Are You Wondering About
Eco Friendly Fashion?

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Fashion designers creating eco friendly fashions. Stores online offering eco fashion. Even some discount stores are responding to an interest in environmentally friendly fabrics and selling organic cotton clothing.

Clothing from organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, soy and other fabrics are finding their way into our fashions as some designers and manufacturers are beginning to question not only the environmental impact of our clothes but also the working conditions of people who work in this field.

A closer look at the fashion industry points out many problems that are common practices in the creation of our fashions from the field to the factory. Within the fashion industry there are those that have begun to question common practices in fashion design and creation, where clothes are frequently made by people in "sweat shop" conditions, making poverty wages, and using fabrics made from crops that have been heavily treated with pesticides and chemicals and processed with even more chemicals.

A promising new direction is being takem by designers like Linda Loudermilk, Stella McCartney and Rogan Gregory who are pushing beyond the reputation that fabrics like organic cotton and hemp have of being rough, hard to work with and not something that could work for high fashion in particular. It's a challenge for sure but as these fabrics have improved and more people start working with them we should start to see eco friendly fashions we all can love and afford.

Small companies have been taking the lead in creating eco fashions. Some of them have been creating clothing from eco fibers for years but have done so on a small scale to a small group of shopppers. With interest on the rise we will need the large clothing manufacturers to respond and make ethical and earth friendly clothing a priority.

Eco friendly fabrics present a company with obstacles to overcome. This is a new field and there just aren't that many growers that can provide a reliable supply at an affordable price or even mills that can or will work with the present smaller needs for eco friendly fibers.

Some of us will need some convincing so the question is can designers and manufacturers convince us to see or eco friendly fashion as something that can be fashionable, even glamorous, feels good to wear and is something we can afford.

Organic cotton

This has not always been the soft, easy to care for fabric it is today. It is the most popular choice of eco fabric and is being used on everything from underwear to jeans. There really is no limits to it's use. Any way regular cotton can used organic cotton will fill the bill.

Hemp

This is the fabric that I think has the greatest problem of a poor reputation but new ways of working with this fabric has created some surprising results of looking good in a variety of fashions. Making this fabric a good eco friendly fashion choice.

Bamboo This is the newest of the environmentally friendly fabrics and probably the softest of the bunch. For relaxed style you can't beat bamboo.

Soy

Another softy has been a popular choice for baby clothes, yoga wear and pajamas.

Tencel

This fiber is created by taking wood pulp and processing it to make fabric. While not the most environmentally friendly improvements in processing are making this a good option and give us more flexibility to our clothing designs. Maybe not a perfect choice but offers improvements over conventionally grown cotton.

EcoSpun

This fabric made from recycled plastic bottles, who knew plastic trash could be put to such good use, is being used in clothing from fleece outerwear, sweaters, caps, totes and even t-shirts.

Hopefully, as these fabrics become more accessible we will begin to see eco friendly fashion in big name stores. Already large companies like Nike, Patagonia and American Apparel are adding organic cotton to their clothing lines and that's just a start.



There is some concern that eco friendly fashions are just a trend that we will eventually grow tired of and it's up to us to make sure that doesn't happen.

Price is definitely a concern for many of us but if we start small with one purchase and as with most things that one small purchase made by thousands of women creates more demand which eventually should bring the prices down. Buying and supporting eco clothing encourages everyone in this field to move forward with better styles and greater options that fit the mainstream shopper.

We can't afford to turn our backs on environmentally or social changes being made in the fashion industry. More of us need to be aware and working to make eco fabrics the norm in great fashion design. The only trend we will then have to look forward to will be what's the hottest new color or the most beautifully designed.