08/11/2026
What if one of the most important health choices you make every day isn't what you eat—but what touches your skin? Audio, transcription and video of our latest Wise Traditions podcast: https://bit.ly/moderntextiles
In short, we recommend you wear natural fibers such as cotton, wool, silk, linen, jute, and h**p made from plants and animals. Avoid synthetic fibers made from man-made polymers and petrochemicals such as polyester, nylon—polyamide, acrylic, spandex—elastane / lycra, and polypropylene—olefin. The wood-pulp based fabrics, also called cellulosic or semi-synthetic fibers, are made with a heavy amount of chemicals and not considered natural fibers: rayon, viscose, modal, lyocell, Tencel, bamboo, cupro, acetate, and triacetate. Note that Michael May thinks Tencel may be okay due to the way chemicals are handled. Tencel is a specific brand that adheres to strict, audited sustainability and closed-loop production standards.
This week on the Wise Traditions podcast, Michel May, founder of AIZOME Textiles, takes us inside the little-known world of modern fabrics, synthetic dyes, and the chemicals found in many of the clothes we wear and the sheets we sleep on. Inspired by his mother's experience during cancer treatment and his discovery of traditional Japanese dyeing practices, Michel set out to uncover what really goes into the textiles that surround us every day.
In this fascinating conversation, he explains why clothing labels often don't tell the whole story, how synthetic fibers and dyes came to dominate the textile industry, and what emerging research suggests about microplastics, the skin microbiome, and the potential health effects of modern textiles. He also explores why textile fibers make up much of the dust in our homes, how our everyday fabrics affect both personal and environmental health, and why the most important place to begin creating a healthier home may not be your closet—but your bed. Since we spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping, Michel believes our sheets deserve far more attention than most of us give them.
