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 Eco-friendly clothing has become more mainstream lately, with a variety of celebrities and designers embracing this trend—from Sheryl Crow to Ralph Lauren. Consumers now have more planet-friendly fabric choices, as well. including organic cotton, bamboo and even hemp. With the increasing popularity of eco-conscious clothing, its prices are falling and the locations from which it is available are proliferating.
Earth-Friendly Materials
There are a variety of environmentally friendly fabrics to choose from. Three of the most popular, along with their pros and cons, are:
- Bamboo - This fabric is hypoallergenic, absorbent, dries quickly, insulates and is as breathable as Egyptian cotton. Bamboo is environmentally friendly because it is sustainable, growing at a rate of about one foot per day. Also, processing the pulp into fabric does not require many chemicals. However, bamboo is expensive to harvest and is not commercially grown in large quantities in the US Another drawback is that the fibers tend to require bleaching before dyeing.
- Hemp - Valued for its warmth, durability and absorbency, hemp is found mainly in sportswear and casual apparel. It is renewable with 100 to 120 days from seed to harvest and can be grown without pesticides.
- Organic cotton - A sustainable and non-toxic product, this organically grown and biodegradable material does not incorporate the harsh chemicals of conventional cotton.
Eco-Friendly Retailers
One drawback to eco-friendly clothing can be the price tag. Many environmentally conscious fabrics cost more to make, and that increase is passed on to the consumer. Yet, there are more and more exceptions. The following companies provide clothing that is easy on the budget as well as the planet:
- The Öko Box - They sell fashionable men’s and women’s clothing and accessories made from organic cotton, hemp, wool, bamboo and other natural fibers; also vintage clothing. Their designers do use dyes (low-impact), so their clothes are more varied in color than other organic clothing lines. Women’s shirts range from $21 to $95.
- Jonäno - This designer women’s retailer uses hemp, bamboo and organic cotton. All clothing is manufactured with fair-labor practices and natural dyes, and the company uses recycled packaging and shipping containers. Prices range from $30 to $115.
- Loyale Clothing - Its founder created the brand after working at several major designers and coming to the realization that there was a scarcity of designers whose work was both chic and sustainable. She creates collections for each season using organic cotton and recycled fabric scraps. Most collections contain shirts, dresses, jumpers and swimsuits, all made in the USA.
- REI - This sports and outdoor retailer donates millions of dollars to conservation projects, and its eco-sensitive products come with a complete description of the pros and cons of the materials used. REI clothing ranges from $8 to $70.
- Loomstate Organic Clothing - Based in New York and California, they offer casual, high-end garments, including a denim line. The cotton used in their clothing is purely organic and they require that their business associates comply with strict criteria for pollution and employment standards.
- American Apparel - This eco-conscious casual-clothing retailer manufactures products in the US without sweatshops. Their cotton clothing is at least 20% organic with some items, like their 100% organic-cotton T-shirt, going all the way. They use solar panels at their headquarters and recycle more than one million pounds of fabric annually. Prices range from $16 to $180.
- Rawganique - Using earth-friendly materials such as hemp and organic cotton, Rawganique sells clothing, sheets, towels and jewelry. Prices range from $30 to $80.
Retailers have pounced on this new green fashion trend. They are using environmentally conscious materials such as bamboo, hemp and organic cotton to entice fashionistas with an eco-conscience. With more demand than ever, it is becoming easier to locate a retailer with green clothing at reasonable prices. So stay in the good graces of Mother Earth—and one step ahead of the fashion police—by embracing the latest trend: green!
Updated 6/12/10; originally posted 2/20/09.
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