Natural Fibers for your maternity wardrobe
Below you will find a categorized list of sustainable and natural fiber clothing options for your maternity and postpartum needs. I do not have any affiliate links, this is just what I have found in my own search for my wardrobe!
I believe in clothing that can be worn for pregnancy, breastfeeding and after.
There will be no pieces on this list that cannot accommodate all three. So no body con maternity dresses, or jeans that can only be worn with a belly. These are meant to be investments in your wardrobe that you can wear for years after you're done having kids.
With that in mind, let's get started!
Why choose natural fibers for pregnancy?
Good question, it's more expensive and there's less options, so why do it?
- Synthetic fibers do not breath, and one thing I cannot forget about pregnancy and postpartum is the HEAT. I sweat so much during my summer pregnancy, and the night sweats postpartum were no joke. Natural fibers are breathable and will be much more comfortable.
- Synthetic fibers have more static to them. I’m an over stimulated mom of two, I do not need anything else clinging to my skin.
- Synthetic fibers are plastic, and when plastic is heated up it bleeds chemicals. Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs everything that comes in contact with it. There are new studies showing microplastics in breastmilk, staying away from these chemicals while pregnant could be better for the health of you and your baby.
- If you are someone who is wanting to do better for the environment and garment workers, buying natural fibers is better for everyone. Workers are less exposed to harsh chemicals used in synthetic fibers, and natural fibers bio degrade. Not all, but most synthetic clothes made for pregnancy are meant to be disposable, and may not fit well, be functional for nursing, or not all that cute once a baby is here.
- Postpartum sweat smells kinda awful, so having clothing that doesn't cling to odors is definitely the play here.
Now that you know some of the why, let's get into it!
You can click the images for the links.
There is no affiliate links in this post. The only products I make money off of are the Glean & grace garments from my own collection.
Pros to each type of fabric
Linen
Linen is kind of a magical fabric.
It has been used for undergarments throughout all of history for a few reasons.
It is a plant based fiber, so it has an amazing capacity to absorb moisture and keep it off the skin.
It's the only fiber that get stronger when wet, making it super durable to washing, and a very long lasting fiber.
Flax is antibacterial, meaning it needs washed less than synthetic fibers, because bacteria cannot grow from sweat for body oils. AKA it doesn't smell bad after a few wears.
Cons
Its wrinkled quite a bit.
Marino wool
Marino wool is not the scratchy wool you might be thinking of right now. Its really soft, usually knit into a stretchy fabric, and can be made into leggings, bras, t-shirts and more.
pros
It doesn't wrinkle
Wool can hold up to 30% of its weight in moisture before it feels wet. So its very comfortable to sweat in.
Odor resistant, similar to linen, it won't hold on to smells.
Breathable, less likely to overheat.
Need washing significantly less than synthetic fibers. Marino wool knit clothing is also machine washable so don't be too scared of the wool.
Cons
Its usually a knit fabric, so if you aren't a huge fan of knits it might not be for you.
Cotton
Pros
Breathable, you'll sweat less in cotton than in natural fibers.
Cheaper than linen and wool.
Low maintenance to wash, doesn't wrinkle as bad as linen.
Can easily be found in knits or woven fabrics.
More options on the market than Wool and linens.
Natural fiber nursing bras
Linen is the perfect fabric to have up against your skin, in fact throughout all of history it was the standard undergarment. Linen was worn under clothing to keep the outer wear protected from body oils and sweat.
If you are looking for those dream feed bras to sleep in this is the one you want! Marino wool is so soft, and not scratchy like what you might think of wool to be.
A cotton nursing tank top is a staple in a postpartum wardrobe. I wore these under button up shirts and dresses, so I would feel less exposed while breastfeeding. They are amazing.
Leggings
Wool& leggings and biker shorts
I love the flair on these wool leggings! It gives you the comfort of leggings without them clinging to your skin the whole way down.
When you have a pregnant belly, the front of all your dresses will be shorter. Having a pair of biker shorts will make your summer much easier and stress free.
Woolly is another marino wool brand that offers high quality leggings and basics.
Pants
Magic linen has really high quality clothing for. These elastic waist pants would make a great piece while pregnant and postpartum.
Emme mama is another great brand, these pants are actually made for and marketed as maternity pants.
Tops
Dresses
