Toxic Fashion: Chemicals Making Menopause Worse

The truth is, that the fashion industry is drenched in toxic chemicals, many of which can disrupt our hormones, exacerbate menopause symptoms, and contribute to long-term health issues.

From synthetic fabrics like polyester that shed microplastics into our bodies to pesticide-laden cotton that carries hidden chemical residues, the garments we wear could be impacting us more than we realise.

While recycled plastics and “eco-friendly” fabrics sound like a solution, are they really any better?

Or are we simply trading one set of problems for another?

For women in midlife already navigating the challenges of fluctuating hormones—the additional burden of endocrine-disrupting chemicals can be overwhelming.

Hot flushes, mood swings, weight gain, fatigue—what if our clothing silently makes these symptoms worse?

This post will take you behind the seams of the fashion industry, exposing the hidden toxins in our wardrobes and their effects on hormone health.

We’ll explore how materials are made, the true environmental cost of fast fashion, and what we can do to protect both our bodies and our planet because investing in non-toxic clothing isn’t just about style—it’s about safeguarding our health, reclaiming our well-being, and making choices that truly support us in this stage of life and beyond.

The Journey of Our Clothes: From Production to Closet

When we pick up a new piece of clothing, we rarely think about the journey it took to get into our hands.

However, behind every garment is a complex supply chain involving raw materials, chemical treatments, and mass production—many of which leave behind toxic residues that can impact both our health and the environment.

Origins of Fabrics: What Are Our Clothes Made From?

Clothing materials generally fall into two categories: synthetic fibres (such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic) and natural fibres (like cotton, linen, wool, and hemp).

While natural fibres might seem like the obvious healthier choice, their production isn’t always free from harmful chemicals.

Here’s a closer look at some of the most common fabrics in today’s fashion industry:

Polyester & Synthetics (Nylon, Acrylic, Spandex) – Made from petroleum-based chemicals, these fabrics don’t just contribute to plastic pollution but also contain hormone-disrupting substances like phthalates and BPA. They also release microplastics into our skin and the environment, adding to the toxic burden on our bodies.
Conventional Cotton – While cotton is a natural fibre, it’s one of the most pesticide-intensive crops in the world. Residues from these chemicals can remain in fabrics, exposing wearers to toxins that can interfere with hormone function.
Rayon & Viscose – Derived from plant-based materials but heavily processed with chemicals like carbon disulfide, which is linked to reproductive health issues and neurological disorders.
Linen & Hemp – Among the cleanest options, requiring minimal pesticides and processing chemicals. However, conventionally dyed linen may still contain toxic residues.
Recycled Polyester & Eco-Fabrics – Often marketed as sustainable, but may still contain hazardous chemical treatments and release microplastics into the body and environment.

The Chemical Overload: What’s Hiding in Your Clothes?

The manufacturing process of most fabrics involves a cocktail of hazardous chemicals that serve various purposes—softening, dyeing, waterproofing outdoor gear, and making clothing wrinkle-free or stain-resistant.

Unfortunately, many of these chemicals are toxic substances known as endocrine disruptors, which means they interfere with the body’s hormone balance.

Some of the most concerning chemicals found in clothing include:

Phthalates & BPA – Common in synthetic fabrics, these chemicals mimic estrogen in the body, contributing to estrogen dominance and worsening menopausal symptoms like weight gain, mood swings, painful and prolonged periods and fatigue.
Formaldehyde – Used to make clothes wrinkle-resistant, this chemical is a known carcinogen and skin irritant.
Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) – Found in waterproof and stain-resistant fabrics, PFCs have been linked to thyroid issues and immune system disruptions.
Azo Dyes – These synthetic dyes can release carcinogenic amines, which have been linked to hormone imbalances and cancer.
Pesticides in Cotton – Conventionally grown cotton is treated with toxic pesticides that have been associated with reproductive issues and neurological disorders.

The problem doesn’t end at the manufacturing stage.

Once these chemically treated fabrics reach stores, they continue to off-gas, releasing toxic vapours into the air and onto your skin.

When worn, sweat and body heat can further activate these chemicals, allowing them to absorb through the skin and enter the bloodstream.

If you’ve ever bought new clothes and noticed a chemical smell, that’s often formaldehyde and other residual toxins lingering in the fabric.

Even after multiple washes, traces of these chemicals can remain, meaning long-term exposure every time you wear that piece of clothing.

How Toxic Fashion Disrupts Hormone Health

For women going through menopause, hormonal balance is already shifting—often unpredictably.

What if the clothes we wear every day are making things even worse?

