A Place to Feel Eco-Fabulous

The  ecofabulous lounge at Opportunity Green was appointed with gorgeous sustainable furniture used throughout the conference space, and is a flawless manifestation of Opportunity Green’s commitment to design. I’ve been to a few sustainability-oriented conferences in my time, and this is the only one that celebrates sustainable design, and helps designers and clients alike to better understand sustainable design. It was so uplifting to see so much creative talent using sustainable principles to make gorgeous clothes and accessories.

The ecofabulous lounge is that chic yet welcoming boutique where you want to just hang out and be surrounded by gorgeousness. The lounge has a corner dedicated to Vie Bungalow, another corner for Arcona facials and product sampling, and the uber-eco PACT underwear, repping for the men, with his & hers boy-cut briefs.The Ekla sofas were gorgeous and seemed a great place to relax and chat with people.

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fashionable, infused with quality craftsmanship and it’s only after the fact that one realizes their environmental aspect.

While speaking with her initially, however, we found ourselves on the subject of Ojai and the Ojai Foundation which has been teaching the arts of permaculture and sustainability back when these were “fringe” paths pursued by the hippie-culture. Ojai is the small “art town,” set back in the hills off the 101, between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. These days The Ojai Foundation is focused on “Council” a program they have been taking out to area schools in the local and surrounding counties.  What is “Council?”

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In celebration of their two year anniversary today, the ethical, environmentally conscience and eco fashionable Equita is offering a whopping 40% off all eco-fashion today and tomorrow only.  Its no secret that we’re all holding onto our wallets a little tighter these days and trying to plan for Christmas without overdoing it.  Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this great sale and cross some items off your list while you have a chance at a huge savings.  They carry eco-fashion brands FIN, EDUN, Stewart+Brown, Loyale, Autonomie, Del Forte Denim, Perfectly Imperfect, Loomstate, Ecoist, Vega, Tom’s Shoes, Josh Jakus and more. 

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But this week, Vancouver turns the spotlight on sustainability with its first ever eco-focused fashion night, Friday, November 7th, 2008.

Vancouver Fashion Week, a hotbed of haute couture and leading west coast designers, is one of the premier purveyors of popular pageantry, unveiling some of the world’s most sought after styles and trends.  This year, VFW is showing its support for the environment with a dedicated evening for designers to promote their leading edge sustainable artistry and eco-conscious craftmanship.  From eco luxury, showcasing the art of organic handmade silk, to the unique beauty of recycled fabrics like cashmere and wool, an impressive range of techniques and designs will be featured.

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A couple weeks ago, Kelli announced that Chicago’s fourth annual Fashion Week kicks off today, but not without the absolutely brand new addition of MoSS.  Curated by Pivot Boutique, Chicago’s first boutique dedicated to eco-fashion, this event will “features clothing, accessories and furniture that inspire and respond to current form and function necessities, without compromising our environmental abilities to meet future needs“ .  Featured designers and collaborators include Annie Novotny of Frei Designs, Lara Miller, Alice Berry, Jane Palmer and Marianne Fairbanks of Noon Solar, Joshua Height of Brickermade and Michele Fitzpatrick of Verde Design Studio.

Stay tuned next week as Fashion Week hits Portland…

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Kate D’ Arcy is both designer and model behind the Toggery Collection that is full of contemporary, yet comfortable knits made of eco-friendly fabrics, most of which features ultra-soft organic cotton.  “I’ve created a lifestyle brand that enables women to make socially and environmentally conscious decisions about clothing, while still being fashion forward and trend oriented.  Everyone needs to do their part but it doesn’t need to be a sacrifice” says Kate.

Her new Fall Collection is right on target with the hot trends of the season featuring royal jewel tones and renaissance-esque sleeves.  With versatility in mind, these looks vary from your not-so-typical casual wear to dresses you’d like to be seen in (and remembered) at a cocktail party.   

