16 Comments
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Penelope's avatar

Brilliant piece. My favourite line: "I would be hard pressed to find any sense of Thou in polyester."

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Keturah Hickman's avatar

This is pure gold. I love and agree with everything you wrote. My mother raised us in only natural fibers for Leviticus reasons. People used to think she was weird for it, but now I feel like the world is catching up to the ancient wisdom of clothing. I would love to eventually be making our own fabrics --- I imagine it would make laundry simpler, because you'd have less clothes ahah! I love the rules for women's work too. It's so intuitive and wise.

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Emma Evatt's avatar

Thank you!! I’m so happy it resonated with you!

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Olivia Marstall's avatar

Keep coming back to this piece, some lovely thoughts here! I try to only buy cotton/linen/wool/silk when I thrift, and it's really changed my wardrobe. Also, thought you might appreciate this: I'm currently knitting myself my (first ever) pair of socks, out of a lovely 100% wool yarn.

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Emma Evatt's avatar

How is it going!! I’ve only tackled a triangle scarf and a straight scarf… so socks and a tank top are next on my list. They seem very intimidating.

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BornAlive's avatar

you just won another subscriber!! this was so compelling i nearly burned my mouth on too hot coffee. thank you so much for the thoughtfulness and i dare say what i take as an anecdote to the destructiveness of this perennial seeking for ‘equality’ to men. here you describe in the most heartfelt way women’s values. does everyone stay at home and bake bread? no. of course not. not anymore. but in your writing i hear the VALUES of the feminine and long for this understanding in my sisters all the world over. i too putter and i would LIKE to get better but older women now don’t seem to pass anything down without a price tag attached to their teaching. so it goes..

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Emma Evatt's avatar

Thank you! I agree, I think today’s discussion of femininity is often about putting women in certain roles or giving them certain skills, when in reality true femininity is imbued in anything you do as a woman.

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Anja Smoliak's avatar

Sooo much goodness Here, Emma! I really INjoyed thIS read. God Bless 🤍

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Emma Evatt's avatar

Thank you, Anja!

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Sam Lloyd's avatar

I always attempt to buy 100% natural fibers, but it is incredibly difficult. All our sheets and bedding are cotton or silk. But my daughter's school uniform is mixed with polyester, and I'm only able to find blends for my work scrubs. I also won't abandon a good thrift-store find if it's a blend. I am starting to sew my own clothing (with a singer treadle from 1925! Backed up with my bernette from the 90s), which will be great, but it's a winter activity for me as summer and autumn are filled with the garden harvest. I avoid any clothing that is 100% synthetic at least. It is frustrating!

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Emma Evatt's avatar

It is super difficult, I agree! I think aiming for 100% perfection may be impossible because of some of the things you listed— but where it can happen, it’s amazing

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Joanne's avatar

Devils advocate here - I would argue that bamboo and other semi-synthetic rayons aren’t natural fibers due to the chemical processes involved in production. I would also argue that Tencel and Lyocell, specifically the brand names as they are more traceable, would have a more symbiotic nature to them than other rayons. I’m currently experimenting with semi synthetics, I love natural fibers but for some styles they are hard to come by!

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Emma Evatt's avatar

Yes I read some about bamboo— but there is a way it can be made without “modern chemicals!” So yes… you’re right. probably what you get now when you buy bamboo isn’t all natural, but it technically *can be* a wholly natural fabric

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Joanne's avatar

Wow! I didn’t realize that because it’s wood and I couldn’t wrap my head around how that would be woven or knit. Was that in the book you referenced?

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Emma Evatt's avatar

Yes! They create a pulp from the wood and extract fibers from that!

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Notsothoreau's avatar

This is where I get my denim skirts: https://www.classicclothingstore.com/. Yes, she does have some blends. But there is something about knowing who makes your clothes. The skirts are a good value and comfortable.

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