What I Wear over Summer (Spoiler Alert: It's Not Merino Wool)

I know this might sound strange coming from someone who sells merino wool, but during a proper UK summer I genuinely enjoy wearing cotton and silk. It feels a bit like going on holiday. We don't get many chances to dress for weeks of sunshine in the UK, so when we do, I make the most of it.

Lately people have been asking me how I approach building a wardrobe, especially because I have a degree in Clothing and Textile Science and I'm a mum with limited time and resources who doesn't go in to the office (anymore). The answer is probably less extreme than people might expect. I see some hard-core, low-tox, facbric warriors out there these days and kudos to them! But honestly, I know enough to know there aren't perfect fabrics or practical solutions for all clothing so I don't tend to make extreme statements about it all.

Despite banging on about them a lot, I don't have a wardrobe that's 100% natural fibres. A couple of years ago, I decided I'd aim for around 80% natural fibres and 20% synthetic. For now, that works for me. 

The way I think about clothes comes down to a few questions:

• Is it already in my wardrobe and  is it comfortable?
• Will I wear it a lot?
• What happens to it when I've finished with it?

These questions guide almost every purchase I make. If I already have something that does the job, I rarely buy another. Then if I need something I consider how much I'll wear it and the fibre content to know if it's synthetic and therefore will it still be kicking around this gorgeous planet in 200 years or not (because absolutely nothing we are wearing today needs to still be here in hundreds of years).

Unlike some others who like to bang on about natural fibres, there's no judgement from me if your wardrobe approach is different. Everyone buys and wears clothes for different reasons like budget, practicality, work, beliefs, sport, fashion, health and confidence. Those reasons are all valid. As I say to my son at least a hundred times a week, "Feelings change," and mine certainly have as I have seen fast fashion explode and department store winter collections become more and more highly flammable.

The older I've become, the more I've realised I value quality over quantity, comfort over trends and clothes that I'll genuinely wear for years rather than months. And I'm not alone in that. It doesn't mean I avoid synthetic fibres completely though. Not only is it virtually impossible unless you've just won the lottery, it's not practical.

Bras, swimwear, waterproofs, outdoor jackets and trainers all make me and my family's life easier. Yes, there are natural fibre alternatives for many of them, but the ones I already own still work perfectly well. I don't see any environmental benefit in replacing something that's doing its job simply because a newer option exists.

When they eventually wear out or I'm no longer comfortable in them, I'll look at what's available then and decide whether it's the right time (and the right budget) to make a different choice. I can love natural fibres and make practical decisions. Those two things can happily exist together.

Cotton will always have a place in my wardrobe, even though I usually wash it after every wear (something I rarely do with merino). Cotton jeans, T-Shirts, shorts, socks, shirts, sweatshirts and dresses happily dominate my wardrobe. Is it all organic? Nope. Would I like it to be? Of course! Do I make an effort for it to be more organic and non-toxic? Absolutely. Do I get it right every time? No. Sometimes I do still buy cheaper cotton pieces with the full knowledge there were chemicals and processes I never actually want to witness. This is progress, not perfection!

Silk is another favourite. I own very little of it because it's an investment, but I love how it wears and, like merino, it doesn't need constant washing.

Viscose is probably the biggest hangover from my corporate wardrobe and I have Tencel and old-fashioned viscose tops and dresses that get pulled out sometimes still. Viscose is a regenerated fibre made from plant cellulose using chemical processing. It does biodegrade, which ticks one of my boxes, but personally I find it a little clammy to wear and it seems to take forever to dry after washing. It has it's place in my wardrobe but it also does give me the ick because of the way the fashion industry market it incorrectly.

"Bamboo" has become almost a lifestyle category, but most bamboo clothing is actually viscose made from bamboo pulp. New miracle fibres seem to appear every season, often wrapped in impressive marketing, when they're only really variations on existing regenerated fibres. I'd love to see as much investment going into genuinely improving natural fibre performance as goes into marketing the next "revolutionary" fabric. But that's probably a blog for another day.

As for polyester, nylon and acrylic (synthetic bad boys) they can be found in my bras, wet weather gear, swimwear (togs if you're from New Zealand!) and trainers. And, I have to admit, I even have a couple of acrylic blend winter tops I can only blame on the years I had a baby and toddler and checking fabric labels was very far down the list! They are getting pretty lack lustre now so I don't know if they'll make it to winter anyway.

So what happens to my merino in summer? Nothing, really. Along with my other woollens, most of it gets popped in travel compression bags with a cedarwood ball or three and up it goes to the top of the wardrobe.

We'll be camping in August, travelling, and there will almost certainly be one of those classic British evenings where the temperature suddenly drops by ten degrees. Merino comes into its own then, so I don't pack it all away when the sun comes out.

Instead, I enjoy the seasonal change. Summer is my chance to enjoy other fibres, and when autumn arrives it's a bit like catching up with old friends as the merino socks, vests, jumpers, base layers and cosy pieces come back into rotation.

Children are different too. My son lives in cotton in summer, merinos come out for travel and camping and yep, his school uniform and swimwear include synthetics. I'd love to see more options here but until there is, viscose and nylon it is. I don't think any one fibre is the answer to every situation. I just try to choose the right material for the job.

Overall, I don't think the perfect natural fibre, low-tox wardrobe exists and I don't want anyone to feel bad for not having one. I think we need wardrobes we actually wear and enjoy and they will have a range of fabrics, styles and options. So we can embrace all the seasons, including this glorious summer!