Braless For Health

This is probably something you have never heard before but bras are not good for your breast health. And since this has to do with fashion amd eliminating toxic fibers from our lives, I think this would be a great addition to this “ecojoyknits” blog.

In looking up hashtags, there are hardly any that I am comfortable using. The pics are usually about younger women trying to be sexy. Some are for exposing your breasts in public for the purpose of breastfeeding. For me it is about fiber and health.

Synthetic fiber is plastic fiber and since our skin as an organ that is able to absorb what goes on our skin, it makes sense that we stick to natural fibers. We don’t want nano plastics in our bodies.

The fact that they are tight restricts blood and even restricts the lungs from fully expanding. There are even some correlations that doctors are making for going braless to reduce the chance of breast cancer. That is enough for me to consider this big change.

But what about the fact that people will notice and stare at my chest? I’m not young and I’m no where close to being a model. They won’t see me in a sexually pleasing way but more like a crazy grey-haired nut. They’ll probably assume that I’m homeless or am mentally challenged. It might not be wise to be so exposed in front of your kids or father, either. Publicly, it would be a good thing if you have a clean and modest appearance that does not distract people or cause people to say or do something rude.

While looking for some daily free knitting patterns to post on X and I thought of a good way to protect my modesty and to be fashionable while doing it. It’s something that was already invented but it might help. Layering! You wear a tank or a t-shirt under a lace tank or mesh pullover. You can wear a cardigan or jacket on top if it’s cold. So it’s always 2-3 layers. The skin-touching tank or bralette under every layer is always natural fiber without elastic.

I am seriously working hard this year to eliminate synthetic yarns as well as any plastic from my life. I doubt I will ever be 100% free from plastics but I can certainly try to be completely plastic-free.

I posted some tank tops on X today that would be a great for trying this new way of thinking about covering our breasts. This might be something that we will need some new hashtags. Maybe #bralessandmodest , #bralessforhealth ?

Here are some interesting links on this subject and I would love some advice if you think of good ways we can go about this as well:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/269u7NkdbYUR5AvqGeOPZI?si=tYC_e4sMRBW6dJPFrM_QFQ&t=11

https://brafreestudy.org/

https://youtu.be/oRNENjQyd3I?si=XC84WIXejZg2fn1-

https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-start-my-totally-bra-free-journey-I-read-bras-cause-cancer-and-sagging-I-want-to-work-out-my-chest-muscles-and-start-never-wearing-a-bra-somehow-Any-tips-please-I-have-big-blobs

https://youtu.be/In_bvZVY0A0?si=nnOpnhaGbYjRL2Ea

Journey Notes:

• Stop hunching over and straighten up. I have the worst posture all of a sudden. I will have to be mindful until I get used to it.

• Purchase or make some natural fiber tanks. The only one I have is roomy and A-Line tank. I need some more close fit tanks in cotton knit. I don’t think I can continue this fully without better clothing choices.

Here is a capsule wardrobe for your new braless journey:

Braless For Health

by ecojoyknits

Capsule Wardrobe:

(Choose 3 colors and 2 neutrals for each wardrobe)

Spring/Summer:

• 3 tank tops

• 2 mesh or lace over tops

• 5 tees

• 2 mesh or lace open front vests or cardis

• 2 casual dresses

• 2 long and light skirts

• 1 Loose pants

• 2 Mid thigh shorts

• 3 shoes (leather sandals, canvas tennis shoes, ankle-tie espadrilles)

• Accessories: mesh scarf, straw hat, Mesh tote or cotton back pack.

Autumn/Winter:

• 3 long sleeve t-shirts

• 2 lace over sweaters

• 3 jackets (casual drop sleeve, zip up with collar or hood, set in sleeve, belted with buttons)

• 2 cable sweaters

• 1 long tunic sweaters

• 2 vests, 1 waistcoat and 1 slipover

• 2 long and tighter weave skirts

• 2 looser pants

• Shoes: 2 pair boots (1 one to go with prairie skirts and one for snow or rain) 1 pair leather loafers, 1 pair closed-toe slip ons.

• Accessories: Soft Beret, shawl scarf with tassels, Messenger Bag.

Some of these will already be in your wardrobe, some you can make, all are natural fibers except maybe outer soles of the shoes. The tanks can be used for undergarments in the winter. Some you can ask for these items as gifts. A yarn gift card works for me!

Consider throwing away your synthetic clothes one garment per week (52 pieces per year) if it goes into a proper landfill and is not dumped in the water. We will not give away synthetic clothing that will rub off toxic forever chemicals on to the wearer or leach toxic chemicals and nano plastics in the laundry wash cycle that eventually will end up in the water supply, oceans or rivers. We need to completely end the plastic era.