Before I was ever diagnosed, my body tried to communicate the effects of synthetic fabrics on my body…
I didn’t always think twice about what I wore. But I started noticing something long before I had a diagnosis to explain it.
Every Sunday and Tuesday I would get dressed for church—usually in something a lot more “put together,” which almost always meant synthetic fabrics. And without fail, less than an hour in, I would feel it. Not just uncomfortable—but unsettled and restless! Almost anxious in my own body. I would find myself counting down the time until I could get home, change into a cotton T-shirt, and get in bed. And the shift was immediate. My body would settle. I would feel grounded again.
Over time I started to realize—there must be something to this. Our bodies truly do respond to what we place on them. The dermis is the largest organ in the body, and what we layer onto it doesn’t just sit there—it interacts, absorbs, and communicates with our system.
That awareness didn’t come from nowhere. Before I was ever diagnosed, my body was already speaking—loudly. I dealt with chronic pain, gut issues, and ongoing symptoms that didn’t quite make sense at the time. I was doing what everyone told me to do… and still not getting better. It wasn’t until 2018, shortly after I got married, that I was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).
And suddenly, everything started to connect.
I began to understand that my body wasn’t working against me—it was actually trying to protect me…. From toxic exposure.
That’s when I learned about what I now call the “toxin bucket.” We all have one. Some are larger, some fill more slowly, and some—like mine—fill up faster than we’d prefer. But when that bucket starts to overflow, it pours over into our life and manifests as physical symptoms.
And while I don’t live this out perfectly, I’ve learned that every small shift matters. Every time you choose a non-toxic product, a clean ingredient, or a natural fabric—you are supporting your body in a real, tangible way. And that’s what matters!
Once I began learning how to detox and reduce my overall toxic load, things started to change. Not overnight, and not in a perfect straight line—but noticeably. My body began to shift. Symptoms lessened. I started to feel like I could actually live in my body again instead of constantly fighting it.
That awareness changed everything for me—including what I put on my body, the food I put into my body. The sheets I sleep on. The air I breathe. Any synthetic lotions or perfumes. So much changed for me.
Our skin, the largest organ God gave us, is constantly interacting with our environment. What we wear isn’t separate from our health—it’s part of it. Choosing natural fibers like cotton and linen has become one of the simplest, most practical ways we can support our bodies! These materials allow the skin to breathe, reduce chemical exposure, and work with the body instead of adding to its burden. Our bodies are so intelligent. Once you start detoxing and giving it what it needs, it WILL communicate with you.
And then there’s something most people don’t even think about—frequency. Many synthetic materials, including those used in hospital settings, carry extremely low energetic frequencies—often compared to near zero. Some even say it mirrors the frequency of a lifeless body. And when you really stop and think about that… it makes you wonder why we wouldn’t choose materials that support life, even in something as simple as fabric.
Small, consistent choices that help keep that “toxin bucket” from overflowing so we can continue to live, move, and show up in the bodies God has given us.
That’s why what Skirt Society is doing matters SO much. As they invite awareness I pray God blesses them!
It may look simple from the outside—maybe even “basic” to some. But for those of us who understand what’s really behind it, it’s anything but. Choosing to create garments from 100% natural fibers is not just a design decision. It’s a stewardship decision. It’s a health decision. It’s a bold step in a world that often prioritizes convenience over care.
And that kind of intentionality deserves to be recognized.
I’m grateful for the awareness my journey has given me. Not because it was easy—but because it taught me how to live differently, with more intention, more wisdom, and more gratitude for the body God entrusted to me.
And I’m truly honored to share even a small part of that here.
To Skirt Society—what you are building is not small. It may feel quiet at times, or even overlooked in a world that chases trends and fast production, but what you’re doing carries weight. You are creating something that supports the body instead of working against it. You are giving families an option they didn’t even realize they needed. You are planting seeds of awareness that will ripple far beyond what you can see right now!
There are people like me—mothers, women, families—who are deeply impacted by choices like yours. Who know the difference. Who live the difference. And who FEEL the difference!
Shannon Hicks
Whole Again Coach
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