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Launched a month and a half ago as part of the new EcoGeek blogging network, Wearing the Future is all about “straight talk as much as style, so you won’t have to worry about fluffy, PR-soaked, greenwashing nonsense.”

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with the blog’s chief editor and head writer, Kyeann Sayer (pronounced like “cayenne” pepper). As a long-time writer for Treehugger.com, Kyeann has an impressive media resume - she has been featured on CNN, MSN, I.D. Magazine, Domino, Spin, Outside, and Women’s Wear Daily … just to name a few.

In our lively conversation, Kyeann and I talk about the beginning of Wearing the Future, her favorite eco-fashion brands, personal style’s place in the world of green living and more - read on for all the juicy details!

Victoria Everman: How did you get connected with Hank Green of EcoGeek? Did the two of you come up with the idea for Wearing the Future together or was he on the look-out for an editor and writer already? 

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Editor’s note: Please join us in welcoming Jason Phillip to the Green Options writing team! A freelance writer and editor based in Chicago, Jason will be focusing on the "green scene" in the Windy City for us. Mayor Richard Daly has committed to making Chicago the greenest city in the country, so we’re looking forward to Jason’s reports on these efforts.

My idea of sustainable fashion has always been making sure the clothing I wear gets as long a life as possible. I like keeping things in my wardrobe forever, and when they finally can’t be worn even one more time, replacing them with something from a thrift store that I know has had at least one previous owner. I like to think I’m buying classics, and also keeping material out of the waste stream. If I’m not buying something new, my purchase doesn’t help spew any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere or exploit any sweatshop workers, right? Plus, I can save a bundle outfitting myself with recycled duds.

But as most fans of "thrifting" know, it can be tough to shop this way all the time. There’s an element of luck involved—you have to make do with what fate presents you. The scavenger hunt feeling can be addictive, but sometimes it’s just not practical—like when building a professional wardrobe, or looking for outdoor apparel with modern weatherproofing performance. No one has ever accused me of being a slave to fashion, but sometimes you gotta go retail. And for the eco-conscious consumer, going retail may now mean seeking out environmentally-friendly garments. In just the past year, it seems, the fashion industry has really begun to embrace the environmental ethos, and the choices available to consumers interested in ethically-produced clothing are growing by leaps and bounds.

Case in point: I got a pair of recycled sandals as a gift this year, after my decade-old pair of slip-ons finally gave up the ghost. My wife—never a fan of the old dork cork classics, but nonetheless tolerant of my penchant for comfort over style—found a decent looking replacement pair that compared favorably in the looks department, and had some impressive sustainability features. I appreciated the fact that the soles are made from recycled car tire tread, the straps consist of used (but clean) bicycle inner tubes, and the thread holding it all together is organic cotton. Alas, the whole shoe is less than the sum of its parts; the sad fact is that the new togs just make me miss my old pair. They don’t feel anywhere near as sturdy, they fall off my feet when I walk because the straps can’t be tightened, and the stitching in the soles looks like it’s about to wear through after only three weeks of use. Did I mention I owned my old pair since the mid-1990s? These "sustainable" sandals don’t seem like they’ll last through next summer. The warm glow I felt around the purchase of this innovative product has faded pretty quickly, replaced by the creeping realization that I’m going to have to make another summer footwear purchase soon.

So now I’m weighing the relative merits of buying conventional but long-lasting versus green but disposable. Can a consumer item really claim to be sustainable if it leads me to make even more purchases? Obviously my disappointing sandal experience is just one tiny drop in a rising sea of eco-friendly fashion, but I can’t help but think there are a lot of frustrated expectations to wade through while clothing designers work the kinks out of their green creations. I want to be part of the greening of our culture, but I also don’t want to pay for the privilege of being an early-adopter guinea pig. As fashion guru Tim Gunn from the reality show Project Runway regularly tells the ambitious designers competing for fame and fortune for the cameras, "Make it work, people!" Once I know it works, then I’ll be happy to own it.

