Green initiative goes red hot for fashion

Green is a word with many connotations. Sometimes it means fresh and new, while other times it describes naivete. To think that green is just a pretty color is fine, too. But, for now, let’s just say “green” is becoming “red hot.”

The green movement is currently making leaps and bounds in the fashion world.
Clothing and accessory makers have begun to embrace this eco-friendly trend and are profiting from materials the earth provides without turning customers off. And with so many options available, from bamboo fiber to vegan materials, designers and retailers now have the chance to dazzle consumers with earth-conscious style.

With a wealth of organic resources available, many manufacturers are turning toward selling exclusively eco-friendly products. Sling and Stones, a Seattle-based denim manufacturer, creates jeans from certified organic supima cotton denim loomed in Okayama, Japan. The company boasts the use of all-natural plant dye, or no dye at all, in the production of its denim pieces. Although the price of these jeans is quite high — about $270 from www.selfedge.com — the idea is that organic cotton is more sustainable and therefore won’t break down as quickly over time.

Another larger retailer has also caught on to the earth-friendly fashion movement — American Apparel. The hip California retailer offers customers various styles of shirts, pants and underwear made of 100% organic and pesticide-free cotton material. Organics for men, women and children are available, starting at $6 and topping out at $42. The company is opposed to sweatshop conditions and is a member of the Cleaner Cotton Campaign, which provides cotton farmers with non-chemical options for treating cotton fields during cultivation.

With all the hype surrounding eco-friendly products, it seems going green will continue turning up the heat in the fashion world, one eco-conscious garment at a time.