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Written by Administrator
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It used to be that “green†fashion gave us one option and one option only- hemp. Not the most luxurious fabric and certainly not the best looking. I have visions of hippies in Guatemalan pants with a t-shirt emblazoned with a pot leaf having recently showered in patchouli oil. This is what “green fashion†used to look like. Lucky for us, green fashion has come a long way and moved into a whole different realm. These days, there are many options for the conscious consumer. Ones that offer shape, style, comfort and even luxury.
Levis. Levis has developed an entire line of denim made from organic cotton. I appreciate the fact that Levis really has paved the way for others to follow seeing as Levi’s has been and always will be the quintessential jean manufacturer. Levis are still cool. Just the plain 501s. Still cool. So with this clout, Levis has done something good for fashion. The brand launched last fall and are known as Levi’s Eco. They include features such as a natural colored Levi’s tab and a “Two Horse Patch†made from 100% organic fabric to differentiate them from standard Levi’s. In addition, the Levi’s organic jeans will have a green tab instead of a red one. One thing is certain in that anything labeled "organic" is always priced at a premium, so expect to pay more for these jeans that your usual 501s. To find organic Levi’s, log on to levis.com.
Why is organic cotton important? Over the past decade, it has been cited that conventional cotton farming is one of agricultures most environmentally destructive activities. According to the website sustainablecotton.org, “the simple act of growing and harvesting the one pound of cotton fiber needed to make a T-shirt takes an enormous toll on the air, water, and soil, not to mention the health of people living and working in cotton country. “ Organic farming is sustainable farming. Without the use of pesticides, the dirt is more readily reusable and less harsh on the global emissions that are produced through the use of pesticides. In addition, sustainable farming produces crops indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health. While not just for label clout, organic cotton is actually much more earth friendly than its chemically protected counterparts.
Cotton provides nearly 50% of global fiber needs. My perception about cotton is widely shared in that cotton is a "natural" product. Yet it uses nearly 25% of all insecticides applied to agricultural crops, and 11% of all pesticides on some 2.5% of the worlds cropped area. According to website cut4cloth.co.uk, “problems linked to pesticide use include; reduced soil fertility, frequent water pollution, reduced biodiversity in the surrounding areas and wild animal and livestock poisoning. On top of all that at least 20,000 people in developing countries die every year from poisoning by agricultural pesticides and 3 million suffer acute or reproductive after effects.â€
So, with all of this enlightening information, it is sometime hard to not get down in the mouth. I think if all of us just did one thing to help change the way we look at clothes it would be very beneficial. The next time you go into the store, think very hard about where your clothing and accessories came from. Think about the way the products were created. Think about the people that made your product. Look and see where you items were manufactured. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Egypt, China, etc… All of these countries are top on the pollution chart. Finally, take time to think about how each of the items were packaged for shipping to the stores where you purchased your item from.
So- a pair of pants is not just a pair of pants. It actually is a long chain of environmental mishaps.
A brand of clothing based out of the UK called Howies is worth a browse. This line is 100% organic. From their shirts, to skirts, to pants to belts. For all of us Valley women who so love to ride bikes- Howies sells belts made out of old bike tires. If not the most streamlined, they would make for some great conversation. Howies is smart in design and hip in perception. Started by a skate rat, the clothing styles reflect a very loose and laid back attitude with a bit of sass and a lot of class. Howies even sponsors Mountain Bike, BMX, Skate and Snowboard teams. So sporting the Howies brand will give you conscious fashion with attitude. To buy Howies log on to their website at howies.co.uk.
Even Wal-Mart is jumping on the bandwagon. Green fashion is good fashion. Good for the planet. Good for our children. Just good for your overall psyche. Green fashion can be recycled clothes. Green fashion can be organic cotton. But one thing is for certain. Green fashion can be cool, fun and great looking. So the next time you go on a shopping spree- think green! |
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