Responsible fashion, examined. Industry conversations - with insight and integrity on how the clothing is made to help you make informed choices.
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Activewear is one of the most intimate clothing categories we own. Leggings, sports bras, base layers and gym sets are worn close to the body, often with sweat, heat and friction — and many people now wear them far beyond the workout. But activewear is also one of the most synthetic categories in fashion. In this solo episode of Responsible Fashion Lab, Maria continues the conversation from last week’s episode with Dr Leonardo Trasande on microplastics, plastic-related chemicals and health exposure. This time, the focus is activewear: why performance clothing became so dependent on polyester,
Microplastics are now part of the public conversation. We hear about them in water, food, air, soil and increasingly in the human body. But the word “microplastics” can make the issue sound simpler than it is. Plastic exposure is not only about tiny plastic particles. It can also involve the chemicals added to plastics, the substances used to make materials flexible, durable, colourful, water-resistant or flame-resistant, and the way plastic breaks down over time. In this episode of Responsible Fashion Lab, Maria speaks with Dr. Leonardo Trasande, paediatrician, professor and leading researche
Wool is one of the most useful fibres in fashion. It can be warm, breathable, moisture-managing, odour-resistant and long-lasting. It can work in winter knitwear, base layers, coats, tailoring and even lightweight dresses. But not all wool is created equal. In this solo episode of Responsible Fashion Lab, Maria looks at wool beyond the word on the label. What makes some wool soft and some wool itchy? What is the difference between coarse wool, fine wool, merino, lambswool, virgin wool, cashmere and alpaca? Why is merino used in performance clothing? And when does a “wool blend” stop being main
Cotton is one of the most familiar fabrics in our wardrobes. It is natural, breathable and widely trusted — but cotton is not one simple category. In this solo episode of Responsible Fashion Lab, Maria looks at what sits behind cotton: conventional cotton farming, pesticides, fertilisers, GMO cotton, water use, organic cotton, Better Cotton, regenerative cotton, recycled cotton, Fairtrade cotton and Cotton made in Africa. The episode asks a practical question: when a label says “cotton”, what does that actually tell us — and what does it leave out? We cover: • why cotton is so widely used• why
Viscose is one of the most common fibres in fashion — and one of the most misunderstood. You may see it on labels as viscose, rayon, modal, lyocell, bamboo viscose, TENCEL™ Lyocell or LENZING™ ECOVERO™. It can be soft, fluid, breathable and a better alternative to polyester in many garments. But viscose is not as simple as the words “plant-based”, “wood-based” or “bamboo” can make it sound. In this solo episode of Responsible Fashion Lab, Maria explains what viscose actually is: a regenerated cellulose fibre that usually starts with wood, bamboo or another plant source, but becomes fabric thro
What should we think about when clothing sits directly on our skin for hours? In this solo episode of Responsible Fashion Lab, Maria looks at the connection between fashion, skin and the body — and why the garments closest to us deserve more attention. The episode focuses on the “first layer”: underwear, bras, leggings, tights, sleepwear, base layers, activewear and children’s clothing. These are the pieces worn closest to the body, often with heat, sweat and friction, which means fabric choice, dyes, finishes and certifications matter more. Maria explains why the fibre label is only part of t
In this episode of Responsible Fashion Lab, I’m speaking with Professor Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas about what sustainability in fashion really means, and how we can begin to understand it more clearly. We look at the key pillars of responsible fashion: materials, people, production, business models, education, regulation, and the role of shoppers. What does it mean for a garment to be “sustainable”?How should we think about natural fibres, synthetic materials, overproduction, labour, circularity and care?And what questions can we ask before we buy? This is a thoughtful and practical conversatio
What is your clothing really made of? In this solo episode of Responsible Fashion Lab, Maria looks at one of the simplest but most revealing places to start: the fabric label. Before we ask whether a garment is sustainable, responsible, natural, recycled or premium, we first need to understand its material composition. Is it made from natural fibres, synthetic fibres, semi-synthetic fibres — or a blend of several materials? This episode is a practical guide to reading clothing labels more critically. Maria explains why fabric composition matters, why polyester is still plastic even when it fee