The synthetic fibres, chemical treatments, and toxic dyes used in fashion don’t just stay on the surface; they interact with our skin, release harmful substances, and contribute to endocrine disruption, worsening common menopause symptoms.

The Skin: A Gateway for Toxins

Our skin isn’t just a protective barrier—it’s a highly absorbent organ. When we wear chemically treated fabrics, toxins can seep into our bloodstream, accumulating in fat cells and disrupting hormonal function.

Sweating, body heat, and friction from clothing can accelerate this absorption, meaning the longer we wear certain fabrics, the more exposure we get.

Some of the most harmful substances in fashion that interfere with hormones include:

Endocrine Disruptors – Chemicals like phthalates, BPA, and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) mimic or block natural hormones, leading to estrogen dominance—a condition linked to hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings, and increased risk of breast cancer.
Heavy Metals in Dyes – Many synthetic dyes contain mercury, cadmium and lead levels which can accumulate in the body over time and contribute to thyroid dysfunction, adrenal fatigue, and metabolic slowdowns.
Pesticides in Cotton – Residues from conventionally grown cotton include glyphosate, an herbicide that has been linked to estrogen disruption and may contribute to increased inflammation, hair loss, fatigue, and brain fog in menopausal women.

The Link Between Toxins & Menopause Symptoms

The symptoms experienced by many during menopause are created by hormonal imbalances.

The chemicals in synthetic clothing can contribute to these issues in multiple ways:

Menopause Symptom	How Toxic Fashion Makes It Worse
Hot Flashes & Night Sweats	Synthetic fabrics trap heat and don’t allow the skin to breathe, worsening overheating. Toxins in clothing may also trigger inflammatory responses.
Weight Gain & Estrogen Dominance	Endocrine disruptors like phthalates mimic estrogen, leading to imbalances that cause weight gain around the abdomen and make it harder to shed excess pounds.
Fatigue & Brain Fog	Heavy metals and pesticides disrupt thyroid function, leading to low energy and mental sluggishness.
Mood Swings & Anxiety	BPA and synthetic dyes interfere with neurotransmitter production, making mood swings, anxiety, and irritability worse.
Skin Irritation & Rashes	Formaldehyde and azo dyes can cause contact dermatitis, itching, and redness, especially for women experiencing menopause-related skin sensitivity.

Are “Eco-Friendly” Clothes Better?

Many brands promote recycled polyester and so-called “eco-friendly” fabrics as a solution, but these can still contain harmful chemicals.

While recycling plastic bottles into clothing might sound sustainable, the reality is that these fabrics still shed microplastics, absorb body heat, and contain residues of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Even “natural” fabrics aren’t always safe.

Conventionally grown cotton is one of the most pesticide-heavy crops in the world, and bamboo fabrics are often chemically processed into rayon, stripping them of their natural benefits.

The Environmental Impact of Toxic Fashion

The fashion industry isn’t just harming our health—it’s also wreaking havoc on the planet.

From the chemicals used in production to the sheer volume of waste generated, toxic fashion is an environmental disaster in disguise.

Many women choose recycled polyester or “sustainable” brands to be more eco-friendly, but are these choices as green as they seem?

The Hidden Cost of “Sustainable” Fashion

It’s easy to believe that clothing made from recycled plastic bottles or labelled as “organic” is a step in the right direction but these fabrics often come with unseen consequences:

Recycled Polyester & Microplastics – While turning plastic waste into clothing sounds sustainable, recycled polyester still sheds microplastics when washed and worn. These microscopic plastic fibers end up in our bodies, our oceans, disrupting aquatic life and even the air we breathe.
Chemical Processing of “Eco” Fabrics – Many fabrics marketed as sustainable, like bamboo viscose or rayon, undergo toxic chemical treatments that erase their natural benefits. Harsh solvents like carbon disulfide (used in rayon production) are linked to hormone disruption and reproductive harm.
Greenwashing & Misleading Labels – Some brands claim their clothing is “organic” or “non-toxic”, but they still use synthetic dyes, formaldehyde, and PFCs to achieve the final look. The reality? A garment labelled as “eco-friendly” may still expose you to hormone-disrupting chemicals.

Fast Fashion’s Role in Environmental Destruction

The rapid production cycle of fast fashion means that cheap clothing is made quickly, poorly, and in mass quantities.

