New Year, New Fashion
Eco-friendly fashion isn’t just hemp socks anymore.
What started as a niche clothing market for the granola set has now progressed into a full-fledged fashion movement. In fact, according to Organic Exchange, global production of organic cotton increased by 53 percent from 2005-2007. In addition, sales in global organic cotton are predicted to go through the roof following recent growth, ranging from $583 million in 2005 to $2.6 billion by the end of 2008. With all this production going on, it’s easier than ever to find clothes that aren’t just good for the earth, but good for your style.
Retailers like Gap, Levis and even Saks Fifth Avenue now carry organic and eco-friendly lines of apparel, and the green options from cheap garb to designer labels are growing every day.
Eco-friendly 101
Clothing qualifies as organic if it’s made from materials created without the use of chemicals, including chemical fertilizers, pesticides and processing. Some of the most common fabrics out there are made from organic cotton and renewable fibers like hemp and bamboo, which grow quickly and easily without harsh pesticides or fertilizers.
When eco-friendly apparel was first starting out, the options were mainly restricted to basic items like t-shirts and socks. Now an eco-stylista’s choices are practically endless: It’s possible to find vegetable-tanned leather handbags, recycled cashmere sweaters and even organic children’s tutus.
The tree-hugging fashion movement has definitely come a long way. One of the first stores devoted solely to eco-friendly fashion was Greenloop in Portland, Ore.
“In 2004 when I launched, it was really hard, there was not a lot to choose from,” said Greenloop founder and owner Aysia Wright. “There were maybe 10 companies that I felt good about. I think in 2005 to 2006 it really started to take off and gain momentum. Now just about every large company has some sort of green section, though how consistent and how accurate that label is remains to be seen.”
Trends for the New Year
Recent innovations have focused on new designs and creative materials, including organic clothing made out of corn (like Ingeo brand), recycled billboards and seaweed (like SeaCell brand).
“One of the most fun new materials is fabric made out of plastic bottles,” said Carrie Pollare, editor of WhiteApricot.com, an eco-friendly fashion news site. “They’re making t-shirts out of them that are incredibly soft, you can’t tell that’s what they’re made from.”
Expect to see more and more mainstream retailers getting in on the game, too. Even big box, mass-market stores like Kmart and Target are seeing the benefits of going green. Case-in-point: Target now offers a line of bedding made from corn-based Ingeo biodegradable fabric.
Also hip right now is reusing old materials to make new clothes.
“I think you’re going to see an increase of recycled and repurposed goods,” Wright said. “A lot more recycled polyester and companies looking to factory scrap and recycling to close the loop internally.”
Breathing new life into old scraps also has the advantage of being not just environmentally-friendly, but wallet-friendly, too — an attribute that will be especially important in these troubled economic times.
While clothing companies across the board are suffering financially, there’s a chance that eco-friendly outlets will be less vulnerable than mainstream brands.
“The commonplace consumer is going to head to sales and discount stores, whereas someone who was making a concerted effort before isn’t necessarily going to change their habits,” Wright said. “To some degree, companies that are being environmentally and socially responsible will receive a little bit of protection and customer loyalty.”
How to Get Started
Whether you want to broaden your already-green wardrobe or take the very first plunge into eco-fashion, there are lots of places to start. Check out resources like WhiteApricot, Greenloop and EcoMall for news, tips and hot picks.
Jeans are a great item to start with, since for most Americans, they’re practically a required uniform. Replacing an item you wear so often with a green alternative will make the strongest difference in your closet’s carbon footprint. Plus, there are options galore, from affordable duds to designer denim.
Another perfect outfit staple to begin the green revolution with: your purse. Find a nice vegan handbag or recycled plastic tote, the flashier the better. Then wait for the compliments to roll in. Once they do, you can gab all you want about the joys of going green, and hopefully convert more people to eco-style.
- Greenloop http://www.thegreenloop.com/ .
- White Apricot http://www.whiteapricot.com/.
- The Sustainable Cotton Project http:// www.sustainablecotton.org/.
- "Info on bamboo products" Bamboosa http:// http://www.bamboosa.com/boombosa.php?PID=13.
- Organic Nature News http://www.organic-nature-news.com/organic-clothing-information.html.
- "Organic Cotton Facts" Organic Trade Association, Updated 2008 http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/organic_cotton.html.
enviromental t-shirt
posted on December 29th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Hi,
Very interesting article.
Fair trade is another trend that I think should grow in the next few years. It’s environmentally friendly and human friendly.
We made a “Recycle” t-shirt that can be purchased in 100% organic cotton and also fair trade cotton.
http://www.are-you-human.com/uncategorized/recycle-environmental-captcha-shirt/149
Robin
posted on January 8th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Going Green is not just a Trend, it is a new way of thinking for a cleaner and healthier way of life. In Fact, the more Green Conscious our society becomes, the healthier our society is becoming. It is a way back to our healthier selves. It teaches us how all of the pollutants are not only contaminating our environment but our bodies as well. We are becoming more and more aware of our health problems and there is a complete movement back toward the more simplistic lifestyle as it should have been from the beginning. Some things should have been left as they were. As the old canon says,”some things are better left undone.”