Clothing designed to endure such harsh conditions as sub-zero temperatures, damp romps in rainforests, or icy traipses through the snow typically calls for high-quality materials. But keeping bodies warm and dry often comes at a cost: Gore-Tex, the ubiquitous weatherproof fabric made from a synthetic resin, is nearly impossible to break down, and studies have linked manufacturing runoff from the chemicals covering most rain jackets with neurological and immune system damage, and cancer. That’s not to mention the fashion industry’s many other contributions to environmental, economic, and humanitarian damage, as journalist Dana Thomas discussed on Ep. 69 of our At a Distance podcast.