What if the clothes on your back—the very fabrics that define your identity, keep you warm, or make you feel empowered—were actually working against your health? What if, beneath the aesthetics of sustainable fashion, there was a darker truth about toxic chemicals in everything from fast fashion to luxury garments? And how would knowing this change the way you choose, wear, and interact with your wardrobe moving forward?"
The conversation of today’s episode is equal parts eye-opening and actionable—one that might make you look at your closet differently by the time we’re done. I’m speaking with Alden Wicker, a leading investigative journalist and author of the powerful new book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick – and How We Can Fight Back. If you’ve ever wondered about the invisible chemicals lurking in your clothes or the impact the fashion industry is having on both the environment and your health, this conversation is going to be absolutely essential.
Alden’s work delves deep into the hidden costs of fashion, exploring everything from autoimmune disorders linked to synthetic dyes to how greenwashing is deceiving well-meaning consumers. She’s appeared on platforms like NPR, Wired, and BBC, and today she brings her insights here to offer both a critique of the fashion industry and, more importantly, solutions for how we can all make safer, healthier, and more ethical choices moving forward and how we as consumers can push the industry toward genuine accountability. We’ll also explore innovations in non-toxic materials, practical ways to detoxify your wardrobe, and the truth about what’s really happening behind those ‘sustainable’ labels.
Episode highlights:
00:51 Meet Alen Wicker: Investigative Journalist
02:24 The Hidden Dangers in Our Clothes
05:40 The Airline Uniform Scandal
15:41 Common Toxic Chemicals in Clothing
37:44 The Environmental Impact of Toxic Fashion
43:58 Consumer Advocacy and Industry Change
47:28 Future of Fashion: Transparency and Accountability
52:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Resources mentioned:
To Dye For by Alden Wicker
Guest's social handles:
P.S. If you enjoy this episode and feel it helps to elevate your life, please give us a rating or review.
And if you feel others may benefit from this podcast as well, spread the word, share and help grow our tribe of Superhumans.
When we help heal One, we help heal All.
Much gratitude and love.
Yours,
Ariane