What Clothing Materials Are Toxic: How To Transition Your Wardrobe To Healthier, High-Frequency Clothing
There’s a quiet truth most of us don’t think about: the clothes we wear carry frequency. They don’t just cover our bodies — they interact with our skin, our energy, even our mood. And for Jaclyn Steele Thurmond, that realization has changed the way she approaches her wardrobe.
On this solo episode of The Freq Show, Jaclyn shared her journey of transitioning her closet toward natural fibers. It wasn’t about buying a brand-new wardrobe overnight or keeping up with fast fashion brands. Instead, it was about making more mindful choices — for her body, her family, and for the environment.
What Clothing Materials Are Toxic
At first glance, clothing might not seem like a wellness issue. But Jaclyn reminded listeners that everything carries frequency — from the food we eat to the words we speak. And yes, even the fabrics we wear every single day.
Much of modern fashion is built on synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, spandex, and rayon. While convenient, these fibers often hide harmful chemicals in their manufacturing process. Things like flame retardants, stain resistant coatings, and synthetic dyes (including azo dye) are added for durability and easy care. But many of these additives have been linked to endocrine disruptors, hormone disruption, and even respiratory problems.
Jaclyn put it simply: “If we’re living high-frequency lives, why wouldn’t we also consider the frequency of our clothing?”
Why Fast Fashion Can Hurt Health and the Environment
Research shows that polyester makes up nearly half of all fast fashion clothing today. Each wash releases hundreds of thousands of microplastics into waterways, contaminating oceans and even human bloodstreams. Beyond that, toxic fabrics often contain heavy metals or chemical finishes that don’t just harm the planet — they may also affect the wearer directly.
Cotton sounds safer, but unless it’s organic cotton certified by standards like OEKO-TEX, it can be grown with pesticides or treated with harmful chemicals after harvest. Even fabrics labeled “wrinkle free” or “stain resistant” often rely on coatings that slowly release formaldehyde or other irritants.
Jaclyn’s concern isn’t only aesthetic — it’s about wellness. She reminded listeners: “When we sweat, our pores open to release toxins. If we’re wearing toxic fabrics, those chemicals can go right back in.”
Curious about how your personal wardrobe style translates into your space? You might resonate with “How to Find Your Interior Design Style”—a heart-led take on discovering what design feels like a reflection of you.
What Are Solfeggio Healing Frequencies (Connection to Frequency Living)
Just as Solfeggio Frequencies can realign the body and mind, natural fibers can help restore harmony to how we live day to day. For Jaclyn, transitioning her wardrobe is another way to reduce her toxic load and live more intentionally.
How To Test Clothes For Toxic Chemicals
Switching to safer clothing doesn’t mean throwing out your entire wardrobe overnight. Jaclyn suggested small, practical steps for anyone curious about safer fabrics:
Check the label carefully. Look for natural fibers like organic cotton, linen, silk, wool, hemp, bamboo, or cashmere.
Watch for buzzwords. Terms like wrinkle free, stain resistant, or easy care often signal added chemicals.
Look for certifications. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 means the item has been tested for harmful chemicals.
Do a smell test. If an item smells strongly of chemicals, synthetic dyes, or plastic, it may have been heavily treated.
Research the brand. Many sustainable lines still blend synthetic fabrics for stretch, so be mindful of percentages.
A Healthier Way Forward
Jaclyn is choosing to transition slowly:
Start with what you wear most. Workout clothes and intimates are her top priority since they’re in closest contact with skin.
Focus on natural fibers. Organic cotton, silk, wool, linen, and bamboo top her list.
Use discernment. She isn’t aiming for perfection. “Maybe 10–15% of my closet will stay synthetic because it’s sentimental or special. But overall, I want my clothing to align with a high-frequency lifestyle.”
New Insights on Toxic Clothing
Since Jaclyn first started this journey, more studies have highlighted the risks of chemicals in clothing. Some findings suggest that constant exposure to endocrine disruptors in fabrics could affect fertility, metabolism, and even mental health. Others point to increased cases of skin irritation and respiratory problems linked to synthetic fabrics treated with synthetic dyes and flame retardants.
She also notes that even “sustainable” lines can be misleading. Recycling polyester may reduce waste, but the fabric still sheds microplastics and exposes the body to harmful chemicals.
Her advice? “Vote with your dollars. Buy less, but buy better. If we stop buying toxic fabrics, companies will stop making them.”
Your skin touches everything—including your clothes. For a clean beauty companion to higher-frequency fabrics, check out “Clean Beauty Hydrating Facial Oil,” Jaclyn’s deeply personal clean-skincare ritual.
Final Thought: Clothing As Care
For Jaclyn, this isn’t about shame — it’s about love. She believes that what we wear is another layer of self-care. “Our bodies deserve harmony, not hidden toxins. Imagine your skin as the largest organ you have — doesn’t it deserve to breathe?”
Her closing invitation is simple: start small. Replace one item at a time. Notice how you feel in natural fibers. Trust that even small shifts in your wardrobe can create meaningful change for both your health and the environment.
Live on purpose. Live on frequency.
Ien Araneta - editor of The Freq Show & The Beckon Times
