If you don't have any eco-friendly clothing in your closet right now, it likely won't be long. Established designers, as well as new up-and-coming fashion gurus are offering the world earth inspired options. Everything from shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, jackets and even accessories are available to anyone who seeks to help our planet. Although eco-fashion in not new, it has taken some time to catch on. According to a report by the BBC it all started in the 1980s when people began voicing their concerns about chemicals in fabric. However, it wasn't until the early 90s that sweat shop labor pushed more and more designers to consider eco-fashion practices. Today a lot of consumers embrace the idea of going eco.
What is Eco-fashion?
When people want to purchase eco-clothing they need to research the label for authenticity. Environmentalists believe design houses can call their fashion eco-friendly if they adopt the 5 practices listed below.
Eco-fashion Practices
- Use of organic raw materials such as cotton grown without pesticides or silk made from worms.
- No harmful bleaches or other chemicals are applied.
- Recycled or reused textiles are utilized.
- Working conditions are good and pay for staff is fair.
- The clothing is designed to last a long time.
Although some big department stores occasionally carry eco-clothing, Janie Georges, a professional shopper residing in San Francisco suggests letting your computer do the work. In a phone interview she said that the easiest way to find what you are looking for is to simply check online or do a search for designer run eco-fashion boutiques in your area. "I believe it is only a matter of time before we see more eco-friendly fashions in our local shopping plaza's... in the meantime, the net gives us plenty of places to choose from," Georges stated.
Environment conscious designers come from just about every country. The United States and Canada have some very successful designers. Nicole Bridger is considered one of Canada's best eco-fashion designers. She uses organic cotton, hemp and bamboo is many of her creations. She tells people, "to take care of the earth's people we help spread the word of love through our affirmation labels, I am love in each piece of clothing. We are dedicated to contributing to positive change in our modern world."
Deborah Lindquist is one of the most well-known eco-fashion creators in the United States. She is often referred to as the "Green Queen" in fashion circles. Her website indicates that she uses a lot of the same materials other eco-fashion designers work with, as well as unique wools like Alpaca. This yarn comes from a sheep-like animal called a camelid, normally found in the Andes. The fabric has been described as soft and resilient.
It turns out that some Italian fashion experts also think green when it comes to their designs and manufacturing process. Picture this...on a remote farm in Umbria designer Francesco Mugnaini and organic farmer Sabastian Runde grow shirts from the ground, literally. In a news release, the design team explained that they use high quality, organic silk to design t-shirts and then plant them in the ground. After 2 to 3 months they harvest the shirts. Runde said that during the hibernation, the silk reacts with the soil, water and sunlight to create unique color and designs. Each shirt becomes one-of-a-kind. The men call their collection "Right as Rain."
Shopping Practices
Eco-fashion designer, Grace Perks and professional shopper, Janie Georges provided some insight into what to look for on the labels when shopping for eco-friendly clothing. "Innovative new fabrics have emerged making eco-fashion possible and giving environment conscious consumers more choice," Perks said. She went on to list a number of eco-fabrics including, bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, organic linen, pineapple from the leaves of Spanish Red Pineapple, soy fabric which was first invented by the founder of the Ford Motor Company and ramie, also known as China Grass or Grass Linen. Georges pointed out that while all of these are viable fabrics, some are difficult to make such as pineapple cloth. "Apparently it is hard to weave; taking hours to create so you can expect anything made from pina; as it is called, to be rather pricey," Georges warned.
Eco-fashion has come a long way from the days when recycling clothes by passing them on to friends or patching old bluejeans were the only environmental practices. Today, designers have developed various eco-fashion designs to suit the green consumer. As Perks pointed out, "It is just the beginning. I can hardly wait to see what materials we use next in our efforts to be kind to the planet."
Teresa Madaleno - Teresa Madaleno is a freelance writer, television producer and public relations specialist with over 15 years experience. She has taught ...
