famine, and other horrible things happening to humanity all around the world, but my impact on those issues would be close to nothing at this point in my life. I believe the strongest impact I can have on the world now is to take on the mission of pushing fashion in the direction it must go, to eliminate the horrors other companies are causing by profiting off fashion, and to build the next company that will represent and create the change in society in this direction. I feel that these companies, giant corporations, and conglomerates have no place in the future; they must be replaced and made non-existent. They have already shown who they are and what they are about. The change will come from the new, not the old.
- Don
Below is a summary along with a range of information/papers/articles/videos regarding these subjects which will be constantly updated:
Why polyester and nylon plastic fabric along with synthetic materials have a negative impact on the human body:
The main synthetic materials used for clothing today are polyester(the most widely used), nylon, spandex, lycra, and acrylic. These are all chemically processed plastics made from petroleum and are not biodegradable.
Polyester, nylon, and spandex were created and commercialized by the Dupont chemical company. A company with a rather devious history. Just this year a federal district court judge granted final approval to a $1.2 billion settlement between water utilities affected by PFAS “forever chemicals” and DuPont de Nemours, as well as spinoff firms Chemours and Corteva.
Polyester is part of a group of plastics called: polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The same plastic that is used for plastic bottles and containers. It is created through a chemical reaction between purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG).
Nylon is part of a group of plastics called aramids. Nylon is produced through a chemical reaction between two key monomers: adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine.
Spandex is primarily composed of polyurethane, which is created through a reaction between polyester and a diisocyanate
Now that we have addressed what types of plastic these common materials are now lets talk about the chemicals and other toxic substances used in addition to these materials.
Formaldehyde: Commonly used to prevent wrinkling and as an anti-mold agent and dye fixative. It has been linked to various cancers and can cause skin irritation.
Heavy metals: Including lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and antimony. These are used in dyeing processes and to make fabrics flame retardant, antimicrobial, water repellent, etc. They can be toxic even at low levels.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Used to make fabrics water and stain resistant. They are known as "forever chemicals" and have been linked to cancer and infertility.
Azo dyes: Used for coloring fabrics, these can be carcinogenic and cause skin and eye irritation.
Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs): Found in clothing items and some detergents, associated with reproductive and developmental issues.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Common in printed textiles, can lead to various health issues including developmental and reproductive damage.
Phthalates: Used in activewear and anti-odor clothing, linked to cancer and endocrine disruption.
Chlorine bleach: Used for whitening, can cause severe asthma and respiratory problems.
Bisphenols
These chemicals are particularly prevalent in synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, acrylic, and spandex. Many are used to impart properties like wrinkle-resistance, water-repellency, and stain-resistance. The health risks associated with these chemicals range from skin irritation to more serious concerns like cancer and reproductive issues.
more about bisphenols and pfas forever chemicals
BPA presence in synthetic fabrics: BPA has been detected in clothing containing polyester and spandex blends, which are common in athletic wear.
Reasons for BPA in clothing:
Used as an antioxidant in polyester production to improve properties and lifespan
Applied as an antistatic treatment in products like spandex
Used as a protective agent in polyurethane (PU)
Present in adhesives, coatings, and trims
May come from recycled materials like rPET from water bottles
Health concerns: BPA is associated with developmental issues, serious eye damage, respiratory irritation, skin allergies, and reproductive harm.
Regulatory actions: In California, USA, BPA has a maximum allowable dose level via skin exposure of three micrograms per day under Proposition 65.
Recent findings:
BPA was found at levels above regulatory requirements in socks made primarily of polyester with spandex
Sports bras from several companies were found to potentially expose wearers to up to 22 times BPA's safe harbor limit
Similar results were reported in women's athletic shirts
Exposure risk: The presence of BPA in clothing indicates possible dermal exposure, which is traditionally excluded from human BPA exposure analysis. There's also potential environmental exposure through clothing discarded in landfills.
These findings highlight the need for increased awareness and potentially stricter regulations regarding the use of bisphenols in synthetic clothing manufacturing.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are commonly found in synthetic clothing, particularly in items marketed as water-resistant or stain-resistant. Here are the key points:
Prevalence:
A study by Arnika, IPEN and partners found PFAS in 63.8% of 72 clothing samples tested from 13 countries.
62.5% of outdoor jackets and 68.8% of other clothing items (like aprons, T-shirts, swimsuits) contained PFAS.
Types of PFAS found:
PFOA, a globally banned PFAS, was the most common in outdoor jackets.
PFDA, restricted in the EU, was found in jackets, raincoats, and an apron.
6:2 FTOH was measured in the highest concentrations.
Use in clothing:
PFAS are used for water and stain resistance in outdoor wear, sportswear, and everyday clothing.
They're often applied as treatments to fabrics and textiles.
Health concerns:
PFAS exposure is linked to various health issues, including cancer, weakened immunity, hormone disruption, and developmental problems.
Children's clothing, including school uniforms, often contained high levels of PFAS.
Environmental impact:
PFAS are known as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment.
Textiles are responsible for 31% of PFAS emissions in the EU.
Overall, while PFAS are still widely used in synthetic clothing for their water and stain-resistant properties, there's growing concern about their health and environmental impacts,.
