Organic cotton, bamboo, soy, hemp, sustainable style--words that are quickly becoming the normal lingo among fashion industry experts and designers around the world.
Gone are the images of burlap wrapped women in Birkenstocks and long white t-shirts, now replaced by a more eco-friendly sensibility that has created fashions that are not only beautiful, but socially conscious.
Tori Mistick, the fashion expert behind the popular online fashion blog Eco-Fashionista, believes the fashion industry has been undergoing its very own makeover over the past few years, transforming it from one of the least environmentally friendly industries, to one of the more "green."
According to Mistick, eco-fashion designers have upped the fashion ante by giving environmentally savvy consumers the ability to buy runway style and do it with a clear conscious.
"Eco-fashion has gotten a lot of attention with the green movement over the last few years," Mistick says. "Many people associate it with clothing made out of hemp and there have been plenty of fashion shows featuring dresses made out of plastic bags and newspaper, some of which are surprisingly beautiful. But, eco-fashion is much more than that. Just because something is made with eco friendly materials and practices doesn't mean it sacrifices style - there are many designers out there who create imaginative designs."
When you consider that non-organic cotton is treated with 55 million pounds of pesticides per year or that the white polyester t-shirt in your closet was made from petrochemicals via a process of refining crude oil, it's no wonder more and more consumers are turning to earth-friendly fashions and designers.
People looking to invest their dollars into a more "green" wardrobe no longer have to spend hours scouring the internet for obscure designers and small speciality shops.
With more and more designers turning to eco-conscious practices, a simple trip to your local thrift store is all you need. But before you go, you need to know what you're looking for.
Labels that show fabrics made from natural materials like hemp and cashmere, as well as recycled clothing are your best bet.
"When you strip away the media frenzy, it is really about reducing waste and that can be done by shopping at thrift stores and consignment shops, and even looking into your own closet and altering something you haven't worn in ten years to fit your current style instead of buying something new, Mistick says.
"Shop at local boutiques that carry local designers. If items are made in your area that means they were not shipped great distances and probably made in a small workshop that does not use as much energy or resources as a big chain store. Many independent designers also use organic and sustainable materials such as bamboo or recycled cotton."
As designers and consumers become more aware of the impact certain industry practices have on the environment, eco-fashion popularity will continue to grow.
And with young, forward thinking designers like Canada's own Sonja den Elzen and Tara White, eco-conscious consumers can look forward to shopping for clothes that have been designed not only with style in mind, but also the future of our planet.
Post new comment