Meet AIZOME Organic Bedding: Healthier Sleep, Happier Planet, Zero Synthetics

Who knew that when you climb into bed at night, nuzzle your head into your pillow, and wrap yourself in your duvet that those sheets could be so toxic (for us and our planet). And create so much unnecessary waste? We weren’t totally aware of this until we met Michel of AIZOME.

The Issues with Conventional Textiles and Dyes –

The textile industry produces a staggering amount of products each year, with petrochemicals making up about 80% of that total. These items are often crafted from non-biodegradable polyester and synthetic fabrics that simply won’t decompose. Unfortunately, most consumers toss these textiles aside within just a year, leading to around 92 million tons ending up in landfills every year. Experts warn that this figure could soar to 132 million tons by 2030.

But there’s another issue lurking beneath the surface: the toxic dyes used to color these fabrics. Manufacturers frequently rely on dyes derived from oil, tar, heavy metals, and other hazardous chemicals to achieve the vibrant colors that shoppers desire. 60% of dyes are AZO dyes, which are synthetic dyes that can contain more than 20 known carcinogens….

The excess water that is used in the textile industry is sadly returned back to our planet full of toxic residual dyes and hazardous chemicals. “Wastewater disposal is seldom regulated, adhered to or policed, meaning big brands, and the factory owners themselves are left unaccountable.” (source) The toxicity of dyes is dangerous for garment workers, consumers, and are filling our waterways globally making clean water inaccessible for communities. Rivers in China are literally turning black from all the dyes…(source) AZO dyes are water-soluble, which means we can absorb them through our skin…they can cause allergic reactions, endocrine disruptors, and can even cause cancer. All of this is what fueled the creation of AIZOME – they knew they had to do better.

We exist in our textiles constantly – whether that be our clothes, towels, or sheets. When it comes to bedding, we can spend roughly 8-10 hours wrapped up in them. Sleep is such a vital time for our bodies to recover, process, and prepare for the next day. The last thing we need is to be exposed to chemicals during that time.

The Story of AIZOME –

When co-founder, Michel’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, treatments caused her skin to become extremely sensitive. As she spent more and more time in bed, she experienced unrelenting skin irritation and the development of black sores, which led to tremendous discomfort. A doctor explained that the dark, synthetic dyes in her bed sheets were likely causing her irritation. Since her immune system had weakened severely, her body could no longer shield her skin from the chemicals that manufacturers had embedded in the fibers.

After making the switch to an undyed textile, her skin irritation significantly decreased. Michel witnessed how dramatically textiles affected his mother’s quality of life. From there, Michel and his partner Misa began to ask questions about the textile industry. As we’ve already shared, what they discovered was truly shocking and they knew they had to create something better. For consumers and for the planet.

AIZOME Bedding –

Together with a team of scientists, Michel and Misa developed an innovative method to unlock the benefits of plant-based dyeing for home textiles while still maintaining vibrancy and durability. Their cotton bedding sheets are naturally antibacterial, Organic GOTS Certified, checked by a third-party lab for known dangerous chemicals, and certified by the National Eczema Association – their sheets tick all the boxes. AIZOME’S beautiful bedding is even infused with medicinal properties – incredible right? The name AIZOME comes from a centuries-old Japanese craft that used to infuse the clothing of Samurai warriors with indigo’s medicinal properties to provide the Samurai with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that could offer protection to wounded skin. Michel and Misa harnessed this method for their bedding so that we can be naturally protected from bacteria while we sleep!

Everything that AIZOME uses is so natural that the wastewater they are left with after the dyeing process can be applied to your skin…not many brands can say this. Their original dyeing method, AIZOME ULTRA™, only uses plants, water, and ultrasound. Along with indigo, they use plants like Rubia and Sumac, which offer a massive range of health benefits due to their anti-inflammatory properties. They use ultrasound to infuse their textiles with the plant’s color pigments and properties. These high frequency waves literally press the dye into every cavity of the fiber! This process uses 200x less water than conventional dyeing and produces no toxic wastewater but instead water that is actually beneficial.

AIZOME launched their wastewater as a serum for the skin, called WASTECARE™. The first batch of WASTECARE™ was sent to key opinion leaders in textile, fashion, and healthcare industries, delivering the ultimate proof: using synthetic, harmful chemicals in textile production is a CHOICE, not a necessity, and it is a choice that is ruining lives and the planet, for no other reason than that we have normalized toxicity in textile dyes and then disempowered consumers to know what they are buying. At AIZOME, they have said, “no more”.

Read all about their WASTECARE™ project here.

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Receive 10% off AIZOME with code – ‘AIZOMESLEEP’