It seems that spending time at home has inspired many of us to detox our lives one way or another from taking up meditation or yoga, cleaning out our cupboards and sorting out our wardrobes to planting vegetable gardens. For many of us isolation and social distancing has been difficult but on the positive side it has been a time to reflect and focus on what really matters which for the most of us is reconnecting with our inner selves, our families and nature.
Sustainability is at the heart of Cloth & Co.'s philosophy so we started looking into what changes we can make to live more sustainably and share them with you. The reference that immediately comes to mind is Alexx Stuart's Low Tox Life - Alexx has built a movement that's non-judgmental, positive and says low tox peeps are a force to be reckoned with!
Check out her website and her book which is jam packed with information on reducing the hundreds of chemical compounds and toxins in our everyday life; from household cleaning products, to our food, cosmetics and shampoos to the clothing we wear. There are podcasts, e-courses and loads of free downloads and tips for greening up your life, better health and a cleaner environment!
When it comes to the chemicals in our homes, reducing the introduction by making better choices is a good start but indoor plants is what really got us thinking. There's been a lot of research in this space so we thought we'd share some of our findings, and if you're tempted to turn your living space into an urban jungle take some inspiration from incredible Hilton Carter, plant stylist, filmmaker and producer based in Baltimore. @hiltoncarter
“Caring for plants provides the moments to think about how to treat people,” he says. “It’s one of the few times I find myself pulled away from the screen. I get into my zen watering, checking the soil, looking at the leaves, making sure they’re okay. The process makes me more self-aware.” Says Carter who takes being a plant parent seriously.
You can read about Hilton and take a visual journey through his Baltimore Apartment in this article in Essence.com
Research studies conducted by RMIT suggest that indoor plants are effective in reducing airborne chemicals and particles in indoor spaces by as much as 75 to 90 per cent, depending on the pollutant and the plant.
Plants are also effective at filtering out small particle by absorbing or collecting the particles.
This research also suggests that just having enough plants around can enhance our wellbeing. When we experience plants and nature, our concentration improves, we take less sick leave, we recover better from stress, we perform better at shape recognition tasks, and we are more likely to consider long-term goals.
“Human beings need to be connected to nature. We evolved in nature, it’s only really in the last 200 years that we’ve become more and more urbanised,” says University of Melbourne Researcher Dr Dominique Hes.
“When you are near plants, your brain is actually more relaxed, more in tune more able to think and communicate and use those higher brain powers when it is relaxed."
Take a look at the Plant Life Balance app developed by Horticulture Innovation Australia to promote the health benefits of plants. The app works by rating the implied air quality and wellbeing of your rooms based on the number of plants you have or don't have.
So once we start to think about all the chemicals and toxins in our lives, we can look to make informed decisions, we feel empowered and we can make choices that we feel comfortable with.
When we founded Cloth & Co. one of our greatest concerns was the impact we would have on the environment. We chose only to work with natural fibres and with our cotton jersey, it had to be organic!
Conventional cotton accounts for 25% of the insecticides used worldwide and the residue from these poisons are transferred from soil to boll making their way into the fibres of our conventional cotton clothing.
Our garments are GOT's Certified to ensure that every stage of the process is free from harmful chemicals, protecting the farmers, our makers and you!
Now that the restrictions are starting to relax, many of us have grown to appreciate the quieter life and keeping our homes a safe place and sanctuary. We hope this might inspire you to have some fun and make yours a little greener!
Wishing you all good health & happiness.
Cloth & Co. x