Bella Eco owner Michel Schuhmacher creates environmentally-friendly underwear
A northern beaches business has created cutting-edge biodegradable undies, which it believes will ‘stand at the forefront of the sustainable fashion movement in Australia’.
Manly
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A northern beaches business has created the ultimate environmentally friendly undies — ones that are biodegradable.
Michel Schuhmacher, from North Narrabeen, who runs her operation Bella Eco out of Brookvale, said her new range of underwear and leisurewear can break down in landfill into organic matter within five years.
Nylon, which is often used in activewear because it keeps its shape, takes 200 years to break down.
Ms Schuhmacher researched cutting-edge, eco-friendly fashion technology and found a world-first Italian fibre that, drawing on the latest innovations in textile tech, is both highly durable and biodegradable.
“This special fabric is really extraordinary,” she said.
“Once the garment made from this material is thrown away and reaches landfill, it breaks down entirely into organic matter and biogas (natural gas produced from organic decomposition) within just five years.
“But in the meantime, it’s incredibly durable.
“We knew that this was the chance to create something that would stand at the forefront of the sustainable fashion movement in Australia, and would set an example for the standards we should all be striving for in this industry.”
Ms Schuhmacher’s main brand is Bella Bodies Australia, which is also an environmentally-conscious brand offering bamboo knickers and bras.
But she wanted to do more to help save the planet.
Ms Schuhmacher said the textile industry was the third biggest polluter in the world.
“As I became more and more aware of the damaging environmental impact of the fashion industry, I knew I had to step up,” she said.
The brand Bella Eco which launched this year has a 95 per cent guaranteed biodegradable assurance certification, and a totally guaranteed absence of any toxic substances.
The items are still reasonably priced.
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A pair of thong undies, which are called The Newport on the Bella Eco website are the cheapest — and use the least amount of fabric — priced at $24.95.
While a fuller pair of briefs cost $26.95.