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Eco-Fashion

Eco-fashion is about making clothes  and accessories  that take into account the environment, the health of consumers and the working conditions of people in the fashion industry.  With the eco-fashion  industry still in its infancy, new brands are popping up each season, so keep your eyes pealed for new designers looking to bring earth-friendly practices down the runway.

The Problem

You may be wondering how clothing can be harmful to the environment. Here are several ways that clothes can be a form of pollution:

  • When pesticides are used in cotton production (25% of all pesticides used in the whole world are from cotton production), the pesticides cause pollution and thus endanger not only the environment, but the health of the people living in developing countries.
  • Many processes involved in clothing production, such as irrigation, pesticides, fertilizers, and the bleaching and dyeing of processed textiles use an enormous amount of water and often lead to water pollution.
  • Fossil fuels are used in the production of oil-based synthetic fibers (like nylon ). While our clothes are being transported and processed, they release carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
  • When clothes are thrown away rather than donated or recycled (only 14% of clothes are recycled!), they end up in landfills. Wool,  if in landfills, releases methane during its decaying process, contributing to climate change as well.

The Solution

  • Recycle or donate unwanted clothes. Not only will you be helping the environment, but by giving a neighbor your daughter's outgrown dresses  or donating a box of clothes that have been in your closet since 1980 you are providing clothes to others at low or no cost and helping those in need.
  • Wash clothes at 30 degrees if possible. Washing clothes at cooler temperatures uses less energy and cuts down on carbon emissions.
  • Whenever possible, avoid tumble-drying clothes. Try letting your clothes dry naturally on a clothes line.
  • Try not to choose dry-clean only clothes. Many dry-cleaning chemicals are toxic!
  • Look for washing machines  that are eco-friendly and use less energy. Most products will advertise that they are energy efficient.
  • Try only doing your laundry if you have a full load of clothes. This cuts down on the amount of water and energy used, and also cuts down on your chores! If you use a laundry mat, try to use the smallest machine possible that fits the clothes you need washed.
  • Look for organic or recycled materials. Keep an eye out for clothing with tags that say organic, Fairtrade, MADE or OEKOTEX and the EU Ecolabel (flower symbol).

Eco Fashion Clothes:
  • Are made using organic raw materials, such as cotton  grown without pesticides and silk made by worms fed on organic trees.
  • Don't involve the use of harmful chemicals and bleaches to color fabrics.
  • Are often made from recycled  and reused textiles. High-quality garments can be made from second-hand clothes and even recycled plastic bottles.
  • Are made to last, so that people keep them for longer.
  • Are made in a fair trade  environment -- the people who make them are paid a fair price and have decent working conditions.

Top Fabrics

Did you know that growing cotton uses 22.5 percent of all the insecticides used globally? Growing enough cotton for one t-shirt requires 257 gallons of water. On top of that, bleaching and then dyeing the resulting fabric creates toxins that flow into our ecosystem. The use of rayon for clothing is contributing to the rapid depletion of the world's forests. Petroleum-based products are detrimental to the environment on many levels. Fortunately, there are alternatives.

There are a variety of materials considered "environmentally-friendly" for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the renew ability of the product. Renewable resources are items that can be replenished in a relatively short amount of time (as opposed to millennia). Look for organic fabrics and non-toxic inks and dyes.  Secondly, consider the ecological footprint of the resource - how much land (usually measured in acres) it takes to bring one of the individuals (plants or animals) to full growth and support it.  Finally, think about the eco-friendliness of a particular product: how many chemicals it requires to grow/process it to make it ready for market?

Hemp

By far, the crop with the most potential for eco-friendly textile use is hemp.  The ecological footprint of hemp is considerably smaller than that of most other plants considered for their fibers. Hemp plants grow very quickly and densely which makes it difficult for weeds to take hold, eliminating the need for herbicides and artificial fertilizers. It requires no irrigation as it thrives on the amount of water in the average rainfall, and it is highly pest-resistant.

Hemp has naturally long fibers which makes it suitable for spinning with a minimum of processing. Those fibers are also long-lasting, in fact, historically hemp has been used for making naval ropes that were used in and around water because they resist rot. If it held up to those conditions, imagine how well it will wear as a pair of jeans, or a shirt.  Fabrics come in a variety of weights and textures.

Wool

Wool  produced by caring farmers can be a wonderful resource, with a few caveats.  Sheep graze plants almost to the dirt, and there is the issue of the manure entering into the water supply. Factory-farmed sheep (as with any factory-farmed animals) live miserable lives where the handlers are concerned with productivity and speed, including during the shearing process, where nicks are common even to the point of slicing the entire nose off the sheep. Then there is the matter of bleaching the wool to get it white, or dyeing it, but with a responsible eco-friendly manufacturer, most of these issues can be overcome.

Organic Cotton

Organic cotton  is much more environmentally-friendly than the traditional variety as it uses no pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides during the growing cycle. There are many growers of this crop, and the number is steadily increasing.  Usually manufacturers using this plant to make textiles follow up the process by using natural dyes to further reduce the amount of chemicals dumped into our ecosystem.  Even more promising is a new cotton that is grown in the tradition of the Aztecs - colored cotton. Sally Fox, a biologist, spent ten years perfecting a colored cotton with long enough fibers to be spun into thread. She managed to get it to grow naturally in shades of green and brown. It has the added benefit of not fading (in color) and in fact, it gets more vibrant with the first few washings!

Soy Silk

Legend has it that Henry Ford wore a suit made of soy silk  in the 1940s, but the US Government of the day decided to go with rayon instead. Here in the 21st century, though, it's soy silk that has the greater potential.  Soy silk is made from the by-products of the tofu-making process. The liquefied proteins are extruded into fibers which are then spun, and used like any other fiber (woven, knitted, etc.). You can purchase skeins of soy silk yarn and test it out for yourself. The high protein content makes it receptive to natural dyes, so you can create your own colors.

Bamboo

It's hard to see how this fabric qualifies as "environmentally-friendly" when the manufacturer's site contains the following sentence: "Firstly, bamboo  pulp is refined from bamboo through a process of hydrolysis-alkalization and multi-phase bleaching."  However, bamboo is a highly renewable grass, and it is probably this property that has resulted in its being classified as "eco-friendly". It also has natural antibacterial properties and the fabric "breathes". The resultant cloth is biodegradable.

Recycled Materials

Recycled plastic bottles  can be melted down to make a fine yarn, and many companies are making T-shirts and such out of them.  Also, some accessories are being made from recycled candy wrappers,  juice packs, aluminum pop tops, and even recycled rice sacks. 

Top Clothing Brands

Top Accessories Brands

Related Guides

Green Guide

Travel Guide to Eco-Friendly destinations

Organic Skin Care

Earth Day

Vegetarian and Vegan Guide

External Links

  • StepIn.org: The Sustainable Technology Education Project explains ways to look cool and care for the environment.
  • Treehugger.com: Praises companies that are thinking "green."
  • Eco-Chick.com: Shopping tips for earth conscious consumers.

International Resources

For this resource in your home country, please see:
FR: Vêtements Ethiques

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