a travel expeiment

Recently, I finally had the opportunity to trial something that I had been wanting to do. My supply for material and also wonderment is nature. So the ideal place, my leaf heaven, is a forest. And I had been itching to go to a forest and do what I do, collect leaves and dye some. So when an opportunity came along to visit the New Forest (Hampshire, England) I was pretty thrilled. 

I put together a travel kit so to speak. A pot, a few fabric pieces, string, zip-lock bag and my tree guide! And on we went for some green therapy. 

Had to cross a quiet stream in a glade...

 came across a mighty oak...

And some rocks half buried in the ground. They looked ancient. Perhaps an old (or really old) building structure of a sort... there is a glimmer of some archeology fantasy stirring at times lie these... 

walked through the woods... 

my trial travel kit!

collected leaves ...

bundled and ready to dye!

Went to the wildlife park... again but this time with a camera

Saw a true sign,

some wonderful creatures

And my favorite, the wolves

Can't wait to go again.

a note about polyster

Recently, I was given a set of running clothes by a dear loved one in sincere encouragement to go jogging. This simple sweet gesture has caused me some predicament. 


I have for the last few years become a very conscious shopper. I check the garment labels order to avoid buying, as much as I can, synthetic materials. Perhaps not surprising this means I can easily eliminate most of the shop items. And I must say its nice to have my options narrowed down and not get overwhelmed with choice which tends to happen easily considering the number of shops out there times the number of things in each of them!
I recall, from a long time ago reading something about polyester being plastic. Although the details never stuck around, the concept was deeply glued. Not only do I not like the idea of wearing plastic, given the research of hazardous effects of plastic bottles, do I really want something like that against my skin most of the time? No. So in a slow transition which started a few years ago I started minimising synthetics. 
So in order to ease a bit of my predicament with the running clothes, (most sports wear these days is made from polyester under the tags of "high performance") I researched a bit about polyester and sure enough my fears were confirmed with long difficult-to-pronounce-chemistry words. 


http://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/polyester-and-our-health/
This article is easy to understand and the diagram makes it simple.


http://blog.fashionandearth.com/2010/05/16/polyester-clothing-and-your-health/
This article concerns a study of polyester affecting pregnancy.


There is also an interesting study comparing natural fabrics v/s synthetic fabrics for mountaineers. (warning it is 54 pages long)
http://www.macrodiet.com/Contributors/Kulungian-SyntheticClothing.pdf


Of course, there will be articles to say how useful and practical Polyester is. And it appear to be, but the fact remains that Polyester is made from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, both petroleum derivatives, both poisonous and carcinogenic and same ingredients as PolyEthyene Terephthalate (PET).  


All in all, I fail to understand how a petroleum based fabric like Polyester can be absorbent, breathable and help you be sweat-free while doing actives like running or jogging... even yoga. Such advertising by clothing companies fails to convince me. Would you consider running or doing other activities in a PET bottle wrapped around you? If not, then how can one consider doing the same wearing 93% Polyester? If plastic bottles start releasing harmful chemicals as the break down, what happens to polyester after a few washes as it starts to break down?


One mustn't forget that our skin is our largest organ and the most exposed. What we expose it to surely deserves some consideration.