The Evolution of Eco-Fashion: Past, Present, and Future
From animal furs, coconut shells, to tree leaves, organic or green-fashion was merely incidental. Never, before has eco-fashion been more in vogue than it is today.Retro-Recyclables
Back in the day, buying environmentally conscious clothing was a trip to the neighborhood thrift store. Long before the term "sustainable clothing" was coined, recyclable clothing meant donating or pilfering through racks and racks of gently used clothing. Shopping for reusable clothing was simply a pastime for most fashion mavens.From the Salvation Army, secondhand store, to the local church.s resale shop, the Carrie Underwood want-to-be could rely on funky clothes from previous generations.
Be it the micro-mini skirt of the '70s, preppy look of the '80s, to the mod femme look of the late '50s, recycled clothing used to be straightforward. Purchasing decisions were made according to the fabric, style, and price. Not many people were shopping for clothes based on working conditions, garments made of recycled bottles, polyester, or organic materials like bamboo.
Green Fashion - Present
Today, recycled clothing has turned into an environmental issue. Fashion has become stylishly green. Consumers, in quest of chic, eco-fashion have an arsenal of prerequisites to add to their list of shopping decisions. Since, there is not a set standard on what constitutes one green garment from environmentally unfriendly attire, the challenge poses too many considerations. Aside from design and cost, there's an entire list of social and environmental concerns to consider.Eco-Fashion Conscious Issues
In reality, eco-fashion is about making a conscious choice of which fabrics or sustainable materials offer the best environmental yet stylish benefits. Use the list below to help prioritize the issues most important to your pursuit of green fashion: Throughout the history of homo sapiens, fashion trends have always been in a flux of evolution. For the prehistoric man, attire was a matter of survival.Animal cruelty - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and other animal advocates deem any inhumane farming practice to animals as cruel.
Carbon footprint reduction - To minimize fossil fuels, local production is one example of how designers can reduce their carbon footprint on the earth.
Recycled Materials - Since more energy is needed to manufacture natural fibers, recycled materials are a resourceful supplement.
Toxic Manufacturing - Many of the chemicals used to dye fabrics and the process involved in transforming certain organic materials (in example: bamboo, soy, and seaweed) contains an abundance of toxic elements.
The Material Suspects
Organic cotton, seaweed, flax, soy, hemp and bamboo are material suspects. Whether, these fabrics are any better than recycled fabrics, like polyester and wool, remains the daunting question many consumers face.Using bamboo as an organic example of the eco-fashion conundrum, there are both environmental advantages and disadvantages. The positive is that bamboo is cultivated without pesticides and requires very little water. Unfortunately, transforming its rigid characteristics into soft fabric calls for significant energy. And then, there.s the harsh chemicals that make bamboo a questionable environmentally appropriate material. Bamboo, like soy, flax and hemp involves manufacturing practices that are hazardous to the ozone or toxic in nature.
Fact: Bamboo is incredibly soft and retains color better than many other fabrics.
Meanwhile, a number of retailers are using the ego-bandwagon as a way to grow new niches. From the bargain shopping chain, to the high-end boutique, eco-fashion is a hot topic. Many eco-purists contend that many designers and retailers are using green fashion as a marketing ploy. >br />
Consumers, who are in quest of an easy way to be eco-fashion conscious, may consider clothes that use recycled materials. For instance, Wal-mart sells t-shirts made of a recycled Coco-Cola bottle, cotton blend. In fact, use of the plastic soda bottle is a growing trend in t-shirt production.
Reusing plastic bottles solves three environmental concerns. It minimizes the number of plastic bottles in landfills. Recycled, plastic fashion is also positive in energy conservation. Not to mention, it decreases carbon dioxide emissions.
Regardless of what cause the consumer in quest of green fashion opts for, thrift stores and designers who use sustainable products make for the best eco-fashion picks.