Fortunately, Chicagoans will get a chance to decide for themselves which cutting-edge ideas work, and which don’t, in the sustainable designs of dozens of retailers and designers at the EcoModa fashion showcase on Sept. 27. Hosted by Foresight Design Initiative as part of its Sustainable Convergence ’07 party, EcoModa will highlight the ways emerging designers from Chicago, established designers from the region with their own boutiques, and large-scale clothing manufacturers like Patagonia and Nau are creating clothing and accessories that are easy on the earth.

Such an event seems extremely topical at the moment. Eco-fashion is hot right now, as both mainstream and environmental-focused media have rushed to cover the trend in recent months. Entire issues of E Magazine and VegNews have been devoted to telling the story of how eco-fashion has moved beyond the era of Birkenstocks and hemp ponchos. High-end fashion designers around the world have been experimenting with sustainable fabrics and dyes that treat the earth more gently, and they’re creating stunningly beautiful garments with them.

These trends strike me as exciting in a "gee-whiz-that’s-what-the-future-may-look-like-someday" way, but what about us eco-conscious folks who need a new work outfit today and for whom haute couture is just not in the budget? Eventually fabrics utilizing exotic materials like bamboo, corn, organic cotton, and recycled materials will trickle down to the everyday department store shopper, but how long will that take? Many new concepts in eco-fashion out there seem like great ideas on paper, but not thoroughly tested in the real world.

Along comes EcoModa—a chance to enter the big tent of this cultural trend and kick a lot of tires. Skeptical about the aesthetic potential of a skirt made out of recycled t-shirts? Wondering how to avoid supporting off-shore sweatshops? Curious about how high-end designers work a sustainable material like bamboo into their garments? Anybody with even a passing interest in sustainability who’s not a nudist will probably find something at the event to capture their attention. I think we’re just beginning to see what committed, creative people with sewing machines can do with the task of making a billion-dollar industry a more ethical one. In the not-too-distant future, we may look back on the way we dressed ourselves at the turn of the 21st century with the same disbelief that we feel today when confronted with the historical realities of hoop skirts and whalebone corsets.

To get a little background on the upcoming fashion showcase and find out what to expect, I recently sat down with Peter Nicholson, the Executive Director of Foresight Design. He told me that each year the Sustainable Convergence event brings together over 40 nonprofit organizations, business enterprises, and service providers doing work in the sustainability realm in Chicago. The Sustainable Enterprise Fair portion of the event features dozens of information tables and networking opportunities with environmental movers and shakers, but Convergence is also a big party, complete with sustainable food and drinks, music, and free giveaways.

"We work a lot on building community," Nicholson says. "Changing the way we do things, whether it’s biking to work or buying local produce, is better done in concert with other people who are trying to do it too."

The event was originally conceived as a way to bring together (as in "converge" … get it?) different groups of Chicagoans—the business community, members of the general public interested in sustainability, and design professionals—all in one place and all around the concept of packaging green ideas so people will want to use them. "I believe we’re going to design our way out of this crisis. Advances in technology will get us part of the way there, but how do you incorporate them into people’s behaviors? How do you package it so it is useful? That’s the role of design."

Not simply a stereotypical gala fundraiser, Sustainable Convergence is meant to showcase great ideas in sustainable design in a setting where people can support and learn from one another. Rather that have a separate space for a runway show, the fashion designers will be mixed in among the nonprofits and green businesses promoting their products and services. The idea is to cross-pollinate among different subgroups of the overall "green community" in the city.

I asked Nicholson why he and his staff decided to make fashion the featured design discipline at this year’s event. He swears that he had no idea it would become the green issue du jour it is now when the idea was considered over a year ago. The draw for Foresight, he says, was that eco-fashion could take design out of the abstract realm and be presented as something that everyone can relate to on a daily basis. He says the EcoModa will be compelling because of the breadth of the 40 different "looks" that designers will present. Nicholson says attendees can expect to see "everything from everyday wear, to kids clothing, to more fancy stuff." He also says focusing on the intersection of sustainability and fashion design "offered the opportunity to show not just one product or approach, but a whole range of possibilities."