This results in:

Massive Textile Waste – On average, 92 million tons of clothing end up in landfills every year. Many of these garments are made from synthetic fabrics that take hundreds of years to break down.
Toxic Dye Runoff & Water Pollution – Textile factories use toxic azo dyes, heavy metals, and formaldehyde to treat fabrics. These chemicals contaminate rivers and drinking water, exposing entire communities to carcinogens and hormone disruptors.
Pesticide-Intensive Cotton Farming – Conventional cotton farming uses 16% of the world’s pesticides and large amounts of glyphosate, a chemical linked to breast cancer and estrogen disruption. These toxins don’t just stay on the farm—they remain in the fibres of the clothing we wear.

The Landfill Cycle: Where Do Our Clothes End Up?

Even if a garment is labelled as “recyclable,” most clothing still ends up in landfills or incinerators.

Cheap polyester pieces, synthetic blends, and chemically treated fabrics don’t decompose—instead, they leach toxins into the soil and release harmful greenhouse gases like methane when they break down.

What about thrifted or secondhand fast fashion?

While donating clothes to charity shops might seem like a solution, many donated items are too low-quality to be resold, meaning they still end up as waste.

Making the Shift: How to Choose Non-Toxic Fashion Without Breaking the Bank

With the cost of living rising, many women feel stuck between two bad choices: buying cheap, toxic clothing that harms their health or spending a fortune on “sustainable” brands that may not be as ethical as they seem.

However there could be a smarter way—one that supports hormone health, reduces waste, and actually saves money in the long run.

Investing in Your Health with Non-Toxic Fabrics

Switching to hormone-friendly, non-toxic fabrics isn’t about perfection—but making better choices when possible.

Prioritise clothing made from:

Organic Cotton – Free from pesticides and synthetic dyes, organic cotton is gentler on the skin and reduces exposure to endocrine disruptors like glyphosate.
Linen (Flax Fiber) – Naturally antibacterial and biodegradable, linen requires minimal water and no pesticides to grow, making it one of the cleanest fabric choices.
Hemp – Breathable, durable, and naturally resistant to pests, hemp fabric doesn’t need chemical fertilisers or pesticides to thrive.
Tencel™ (Lyocell) & Modal – Made from wood pulp using a closed-loop process, these fabrics are low in chemicals and free from microplastics.

Avoid:
❌ Polyester, recycled or not – Releases microplastics and contains endocrine disruptors.

❌ Synthetic blends (nylon, acrylic, spandex) – Often coated with formaldehyde, PFCs, and phthalates.

❌ Conventional cotton – High pesticide use unless it’s organic.

❌ Rayon/Viscose (unless from a certified clean source) – Often processed with toxic chemicals like carbon disulfide.

Budget-Friendly Ways to Build a Healthier Wardrobe

You don’t need to replace your entire wardrobe overnight.

Instead, start with small, impactful changes:

Shop Secondhand for Natural Fibres – High-quality linen, cotton, and wool pieces can often be found in thrift stores or online resale platforms like Vinted, Poshmark, or eBay. Look for durable, classic styles that last.
Choose Quality Over Quantity – Instead of buying multiple cheap polyester shirts that wear out quickly, invest in one well-made organic cotton or linen piece that will last years.
Create a Capsule Wardrobe – A minimalist, mix-and-match wardrobe means fewer, higher-quality pieces that work together effortlessly—saving money and reducing waste.
Check Brand Transparency – Look for certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OEKO-TEX®, and Bluesign®, which ensure lower chemical use.
Wash Wisely – Use a Guppyfriend bag to catch microplastics when washing synthetic clothing, and wash new clothes before wearing to remove residual chemicals.

The Real Cost: Cheap Clothes vs. Your Health

It’s easy to see “sustainable” clothing as an expensive luxury, but is fast fashion saving you money?

Cheap synthetic clothes wear out quickly, meaning constant replacements.

More importantly, the hidden cost is your health—hormonal imbalance, inflammation, and exposure to harmful toxins can lead to long-term health problems that are far more costly than investing in better fabrics.

By making mindful swaps, you’re not just choosing better health today—you’re protecting your body for years to come.

The Future of Fashion: Choosing Health Over Hype

Fast fashion has sold us the idea that more is better, that we need to keep up with trends, and that sustainability is just about recycling. However, the reality is different—our clothing choices impact not just the environment but also our hormone health, energy levels, and long-term well-being.

As women, especially those navigating menopause, we can no longer afford to ignore the toxic burden of synthetic fabrics and chemical-laden clothing.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed, we can see this as an opportunity to reclaim control—not just of our wardrobes, but of our health and our planet.

Investing in a Healthier, More Sustainable Wardrobe

Choosing non-toxic, hormone-friendly fabrics isn’t just about looking good—it’s about feeling good and investing in your future.

Imagine a wardrobe that:

✔️ Supports your hormone balance instead of exposing you to endocrine disruptors.

