If Clothes Had to Disclose Their Ingredients with Chris Kolbe of Hypernatural l Rethinking Plastics, PFAS, Dyes & Toxins in Our Clothing and a Return to Natural Biomaterials that Support Your Health

What if the clothes touching your skin every day are quietly exposing you to chemicals you never agreed to wear? In this eye-opening conversation, Chris Kolbe pulls back the curtain on the plastic-heavy clothing industry, revealing the hidden chemicals, questionable dyes, PFAS, and “recycled” materials that can turn your closet into a potential source of exposure. We dive into the most important swaps to make, how to identify truly cleaner fabrics and underwear, why European standards often differ from those in the U.S., and whether you really have to sacrifice performance to choose healthier clothing. Plus, Chris explains the science behind HyperNatural’s innovative Hyper-Cool Jade™ technology and shares his vision for transforming the apparel industry from the inside out.

Chris Kolbe is the cognizant founder of HyperNatural, which he launched in 2022 after recognizing the overlooked health potential of bio-based materials in an apparel industry dominated by plastic-heavy synthetics. He saw what consumers were up against: the “Perfect Problem” of opaque systems pushing chemical-loaded performance fabrics into closets and onto skin with little awareness. 

Through HyperNatural, he is building a premium wellness apparel brand and bio-based materials platform powered by patented nano fiber technology called Hyper-Cool Jade™ to create a cleaner, higher-performing alternative to the synthetic / chemical status quo.

With more than 30 years of experience across apparel, retail, merchandising, design, and brand building, Chris has held senior executive leadership roles at some of the industry’s most recognized brands and retailers, including Polo Ralph Lauren, Urban Outfitters, J.Crew, and Kohl’s, as well as serving as President of Lands’ End.

SHOW NOTES:

0:38 Welcome to the podcast!

4:23 About Chris Kolbe

5:32 Welcome him to the show!

6:30 The state of our clothing supply chain

8:42 The real problem with plastic

12:38 Beware of the $20 t-shirt

15:16 The most important swaps to make

17:15 Can you avoid PFAS?

19:06 European vs American standards

23:50 Natural “biomaterials” to look for

26:24 Hypercool Jade

27:44 Toxic vs safe dyes

30:11 Hypernatural philosophy & health benefits

32:05 Safe standards to look for when shopping

37:45 Clean underwear

40:10 Golf + feedback from our husbands!

42:15 Why you can have both performance and clean

45:29 What we want in clean athleisure

48:25 How to create change in the industry

49:25 Is “recycled clothing” clean?

54:34 More about Hypernatural

55:43 His final advice

58:05 Thanks for tuning in!

RESOURCES: 

https://hypernaturalstyle.com/

IG: @hypernaturalstyle

TikTok: @hypernaturalstyle

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