Concerns about climate change, loss of bio-diversity, and weak labor standards is raising buyers awareness. We are seeing many articles in newspapers about fashion. The New York Times printed an article this week regarding a clothing scandal. Apparently H & M, a Swedish based clothing company, was trashing the clothes that they did not sell. They were destroying them so they could not be worn, and dumping them in trash cans. This did not go along with their “green” philosophy. They just sent out a press release about the new eco-friendly Spring fashion line that would be including organic cotton and linen and clothing from recycled polyester. The clothing items which were dumped in Manhattan announced that it will stop this practice. There were a lot of very angry environmentalists when they heard this story.
Buyers of fashion have to become educated. I just wrote a blog post about buying jewelry, and purchasing clothing is no different. We have to become more aware of how things harm the Earth. Some people believe that “green” fashion just means buying organic cotton. It goes a lot further than that. There are a lot of other fibers. Hemp silk, which gives nitrogen back to the soil, is just one example. Conventional processes such as tanning leather, bleaching, dyeing and printing with large amounts of water, energy or toxic chemicals are being looked down upon. Organic dresses made from cotton grown without pesticides are in. Things are really changing in this direction. Nearly 50 designers from 40 countries displayed some of their garments at the “International Year of Bio-Diversity” in the Autumn/Winter season in Milan, Paris, London and New York. The models wearing alpaca fiber, bamboo and organic silk and cotton strutted down the “Eco-Chic” catwalk to back the United Nation’s call for the use of natural resources in fashion. (Ruetgers) The UN Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in the fashion industry states that the fashion industry has responded to the demand for sustainable styles and material fibers. Eco-fashion draws in 150 million to 200 million in sales per year. The change towards more natural clothing products can be seen everywhere. This years Grammy Awards showed off some of the latest fashions. Singer/songwriter Jason Mraz designed eco-friendly tee shirts. They are 100% cotton and printed with soy ink. Proceeds from the sale of these shirts will go to a non-profit organization to protect our oceans. Check them out at www.buckle.com. I feel that we should support companies that are “green”. When you make your fashion purchases, keep our planet in mind. Do your own research on products labels and ask questions. The more informed you become, the better choices you will make. When you make a good decision, you will not only look good on the outside, but you will feel good on the inside.
