Survival Alternatives: Naturally derived Materials for Fashion and Lifestyle Products

Abstract

This academic article aims to explore approaches for utilizing natural alternative materials in the development of fashion and lifestyle products in order to reduce environmental impacts and promote sustainability. The fashion industry is currently facing challenges related to unsustainable resource use, leading to the growing importance of natural materials such as pineapple fiber, hemp, sugarcane, mycelium, and spider silk proteins. These materials are biodegradable, capable of replacing synthetic fibers or animal leather, and suitable for creating environmentally friendly products. A review of the literature reveals key commonalities: reducing environmental impacts, adding economic value through unique identity, and meeting the expectations of new-generation consumers who value sustainability. Furthermore, these materials can be applied across diverse sectors, from clothing, footwear, and bags to home and living products such as furniture, curtains, and décor. This indicates that natural alternatives are not merely substitutes but opportunities to create new value and to advance the overall fashion industry. Such trends align with the concepts of Circular Fashion and Slow Fashion, which emphasize longevity, repair, recycling, and resource circulation to achieve systemic sustainability. The author concludes that sustainability has become a strategic imperative for the fashion industry, and the future of fashion and lifestyle products requires collaboration among designers, scientists, and entrepreneurs to integrate material science, technology, and creative design. This integration is vital for producing fashion innovations that embody quality, aesthetics, and genuine responsibility toward society and the environment.