POLYESTER
ACRYLIC
NYLON
Try to remember that anything which is resistant, stain-proof, flame resistant wrinkle-free, waterproof — basically all the fabrics that are meant to make your life easier — are treated with toxic chemicals that are better to be avoided.
NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT TWO MORE FIBRES THAT MIGHT SEEM LIKE A NATURAL AND WAY BETTER ALTERNATIVE THAN THE ONES MADE OF PLASTIC
RAYON, also known as VISCOSE
NEOPRENE
NEOPRENE & HEALTH – SOURCES AND POTENTIAL EXPOSURE
ACUTE EFFECTS
Symptoms reported from acute human exposure to high concentrations of chloroprene include headache, irritability, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, respiratory irritation, cardiac palpitations, chest pains, nausea, gastrointestinal disorders, dermatitis, temporary hair loss, conjunctivitis, and corneal necrosis.An acute exposure may damage liver, kidneys, and lungs. It can affect the circulatory and immune system, depress the central nervous system (CNS), irritate the skin or mucous membranes and cause dermatitis and respiratory difficulties. High-level exposures have affected the liver, lungs, kidneys and CNS in animals exposed by inhalation or injection. Acute oral exposure of rats caused inflammation of the mucous membranes, damage to the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys and irritation of the gastrointestinal tract.
CHRONIC EFFECTS (NONCANCER)
One study has suggested that chronic exposure of humans to chloroprene vapour associated with neoprene production may contribute to liver function abnormalities. Disorders of the cardiovascular system and depression of the immune system have also been observed in workers chronically exposed to chloroprene. Eye irritation, nasal discharge, olfactory epithelial degeneration, restlessness, lethargy, hair loss, growth retardation, and effects to the liver, kidney, thyroid, blood, and lungs have been observed in rodents following chronic inhalation exposure.
CHLOROPRENE AND CANCER
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified chloroprene as a Group 2B, possibly carcinogenic to humans.

The last one might come as a surprise for some people, as you might not expect to read the word cotton in an article about the most toxic fabrics. But we have to mention it.
CONVENTIONALLY PRODUCED COTTON
Cotton represents nearly half of the total fibre used to make clothing and most of it is genetically modified. Confused? Yeah, we can get easily fooled by conventional cotton. High levels of potentially harmful pesticides and toxic chemicals are being used during the farming process, making it one of the agriculture’s most polluting crops. To grow cotton is also incredibly resource intensive as it takes around 2700 litres of water to grow a t-shirt. So even though cotton is natural and biodegradable, it doesn’t mean it is not harmful. It also goes hand-in-hand with human right abuse and social distortion. For example, in countries like Uzbekistan farmers are denied ownership of the land they work on and are forced to work for ridiculously low wages, often with help from children that are being used to help with the harvest every year. We all love cotton, but unless it is organic cotton, we cannot forget the environmental impact of pesticides, chemicals and fertilizers that go into manufacturing the crop.Microplastic pollution caused by washing processes of synthetic textiles has recently been assessed as the main source of primary microplastics in the oceans. Microfibers are tiny strands of plastic that shed off synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon and nylon. Scientists have discovered that they are one of the main causes of plastic pollution in the oceans. By washing processes of cotton the pesticides contaminate soil and water and create health problems for humans and animals.
The words “eco” or “green” are constantly being strained. For most manufacturers, they merely serve as a sales aid. But it has to be seen realistically: Every production generates waste and pollutes the environment. It is well known that the entire economic system is based on this principle. Unfortunately, it is not an infinite world, but hardly any economist will say this clearly. Instead, it says: Consume! But we must get away from a system based exclusively on consumption and destruction of natural resources. Even if it sounds delicate from an economic point of view.
Just be kinder to yourself and to the environment. Always read the labels as the clothing companies are required to disclose the materials in their products.
Slow fashion stands for sustainable and conscious fashion. The term describes a change towards more responsibility and respect for people and the environment, as well as a different awareness towards products, their origins and our own consumption behavior.
Slow fashion means slowing down – to the benefit of environmentally friendly manufacturing and selection of raw materials, of sustainable production, of fair trade, of the conscious use and durability of clothing.

WHAT DOES MERMAID PROTECTOR HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS?
WE DECIDED TO USE RECYCLED POLYESTER
First of all – recycled polyester is not virgin polyester. It is a sustainable alternative to it.Unlike polyester, recycled polyester uses PET as the raw material. This is the same material that is used in clear plastic water bottles. Recycling of the bottles to create the fabric prevents it from going to landfill. The steps involved in the production process are as follows.
1. The collected PET bottles are sterilized, dried and crushed into small chips.
2. The chips are heated and passed through a spinneret to form strings of yarn.
3. This yard is wound up in spools.
4. The fibre is then passed through a crimping machine to create a fluffy wooly texture.
5. This yarn is then baled, dyed and knitted into polyester fabric.




HOW ETHICAL IS RECYCLED POLYESTER VS. VIRGIN POLYESTER?
This process of converting PET into recycled polyester requires less energy than in the case of normal polyester. In fact it takes 33-53% less energy. Isn’t that a huge difference? There are two main advantages to this process:
1. Using more recycled polyester reduces our dependence on petroleum as the raw material for our fabric needs.
2. Diverting PET bottles for this process reduces landfill, and thus less soil contamination, air and water pollution.
Another benefit is that the garments created from recycled polyester can be recycled again and again with no degregation of quality, allowing us to minimize wastage. This means garment manufacture could potentionally become a closed loop system, polyester could forever be reused and recycled! Something you cannot say for a lot of other fibres. The non-biodegradbility of polyester could actually be a good thing, not bad!We love the „less waste“ concept. That is why our wetsuits are multifunctional – ideal for diving, paddling, windsurfing, kitesurfing- but also in the countryside – perfect for strolling, hiking, skiing … We produce exclusively in Europe! We use durable, recyclable and especially for Mermaid Protector developed high-tech materials which are packed exclusively in recycled nylon bgs.
WE DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS! Mermaid Protector is not only a fashion label – it is a complex lifestyle – for present and new generations. Made in the ocean we love and respect.