The Material Edit

The things we bring into our homes become part of our everyday lives. We touch them, wash them, sleep in them and live with them for years. That is why, for us, choosing a material is not only about how it looks or feels. It is also about asking questions: what is it made from, how is it produced, how does it behave over time, and what do we know about its wider impact?

The Material Edit is where we share that process. It is an ongoing exploration of the materials behind the things we make, the research informing our decisions, and the questions we are still working through. We do not believe that one label tells the whole story. We believe better decisions begin with asking better questions.

Textile Exchange’s Materials Market Report 2025 estimated that 132 million tonnes of fibre were produced globally in 2024. Polyester accounted for 59% of that total, and 88% of polyester production was fossil-based. These numbers help explain why fibre choice matters: the materials used across clothing, home textiles and other products are part of a very large global system.

This is not a claim that every polyester product is the same, or that a single alternative automatically solves the problem. It is a reason to understand the materials we use, the systems behind them, and the trade-offs involved.

Research has shown that textile fibres can be released during everyday use and laundering. Studies examining polyester garments have measured microfibre release into air and wastewater, and found that the amount released can vary with fabric construction and other textile characteristics.

This is an important part of the conversation about synthetic textiles and microplastic pollution. It is also a reminder that fabric composition is not the only variable: yarn, knit or weave structure, surface finish, garment construction, washing and product use can all influence shedding.

Researchers have reported detecting microplastics in human tissues. One study identified microplastic particles in 31 of 50 placentas examined. Findings like these have increased scientific interest in how people may be exposed to microplastics and what that exposure could mean.

Detection is not the same as proof of harm. The health implications, routes of exposure and long-term effects are still being investigated. We share this research because it is relevant to the wider conversation about materials, exposure and the need for continued study.

It would be easy to replace one oversimplification with another: synthetic fibres are bad and natural fibres are good. The research is more complicated than that. A material’s environmental footprint can depend on how its raw material is grown or sourced, the energy and chemicals used in processing, water use, dyeing and finishing, durability, care, how long the product is used, and what happens at the end of its life.

Life-cycle assessment studies show that different fibres can perform differently across different impact categories and stages of production. Natural origin alone does not guarantee a lower impact, just as a fibre’s technical name does not tell us everything about its full life cycle. The useful question is not simply ‘natural or synthetic?’ but ‘what is this material, how was it made, how does it perform, and what evidence supports the claims being made about it?’

At Lifegasm & Co., we are exploring bamboo-derived lyocell as one material option for the experience we want to create: comfortable, considered home essentials that feel good to live with. We are interested in understanding the fibre itself, the way it is processed into textile, how the finished fabric feels and performs, and what documentation can tell us about the process behind it.

The goal is to make considered material choices without compromising on comfort or the experience of everyday living. We will keep learning, asking questions and sharing what we can verify.

We want our material decisions to be guided by curiosity, care and evidence, not by the promise of a perfect fibre. We care about how a product feels in the home, how it performs over time, and the wider systems that make it possible. We also know that research evolves and that a responsible material decision requires more than a compelling marketing phrase.

The Material Edit will continue to document this process: what we are exploring, what the research says, what we are asking suppliers, and what we learn as we go.

Explore Stripe the Line and discover the materials, details and decisions behind the collection.