Chemicals are used in every part of the textile production for making fibers, bleaching and dyeing fabrics, etc… When they arrive in the shops, our clothes still contain a lot of chemicals, even clothes made of "100% natural" fiber. Our skin is our body's largest organ and absorbs anything we put on it, including chemicals in our clothes. These can present a real danger to our health.

How are they harmful?

A Greenpeace study for the Detox Campaign has identified 11 chemicals frequently used to make our clothes that contain toxins, carcinogens, and hormone disruptors which should be banned, but currently aren't.

Some Studies show that certain chemical substances contained in pajamas, can be found in a child's urine 5 days after wearing those pajamas for one night.

A recent study found hazardous chemicals in 63% of the items tested from 20 different textile brands (including fashion giants).  

What can we do about it? 

• Always wash new clothes before using them for the first time.

• Look for garments with chemical content certification label such as OEKO-TEX®, GOTS, or BLUESIGN®.