✔️ Lasts longer, saving you money over time.

✔️ Reduces textile waste and keeps harmful chemicals out of the environment.

✔️ Simplifies your life with timeless, high-quality pieces you love wearing.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Start Where You Are – You don’t have to throw everything out. Just begin by making better choices with new purchases.
Prioritise Natural Fibres – Whether it’s organic cotton, linen, or Tencel™, choosing cleaner fabrics makes a difference.
Embrace Secondhand Fashion – Quality non-toxic clothes are often hidden gems in thrift stores—affordable, sustainable, and better for your health.
Think Beyond Trends – A capsule wardrobe built on durable, versatile pieces means less waste and more ease in your daily life.
Support Brands That Align With Your Values – Seek out ethical companies that prioritise health, sustainability, and transparency.

Your Health Is Worth It

At the end of the day, investing in a non-toxic fashion is about choosing yourself—your well-being, your comfort, and your future.

Instead of being at the mercy of fast fashion’s cheap materials and hidden health risks, you’re stepping into a more conscious, empowered way of living.

When you feel good in your clothes—physically, emotionally, and hormonally—it shows and that’s the kind of fashion choice that never goes out of style.

The Solution: Building a Non-Toxic, Hormone-Friendly Wardrobe

Now that we understand the risks of toxic fashion and its impact on hormone health, menopause symptoms, and the environment, the next step is finding practical solutions.

Fortunately, creating a non-toxic, sustainable wardrobe doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming.

It’s about mindful choices—buying fewer, better-quality pieces that work for your lifestyle and well-being.

Step 1: Detox Your Closet

Start by assessing your wardrobe and making conscious decisions about what stays and what goes:
✅ Keep: Natural fabrics like organic cotton, linen, hemp, wool, and silk.
❌ Reduce or phase out: Synthetic fabrics like polyester, acrylic, rayon, and nylon, especially those treated with chemical finishes.
♻️ Repurpose or recycle: If you have synthetic clothes, consider donating or repurposing them into rags or home textiles instead of throwing them away.

Step 2: Shop Smarter (Without Overspending)

A non-toxic wardrobe doesn’t mean replacing everything overnight.

Instead, adopt a slow-fashion mindset:

Prioritise natural and certified fabrics – Look for labels like GOTS-certified organic cotton, OEKO-TEX®, and Bluesign®.
Buy secondhand – Thrift stores and online platforms like Vinted, Poshmark, and Depop are great for finding high-quality natural fabrics at a fraction of the cost.
Invest in key basics – A capsule wardrobe with a few versatile, durable pieces will save you money and decision fatigue in the long run.
Support ethical brands – Research brands that use sustainable materials and low-toxin processing methods.

Step 3: Care for Your Clothes Naturally

Even non-toxic clothing can become a problem if washed with harsh chemicals.

Keep your wardrobe (and body) free from toxins by:

Washing new clothes before wearing them to remove any residual chemicals.
Use fragrance-free, eco-friendly detergents to avoid synthetic fragrances and irritants.
Air-drying instead of dry cleaning, as conventional dry cleaning uses perchloroethylene (PERC), a known endocrine disruptor.
Use a Guppyfriend bag when washing synthetic fabrics to trap microplastics before they enter waterways.

By making these simple shifts, you protect your hormone health, reduce your toxic load, and support a more sustainable planet—without breaking the bank.

Conclusion: Your Clothes Should Support Your Health, Not Harm It

The fashion industry has convinced us that fast, cheap, and trendy is the way forward—but at what cost?

The clothes we wear every day affect our hormones, our health, and the environment, whether we realise it or not.

The good news is you now know how to make empowered choices.

You don’t have to throw everything out overnight, but small, intentional swaps can make a big difference in how you feel.

By choosing natural, non-toxic fabrics, investing in fewer, higher-quality pieces, and rethinking what sustainability truly means, you’re not just improving your wardrobe—you’re taking control of your health and well-being.

So the next time you shop, pause and ask: Is this supporting my body, or adding to my toxic load?

Remember the real luxury isn’t fast fashion—it’s a wardrobe that makes you look and feel amazing, inside and out.

Ready to Start Reducing Your Toxic Load and Creating Hormone Harmony?

Making the switch to non-toxic clothing is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to balancing your hormones and easing menopause symptoms.

If you’re ready to take the next step, my free eBook, The Menopause Hormone Harmony Guide, is the perfect place to start.

It’s a quick and easy guide to nourishing your body, reducing toxic overload, and supporting your hormones naturally—without restrictive diets or expensive supplements.

Download your free copy today and start feeling the difference!

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