EU Eco-Madness

Environmentally-friendly fashion is spreading like wildfire across the pond.

Fashion designers, boutiques and clothing companies all over Europe are the latest to ride the green wave. Ethical, environmentally-friendly and sustainable products currently account for a massive £24 billion (over 45 billion US dollars) of the UK market alone.

The European Union itself has established an "EU Eco-label" in the shape of a flower logo which is awarded to companies that have been checked and certified by independent experts. The Soil Association in Britain has an accredited list of organic textile suppliers including growers of hemp - perhaps the most environmentally friendly and under-used of crops.

Kate Goldsworthy lectures on sustainable textiles and fashion at Chelsea College of Art in London, one of the only art colleges in Europe to offer a course on sustainability and fashion. She has noticed a "massive" rise in the number of students wanting to apply for the course: "There is now a much more ingrained ethos about sustainability. People are beginning to react against the speed and profligacy of the fashion cycle". Instead of worrying about quick-change fashion's next season, eco-designers are concerned about creating clothing that won't be thrown away, that are easy care and durable.

We may see a greener british invasion on the horizon.

Shoes Reincarnate

These are the funkiest reworked footwear I've seen. Forget Birks with their flipper shape...Terra Plana combined style with sustainablitity in their newest release online at terraplana.com. Inspired by movement and sport such as yoga and surfing, their Aqua for men (pictured left) is created with waterbased adhesives and recycled foam footbeds...and the looks say it all! India-inspired Doll (pictured right) boasts a timeless shape and vegetable-tanned nubuck leather kitten heel (not vegan). If you visit their site, check out their Raddisshme Design House...cool.

Del Forte Denim Jeans with Eco Chic Appeal

Del Forte Denim is designed for eco-chic warriors who long for style, durability and sustainability all at the same time. Made in the USA with 100 percent organic cotton, their premium denim is part of a growing trend towards eco luxury.

Their Dahlia jean is universally flattering jean with a low-rise and a slightly flared leg. The contoured yoke and curved pocket seams make the most of your curves and the 18” leg opening looks perfect with everything from stilettos to sneakers.

Best of all, Del Forte has partnered with The Sustainable Cotton Project, which has been building bridges between farmers, manufacturers and consumers to pioneer markets for certified organically grown and sustainable cotton since 1994. A portion of Del Forte Denim’s proceeds will go to support The SCP. Check out the Dahlia jean at Del Forte.

Herman Miller gets its teeth into Kira corn textiles

Corn is the new actor on the scene in eco fibers. Kira corn fabric represents a beautiful, long-lasting, 100% renewable textile made entirely from corn. Created by the quintessential design innovators at Herman Miller, Kira is available in six earthen colors.

Like all Herman Miller fabrics, Kira can be used with Herman Miller GREENGUARD-certified products, ensuring chemical-free standards. Sustainable production of Kira, fueled with hydroelectric power, results in significantly less greenhouse gases - sustainable and stylish!

As Herman Miller continues on its "Journey toward Sustainability," we can expect more products designed with consideration for their environmental impact. “We contribute to a better world by pursuing sustainability and environmental wisdom. Environmental advocacy is part of our heritage and a responsibility we gladly bear for future generations." -Excerpted from Herman Miller's Corporate Values Statement

T-post publishes a rag on cotton

The Stockholm, Sweden designers at T-Post are creating newsworthy t-shirts that will keep your wardrobe up to date on current events. Like subscribing to a magazine, a subscription to T-post will reap you monthly news updates. The difference with T-post Subscription is that each issue is screenprinted on cotton t-shirts (only conventional cotton available at this time).

Every six weeks the T-post designs depict a timely news story. You may not always read about your T-shirt's story in the papers but in the T-post crew's opinion, you should have.

Subscriptions are available worldwide and cost about USD $32.00, including shipping. www.t-post.se.

Eco Petal 2006 highlights greener runway trends

Eco-Petal Fashion Show 2006

West Hollywood is always the place to see the latest in couture, but this year eco chic is heating up the runways. Eco-Petal 2006, held August 4th, 2006 at the House of Petals, sparks a fresh new look at fashion and couture design, celebrating the freedom, passion, and environmental responsibility embraced by sustainable designers.

Top sustainable fashion gurus including Deborah Lindquist, Tara Lynn Scheidet, and Stewart and Brown collaborated with young on the scene designers to create runway ranging from leisure to evening.

Eco-Petal 2006 kicks off a 10-day celebration of designer organic clothing. As sustainable style continues to grow in popularity, perhaps the next decade will herald in a New Green Generation.

Eco Couture is in Fashion

Embracing the idea of eco Couture is a natural step towards encorporating eco-friendly principles into everyday living. Margaret Mead once said, "Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world –For indeed that's all who ever have." Recognizing the need to balance quality fashion with eco-conscious living, sustainable designers create beautiful timeless apparel pieces using certified organic and recycled materials.

Look for classic lines that will be versatile avoiding transient fads. Those favorite pieces you reach for in your wardrobe time and time again have proven their value in style and comfort. By selecting high quality garments that will complement many looks, wash well and coordinate with many colors, you will have the elements to ensemble great looks that stand the test of time.

Consider purchasing chemical free clothing. Cotton, for example, is often processed using toxic formaldehyde finishes. Organically grown, ecologically processed organic fabrics are better for you and the environment. Undyed fabrics are often hypoallergenic and cut down on the amount of bleach and dye leaching into groundwater and waterways during production. Organic fibers are grown without the heavy use of potentially toxic synthetic insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

When choosing your next wardrobe addition, keep your eye on care and washing instructions. ‘Dry Clean Only’ not only will cost more in the long run, but the chemicals involved in this process are potentially toxic. “Perc” overexposure, a standard cleaning chemical used by drycleaners, can lead to birth defects, organ failure and even death. Perc has been found in waterways and drinking supplies in small quantities, leading the EPA to issue new health and environmental warnings.

Investigate alternative fibers such as renewable bamboo, hemp, tencel and soy.
Hemp can be grown organically and can be woven into linen that resists wrinkling, Bamboo and tencel are woody plantation crops that produce fibers that when woven have a butter-soft silk or cashmere feel. Soy fiber fabrics have sleek feel and drape. They are made from the residue of soybeans during the Tofu manufacturing process.

In educating yourself and your loved ones about sustainable living choices that you have adopted, you will feel better, look great and feel proud to know that you are choosing to make a difference.

– Metta,

Ecobabe