Last Updated on October 14, 2019 by Kristen
It’s not only a big pain to remember to drop off and pick up dry cleaning, but 70 percent of dry cleaners are still using perchloroethylene, a chemical that has been linked to cancer and neurotoxicity in addition to being a major environmental hazard (a single drop can seep through a dry cleaner’s concrete foundation, through soil and into groundwater).
Even so-called “green” dry cleaners are usually using cleaning solvents that are not 100% free and clear of health and/or environmental hazards.
The solution, at least when it comes to silk, it to buy garments that are washable. Luckily, there are quite a few extremely cute options in that department. And since silk is naturally thermoregulating, it’s perfect for summer travel (and hot flashes!). Here are five options that will save you trips to the dry cleaner and keep you looking chic and feeling like you’re wearing jammies all day (and maybe you are, which we’re 100 percent here for).
Cocoon LA Coral Degrade signature pant, $328
The designers of this new Los Angeles-based loungewear brand, Susan Moseley and Elizabeth Rickard-Shah, hail from luxury brands including Giorgio Armani, Emilio Pucci, Sonia Rykiel, Versace, Bulgari, and Gucci, so you know you’re in good hands. We don’t know if these are meant to be pajamas but we want to wear them everywhere, and hope to all summer long.
Summersalt The Everywhere pant, $80
These are your year-round, go-to travel pants. They come in multiple colors, and you can’t beat the price. Also check out Summersalt’s amazing swimsuits.
Sourcery the Label wide leg silk crop, $228
Another extremely versatile pair of pants, we love these for the brand’s focus on sustainability. They point out that by using silk instead of polyester, 98 percent less synthetic material was consumed, 54 percent less chemicals were used and nearly 200 years in a landfill were avoided.
Lunya washable silk jumpsuit, $228
Lunya develops its own luxuriously soft fabrics and engineers them to help you sleep better by making garments that help you regulate your temperature and move with your body for extreme comfort. The brand’s founder, Ashley Merrill, points out that we spend more than one-third of our lives in bed, why not wear something better than an old t-shirt and your partner’s boxer’s? She’s done such a good job that we want to wear this jumpsuit everywhere, not just while sleeping.
Lolë Jean washable silk dress, $160
It’s a safe bet that when an activewear brand designs a dress, it’s going to be comfortable, versatile, and throw-it-in-a-bag-able. This slip dress is all of the above, plus washable! We also love Lolë because the brand advocates for “intelligent consumption” with its Yellow Label program, which takes donations of gently-worn outerwear while funding food banks in North America. Also look out for the brand’s massive “White Tour” yoga events in major cities around the world.