As if the constant worry about toxic chemicals in our food and lifestyle products wasn’t enough of a burden, I am disheartened to inform you that toxic chemicals in our clothing is yet another problem on the horizon. Compare Ethics estimates that 8000 synthetic chemicals are used in the fashion manufacturing process. These include AZO dyes, flame retardant PFCs, and BPA included in most of your activewear are just a few of the most common Carcinogens found in our daily wardrobe. While these are not only supposed to be in our clothing, they also lead to several health hazards.
What are the effects I talk about? Story time.
Adjusting to new roommates is no easy task. When mine blinded me in the wee hours of the night with fluorescent lights in the wee hours of the night, I came up with the ingenious idea of wearing my new Juicy Couture robe over my face as a makeshift eye mask. I could’ve sworn I was one step removed from Einstein. However, when I woke up in the morning, I was one step removed from Shrek. My face swelled to about three times its normal size, and my eyes were so swollen I was convinced I might never be able to open them again. It was a real-life horror story.
I arrived at urgent care, and my situation only continued its downward spiral. After a series of questions, while barely being able to see the nurse, we eventually narrowed it down to a severe allergic reaction to my Juicy Couture robe. Several rounds of steroids, antibiotics, and an Epi-Pen shot later, I got my sight back.
So how can we avoid this terrifying epidemic? First things first, shop second-hand and from sustainable brands. Secondly, while purchasing clothes, keep an eye out for a tag labeled OEKO-TEX. OEKO-TEX oversees several textile certifications that require companies to undergo regular independent testing to use OEKO-TEX labels on their products. It guarantees that all aspects of textiles, including buttons, zippers, and other finishings are free of 100 chemicals that are often found in textiles. While this may seem like a lot of things to remember, it’s better to avoid an allergic reaction. Trust me, because now I can never trust you, Juicy Couture Robe.
Words by Carly Rosiello.
Graphic by AnaStacy Golovidov.