Are Your Clothes Toxic? Plastic Fabrics, Chemical Dyes & What to Wear Instead | Deanna Mansell
Release Date: 09/07/2026
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info_outlineWhat are our clothes actually made of — and what happens before they reach our skin?
In this episode of Beautiful World, Kathryn sits down with Deanna Mansell, founder and designer of New Zealand clothing brand DEA, whose journey into natural clothing began with her own experience of severe eczema and topical steroid withdrawal.
After discovering how sensitive her skin was to conventional fabrics, dyes and textile treatments, Deanna spent years experimenting with organic cotton, plant dyes and traditional textile processes — eventually taking those experiments from her kitchen stove in New Zealand to large-scale manufacturing in India.
Together, Kathryn and Deanna explore the hidden side of the fashion industry: chemical dyes and fabric treatments, synthetic fibres and microplastics, garment-worker exposure, greenwashing, organic cotton, natural dyes and the true human and environmental cost of cheap clothing.
They also explore a more beautiful possibility: clothing made in deeper relationship with plants, soil, craftsmanship and the people who make it.
In this episode:
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Deanna’s experience with eczema and topical steroid withdrawal
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Why clothing became part of her healing journey
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The hidden processing behind conventional textiles
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Why “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean non-toxic
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Organic cotton, bleaching, dyes and fabric finishes
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The environmental and human cost of textile dyeing
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Plastic clothing and microplastic pollution
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Greenwashing in sustainable and activewear fashion
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What to look for when buying healthier clothing
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Deanna’s journey from kitchen-stove experiments to manufacturing in India
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The ancient art and beauty of botanical dyes
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Eucalyptus, madder, annatto and other plant pigments
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Clothing, colour, plants and Rudolf Steiner’s ideas
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Why your underwear may be the best place to start
Deanna’s message is refreshingly achievable: you don’t need to throw out your wardrobe or become perfect overnight. Start by reading your labels, understanding what sits closest to your skin and making more conscious choices as things need replacing.
Because what we wear connects us to a much bigger ecosystem — from soil, to fibre, to maker, to body, and eventually back to the earth.
Connect with Deanna Mansell
Website: www.dealoves.co.nz
Instagram: www.instagram.com/dea_lovesethical
Connect with Plastic Free Mermaid
Instagram: www.instagram.com/plasticfreemermaid
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Beautiful World explores practical solutions for a healthier planet and healthier people.
Hosted by environmental advocate Kathryn Nelson, each episode features scientists, innovators, farmers, entrepreneurs and changemakers working to restore our ecosystems while improving human wellbeing.
From regenerative agriculture and clean energy to healthy homes, biodiversity and community resilience, these conversations focus on what is actually working—and how we can all be part of creating a more beautiful world.