Stephanie Tear
Stephanie Tear has spent over a decade in the wellness space, building a life, and a platform, around understanding what actually supports a woman's health versus what just markets itself that way. She is the creator of the Home Detox Edit, the host of the Truly Wild podcast, and the founder of Well Woman, a wellness app designed to help women reclaim their time, productivity, and self-care.
Her path to natural textiles wasn't a trend she followed. It was a conclusion she arrived at. And once she got there, there was no going back.
The conversation around women's wellness has expanded significantly over the past decade. We talk about food. We talk about sleep. We talk about stress. What we rarely talk about, until recently, is the clothing on our bodies, and what it might be doing to our hormones while we wear it.
Stephanie Tear has been in the wellness space for over a decade. Her journey to non-toxic clothing wasn't a trend she followed. It was a conclusion she arrived at, and it started not with a diagnosis, but with a deepening understanding of how the body absorbs its environment.
In Volume 2 of The Body Talks Edit, Stephanie shares what finally woke her up to the role of fabric in her health, how she navigated the process of overhauling her wardrobe without overwhelm, and why she believes women's disconnection from their bodies is not accidental.
"The lesson isn't that you've been doing it wrong; it's that learning is always available to you."
Stephanie Tear
Q. When did you first start thinking about clothing as part of your wellness practice?
I've been in the wellness space for over 10 years so I am always looking for ways to reduce my toxic load and support my overall health. Even still, clothing wasn't something I had thought a lot about until more recently. Initially, I started thinking about natural clothing and fabrics from an environmental standpoint, but as I dove deeper, I began to understand the impact that synthetic materials can have on our health, especially hormonal health.
Synthetic fabrics like polyester are made from petroleum-based chemicals, can contain endocrine-disrupting compounds, and may release microplastics over time, all of which can contribute to hormone imbalance.
Q. What was your 'tipping point', the thing that made you overhaul your wardrobe?
I honestly think it was learning about the chemicals used in synthetic fabrics and how they are absorbed through the skin, especially during activities like exercising or using a sauna where your pores are more open. This really resonated with me because I'm really mindful about what I put ON my skin in terms of skin care products, so the idea that my clothing could be impacting me in a similar way felt like an obvious thing that I was just missing.
As a mom, I'm also always thinking about what I can do to support my children's health, so this was also a consideration for me in terms of the clothing they wear.
Q. How do you filter clothing purchases now?
Now, I really try to buy clothing made from natural, organic materials like organic cotton, bamboo, or linen whenever possible. I look for certifications like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) or OEKO-TEX Standard 100 to ensure that the fabrics are free from harmful chemicals. I also try to buy less overall and invest in higher quality pieces that will last.
Q. Why do you think so many women feel disconnected from what their body is asking for?
I think women are often so busy taking care of everyone else that they don't have time to tune into their own needs. We're also bombarded with so much information and so many products that promise to make us feel better, look better, or perform better that it can be really hard to know what's actually good for us and what isn't.
I also think there's a lack of education around women's health and how our bodies work, which can make it hard to know when something is off and what to do about it. We're often told that symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, and hormonal imbalances are just a normal part of being a woman, when in reality they can be signs that something is out of balance and needs to be addressed.
Q. What would you say to a woman who wants to make changes but feels overwhelmed?
I would say start small and don't try to do everything at once. Focus on the things that are closest to your skin first, like underwear and sleepwear, and then gradually work your way out. Look for brands that are transparent about their materials and manufacturing processes, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
I would also remind her that it's not about being perfect; it's about making progress. Every small change adds up over time, and the goal is to reduce your toxic load as much as possible, not to eliminate it entirely overnight. The lesson isn't that you've been doing it wrong; it's that learning is always available to you, and when you know better, you get to choose better.
What Stephanie's Story Tells Us
The wellness industry has done a remarkable job of selling us products while rarely asking: who profits when we stay uninformed? Stephanie's answer, and Kiseau's, is that women deserve the full picture. What we eat, what we apply, and yes, what we wear, all contribute to the ecosystem of our health.
The body is always talking. Volume 2 just expanded the conversation.
Follow Stephanie's Journey
You can find Stephanie sharing her Home Detox Edit on Instagram (featuring sustainable, non-toxic companies to truly detox your home) as well as recording for her podcast Truly Wild. She's also launching Well Woman, a wellness app designed to help women reclaim their time, productivity, and self-care all in one place.
Common Questions About Non-Toxic Clothing & Women's Wellness
Can the clothing you wear affect your hormones?
Yes. Synthetic fabrics like polyester contain chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin, particularly when you sweat during exercise or sauna use. These chemicals have been linked to hormone disruption. Choosing natural, non-toxic fabrics (organic cotton, bamboo, or linen) is one meaningful step in reducing your overall toxic load.
What is low-tox living?
Low-tox living is a lifestyle approach focused on reducing exposure to harmful synthetic chemicals across everyday products, including food, skincare, cleaning products, and clothing. It's about making intentional, informed choices to support long-term health and hormonal balance, not perfection.
What fabrics should women consider for hormonal health?
Natural fibers such as GOTS-certified organic cotton, linen, hemp, and bamboo are breathable, free from synthetic chemical treatments, and do not shed microplastics. Look for GOTS or OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification as a guide when shopping.
Where should I start if I want to shift to a more non-toxic wardrobe?
Start with what sits closest to your skin: underwear and sleepwear. These are the items worn for the longest periods and have the most direct contact with sensitive areas. From there, expand at a pace that feels sustainable. Low-tox living is about direction, not perfection.