 Being green does not have to stop with how you are living. It can extend even further into what you are wearing, the fabric of your life, if you will.
You can choose to wear fabrics that are green – made from sustainable materials or recycled/repurposed materials. Bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, and recycled fabrics are among the most popular and prevalent right now.
Bamboo. Clothing crafted of bamboo typically is a blend of bamboo fiber and organic cotton. Bamboo actually makes a durable and very soft fabric. Its natural sheen makes it feel like silk or cashmere! It’s also anti-bacterial, very breathable like cotton, and biodegradable. Bamboo is a sustainable fiber and fabric because it grows up to 3-4 feet/day! Look for organically grown bamboo to be even greener.
Here are a few of the many online stores selling bamboo products. Bamboosa and Organic Bamboo Clothing sell a variety of bamboo products from accessories to baby products to clothing. Bamboo Eco Wear sells men’s and women’s clothing, as well as bed and bath items. and
Hemp. Hemp is a natural and very durable fiber. Hemp clothing is lightweight, absorbent, and much stronger than cotton. It’s also UV protectant and resistant to mold, making it ideal for outdoor wear. Hemp can be blended with other fibers, like silk and cotton. The cellulose fiber in hemp is used to make jeans, shirts, dresses, bags, hats, skin care products, ropes, canvas, building materials, paper, and food products. Hemp clearly has a multitude of uses that do not stop at fabrics!
Because hemp requires little water, no pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers, it’s a very green alternative to synthetic fabrics and traditional cotton. Nothing is wasted in the process of growing hemp. The seeds can be used to produce oil and food supplements. Stalks are used for fiber. Hemp is a very renewable resource that can be renewed up to three times each year, producing much more fiber than trees.
Organic cotton. It’s no secret that cotton is by far the most popular fabric in the world. However, cotton farming is very detrimental to the environment, being the most pesticide dependent crop on the planet. Pesticide use has increased over the past twenty years due to demand for cotton textiles and competition among cotton producers. To put this in perspective, every cotton tee-shirt manufactured is composed of .25 lbs of harmful chemicals. The pesticides deplete the soil and watersheds.
There is an alternative to traditional cotton: organic cotton. Organically raised cotton does not use toxins or synthetic fertilizers in the production process. It’s produced without chemical bleaches and dyes. It’s also allergen free. In place of pesticides, compost and natural pest control, like ladybugs, are used. Producing organic cotton in this way makes it a very practicable industry.
Organic cotton products are becoming more prevalent and mainstream. Shirts, pants, underwear, socks, skirts, and linens are available in organic cotton. Demand is ever increasing for organic cotton, and styles and products are growing right along with it.
Colored dyes remain an issue with traditionally grown cotton and organic cotton. The dyes are comprised of toxic chemicals. Use and disposal of the chemicals has very harmful effects on the environment. To address this, new methods of coloring cotton are being developed. For example, organically colored cotton is being grown in earthtones, like brown, green, and yellow. Choosing color grown cotton free of harsh chemicals is ideal for people with chemical sensitivities and allergies, has a soft texture, and it won’t fade when washed.
There are many online sellers organic cotton products. Here are just a few. Cottonfield and Pangaya sell organic cotton apparel. Lapsaky sells organic cotton children’s clothing. Gaiam sells organic cotton yoga wear. Loop, KushTush, and Goodnight Naturals all sell organic cotton linens for your home.
Recycled/reclaimed fabrics. Choosing recycled/reclaimed fabrics is yet another way to be green in your search for eco-friendly fabric and fashion. Recycled/reclaimed fabric reuses fabric from an existing item to make another. The possibilities here are endless! You might take an old leather jacket, as Ashley Watson did, and transform it into a trendy bag. You might use an old curtain to recover a chair. You might sew a teddy bear out of old recycled fabric. Or, like me, you might just shop for most of these things online.
Clothing and other items made from recycled fabric are green because they reuse discarded fabric that is quite likely on its way to the landfill. Items made from recycled fabric are quite often unique and one of a kind—refreshing in a time of mass marketing and merchandising.
Take a step back and consider the environmental impact of the fabrics you wear and use in your home. Consider reusing fabrics, like comforters, coats, and curtains, rather than throwing them away to meet their fate in their landfill. Become a proponent of green and sustainable fibers.
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