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"Green" Clothing Becoming the New Black

The movement toward awareness of taking care of the planet, creating and using eco-friendly products and recycling whatever possible to eliminate waste and create sustainability has grown globally during the past few years. Concerted efforts have been made by politicians, celebrities and everyday people alike to create and spread awareness increases and can be seen on a daily basis.

One of the areas in which going green has become fashionable is in the fashion world itself. Now before your start thinking hemp, hippies, burlap and Birkenstocks, just think hip clothing that won.t hurt the earth. The trend toward helping the earth while creating chic fashion is an idea whose time has come.

Designers like Linda Loudermilk, a veteran upscale designer who has changed everything about the products she uses and the way she uses them - have not lost one ounce of style. Loudermilk, who started in Paris, now uses soya, sea cell, organic cotton, reclaimed lace and other products that are earth friendly has her earth-friendly, hip clothes available on the famed Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. West Hollywood area, and has dedicated her life and business to things that won.t hurt the earth. One can now easily find clothing, shoes, accessories and other products that are eco-friendly, trendy and stylish.

Some of the best known celebrities and international companies are coming into the land of green. Natalie Portman, for instance, has launched a line of Vegan Shoes called "te casan" which refers to "A Woman's Path" in Gaelic lore. The uniqueness of the collection is that there are only 100 pairs of each size of shoes that Natalie offers. Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, have their "Edun" brand of "socially conscious" clothes - all made in family-run factories in countries with fair trade practices.

Patagonia, makers of high-end fleece products have been using 100% organic cotton for over ten years. Why does this even matter? It matters because it is estimated that in one year, 55 million pounds of pesticide are sprayed on non-organic cotton alone. Patagonia also uses recycled soda bottles to make fleece products, which Bryan Hays, spokesperson for the company says has kept over 86 million soda bottles out of landfills so far.

Other celebrities and designers to create eco friendly clothing products include Jonano, Ami Meleccio, and Pura Vida, nyc. - designer of eco-friendly kids' clothes. These designers have developed eco friendly items including casuals, sweatshirts, tshirts, briefs for men, women and children, outerwear, hats, scarves and other stylish items.

Organic, "green" and eco-friendly clothing is making a strong presence and moving further and further into more markets. Since there is a great sustainability factor in the fabrics used, it is certain that the market will continue to grow. Most green clothing is created from materials such as chemical free organic cotton, hemp, linen and silk, as well as bamboo and corn.

Levi's has launched their line of 100% organic cotton jeans. Identified by a lower case green "e", these jeans are comparable in price and design as their original jeans. Though not a "designer" product, they are a popular, well-selling brand, seen on everyone from soccer moms to cowboys to celebrities.

Even non-designer markets such as Target, Whole Foods, Nike and Sam's Club, as well as Wal Mart, have made an effort to begin selling and marketing organic cotton clothing, such as t shirts and other items so that they can be affordable to the average public and meet sustainability goals that these organizations have set as part of their overall goals and values to be embraced during the next 12 to 24 months.

To show how far the organic clothing market has come, a designer fashion show during New York.s famed fashion week featured only eco friendly clothing by designers including Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg and Proenza Schouler with the clothes made of only bamboo, corn and organic cotton. Experts are predicting that organic clothing will become a huge market similar to organic food, which is now a $15 billion industry annually. The show, called FutureFashion and sponsored by Earth Pledge, a New York-based non-profit, made the fashion statement that green will become the new black.

So, if you're thinking about fashion and trying to be earth friendly, step up to "green" and you will be astonished at what you will find. No longer for hippies, this chic trend is here to stay. Try the new black and do your part in keeping the earth a little greener at the same time.