Now let’s talk about endocrine disruption. Something that is observed with these materials -
An endocrine disruptor is a chemical that can interfere with the body's endocrine (hormonal) system. Key points about endocrine disruptors include:
Definition: Endocrine disruptors are natural or synthetic chemicals that can mimic, block, or interfere with the body's hormones.
Mechanisms of action:
They may mimic natural hormones, potentially leading to overstimulation
They can block hormone receptors, preventing natural hormones from binding
They can interfere with hormone production, transport, or metabolism
Exposure routes: People can be exposed through food, water, air, and skin contact.
Health concerns: Endocrine disruptors have been associated with various health issues, including:
Reproductive problems
Developmental issues
Certain cancers
Metabolic disorders
Neurological and behavioral problems
Low-dose effects: Even small amounts of endocrine disruptors may cause significant biological effects, as hormones naturally act in very small quantities.
Challenges in research: Studying the effects of endocrine disruptors in humans is complex due to multiple exposures, potential long-term or transgenerational effects, and ethical limitations on human studies.
Below are a range of papers, articles, videos and more which I am still sifting through and will be updating as I go through more documents.
Polyester
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316044390_Toxicity_of_Synthetic_Fibres_and_Human_Health_OPEN_ACCESS
THE IMPACT OF POLYESTER // how we ended up dressing in plastic - YouTube
SHEIN, AliExpress, Zaful haul: Toxic chemicals found in some clothes (Marketplace) - YouTube
Fashion's toxic threads - YouTube
https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2023/nov/02/workout-clothes-sweat-chemicals-cancer
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7787125/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10311-021-01384-8
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/polyethylene-terephthalate
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8262106/
Impact On Your Health From Synthetic Clothing and Toxins Used in Everyday Products - YouTube
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S221334371930096X
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17569370.2023.2196158
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0285515
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/7/2964
Yoga athletic outfits
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/your-athletic-wear-could-contain-high-levels-of-bpa-heres-a-list-of-brands-affected/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935118305140
Microplastics:
How Fast Fashion & (Recycled) Polyester Create The Microplastics In Our Blood - YouTube
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9000408/
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.7b01750
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7282048/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/reduce-laundry-microfiber-pollution/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653520313928
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43023-x
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/23/3446
https://e360.yale.edu/digest/microplastics-human-brains
Bisphenol A:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2774166/
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.7b00701
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3zh2k9vf
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/sites/default/files/ntp/pressctr/mtgs_wkshps/2000/lowdosepeerfinalrpt.pdf
Pfas:
https://www.ehn.org/pfas-clothing-2656435785.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691520300016
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00147
Forever Chemicals PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, BPA, Explained Clearly - YouTube
How 3M And DuPont Are Being Sued Over ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Water - YouTube
The Devil We Know (PFAS) - YouTube
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/chemical-releases-coatings-durable-water-resistant-clothing-suggests-need-wide-ranging-regulation-2022-11-30_en#:~:text=The%20level%20of%20extractable%20PFASs,the%20emergence%20of%20these%20chemicals.
https://ipen.org/sites/default/files/documents/ipen-pfas-2021-v1_6w.pdf
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/4-november-december/material-world/pfas-are-everywhere-we-need-systems-change-fix#:~:text=Breathable%20mesh%20fabric%20and%20synthetic,tents%2C%20and%20kids'%20backpacks.
https://chemtrust.org/pfas-childrens-clothing/#:~:text=What%20did%20we%20do?,out%20in%20the%20table%20below.&text=We%20cut%20100%20cm2,the%20use%20of%20any%20PFAS.
https://www.sgs.com/en-us/news/2023/01/cc-2022-q4-concerns-raised-over-pfas-and-bpa-in-clothing
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621566/
Phthalates:
Endocrine disrupters: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine
https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-physiol-012110-142200
https://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/30/4/293/2355049
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8157593/#:~:text=Phthalates%2C%20as%20endocrine%2Ddisrupting%20chemicals,and%20more%20vulnerable%20to%20phthalates.
Slavery:
https://www.unseenuk.org/modern-slavery-in-fashion/
https://www.oxfam.org.au/what-she-makes/
https://cdn.walkfree.org/content/uploads/2023/05/17114737/Global-Slavery-Index-2023.pdf
Video 1
Video 2
Ect. Related:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ina.12944
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749122007205
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/14/emails-white-house-interfered-with-science-study-536950
Lyocell Fiber - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
https://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2005/11/tencel_sustaina.html
https://www.nwf.org/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2006/Cotton-and-Pesticides
https://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/sheep/woolbenefits.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2774166/
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/ehp.115-a449
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/envstudtheses/320/
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01894
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22329151/
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/1624/
Forever Chemicals PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, BPA, Explained Clearly - YouTube
How 3M And DuPont Are Being Sued Over ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Water - YouTube
The Devil We Know (PFAS) - YouTube
Harvard Healthy Buildings | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
https://www.unseenuk.org/modern-slavery-in-fashion/
https://www.oxfam.org.au/what-she-makes/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10934529.2016.1221212
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-19-2832-1_1
https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/7/361
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3zh2k9vf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790824000740
https://www.proquest.com/openview/d87a50cf8b60cceeac2db965f2d3363d/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
https://changingmarkets.org/report/fossil-fashion-the-hidden-reliance-of-fast-fashion-on-fossil-fuels/#:~:text=The%20production%20of%20synthetic%20fibres,1.35%25%20of%20global%20oil%20consumption.