Organic Cotton vs SeaCell: What’s the Better Sustainable Fabric? | ZUBEK – Zubek.Co

Let’s Talk About Organic Cotton

We love progress. And yes — organic cotton is better than conventional. It avoids pesticides, uses safer dyes, and supports soil health.

But here’s what most people don’t talk about:

✕ It still requires vast amounts of freshwater.
✕ It still sheds a significant number of fibres during washing.
✕ It’s still often blended with synthetic fibres in fast fashion.

Organic doesn’t always mean sustainable.

The Data Doesn’t Lie: Cotton Sheds the Most

According to The Microfibre Consortium’s global fibre fragmentation study:

Fabric Type	Microfibre Loss (g/kg)
Cotton	0.842
MMCF (SeaCell, Lyocell)	0.659
Polyester	0.573
Nylon	0.532

Cotton — even organic — sheds the most microfibres in the wash.

So while it’s natural, it’s far from the cleanest.

And because of this high shedding, cotton garments are often less durable over time. Each wash wears down the fibre structure faster, contributing to fading, thinning, and shape loss — especially when untreated or minimally processed.

This means your "natural choice" may actually have a shorter lifespan — and require replacement more often. Sustainability isn’t just about what something is made of. It’s also about how long it lasts.

The Water Footprint of Cotton

To make one cotton t-shirt?
☠️ You need up to 2,700 litres of freshwater.

To put that in perspective:

That’s what a person drinks in 2.5 years.
Most of it goes into irrigation, not even fabric production.

SeaCell? It grows in the ocean. No irrigation. No farmland. No chemicals. No competition for clean drinking water.

Why We Chose SeaCell (100%) — Not a Blend

Many brands claiming to use “SeaCell” only include a small percentage — often blended with more cotton than seaweed.

We didn’t want a half-truth. We wanted purity.

That’s why our new collection is made with 100% SeaCell fabric by Pyratex® — one of the few producers in the world making this textile at scale without synthetic blends.

SeaCell:
✓ Comes from seaweed
✓ Is produced in a closed-loop system
✓ Is infused with skin-supporting minerals like calcium + magnesium
✓ Feels soft, breathable, and luxurious — like nothing else

Coming June 1st: The ZUBEK SeaCell Capsule

We’re proud to launch the first-ever activewear set made from 100% SeaCell. No polyester. No blends. Just radical purity, designed to support your movement, your skin, and your hormones.

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→ Join the waitlist now

And Yes — We’re Expanding

After the drop, we’ll expand into SeaCell basics and kidswear — because children deserve the cleanest layers too.

The goal? Clean clothing that’s breathable, biodegradable, and bold. From newborn skin to grown-up movement rituals.

TL;DR:

Category	Organic Cotton	Pyratex SeaCell (100%)
Biodegradable	✓ Yes	✓ Yes
Fibre Shedding	✕ Highest shedding	✓ Less shedding
Water Usage	✕ Very high	✓ No freshwater use
Skin Benefits	✕ None	✓ Mineral-infused, hypoallergenic
Grows On Land	✓ Yes (irrigated)	✕ No (grows in ocean)
Often Blended?	✓ Yes	✕ No (ours is 100% SeaCell)