That newly emerging range of options is what I think makes this the right time for a showcase like EcoModa. Whereas once "earth-friendly" clothing was synonymous with "hippie wear," the entire fashion industry seems to be on alert to the new trend in eco-sensitive—if not socially just—design. As a casual observer, it’s gratifying to see what can often seem a pretty frivolous and self-absorbed industry waking up to the need for better environmental stewardship. And as it wakes up, it can lead consumers to a deeper understanding of how garments get into their closets. It can present a different path than the mindless consumerism that follows the pattern of See-Want-Buy-Discard-Repeat at the lowest monetary cost to the consumer. Hopefully, the trend will spread to all the segments of the market, in order that eco-fashion not stay a niche within the industry. Indications so far are encouraging. As Nicholson says, "It’s not couture and it’s not crunchy. It’s—dare I say it—mainstream. Or at least it’s headed that way."

Just like organic food and green architecture have come of age and have presented a new set of choices to consumers, the American public may someday have to reckon with labeling and branding messages that have never been part of our retail shopping lexicon. Now is when we start to shake out the relative merits of terms like "upcycled," "compostable," "reclaimed," "fair trade," and "low-impact" (to name a few) as they apply to the clothing and accessories we wear every day.

Even more important than learning to parse the buzzwords, though, I’ll be attending EcoModa on the lookout for designers that would make Tim Gunn proud. In Season 2 of Project Runway, the contestants on the show were challenged to design an outfit using materials they scrounged from piles of refuse at an industrial recycling center. This design challenge was mostly just a reality-TV stunt ("You’ve got 8 yards of bubble wrap, 2 rolls of duct tape, and 90 minutes…Go!"), and most of the creations didn’t hold up to being worn by an actual human being for even the few minutes it took to slink down the runway. When it came to eco-fashion, the Project Runway kids didn’t really make it work. But I’m hoping that EcoModa will feature some design solutions that reflect some deeper thought and that capture the promise of the "recycled dress" concept. I’ve got a feeling that here in Chicago, known as "the city that works," the audience at this event won’t be satisfied by mere aesthetics–this eco-fashion is going to have to work. I can just picture Tim Gunn wandering the exhibit space in one of his impeccable suits, stopping to peer over his glasses at a beautiful design that makes you forget how small its ecological footprint is, and intoning with sincere appreciation, "Mmmm…very impressive." It could happen.

Like the discriminating Mr. Gunn, I plan on not being shy about questioning a few of these visionaries about what really works in their designs. I value what they’re doing, I really do. I’m even willing to pay a premium for a dress shirt or a raincoat or a pair of pants that does everything I expect it to because it does those things in a sustainable way. But I need to be satisfied that it’s going to keep delivering on that promise for a few years before I’m willing to spend my thrift-store dollar on experimental eco-smart threads. Call me crazy, but I want my next "sandal of the future" to have a real future. Otherwise, there’s a world of second-hand clothing out there just waiting to be reclaimed.

To register for Sustainable Convergence ‘07, click here. Ticket prices vary by date of registration.

Published as the first editorial feature in the Fall issue, "Renew, Repurpose, Reuse, Redo, Refashion" features a smattering of stats related to crafting garments from second-hand finds, starting on page 48. Four projects set the stage, but only three of them are wardrobe-related. Also included is a pattern for an ottoman covered with thrifted sweaters, great for amping up a footstool you already have or a somewhat-sustainable but bland new piece from IKEA. My first look at the fashion projects made me a bit hesitant, thinking "would I ever really wear that?" Quickly, I reminded myself that I could use any color or texture of second-hand garments, making the projects all the more exciting to undertake.

Shown first, the pieced jumper is stylish all on its own, but could be easily customized to have a longer length, no pockets, sleeves, and more. The sampler scarf, featured second, doesn’t even need a pattern or directions to follow - simply cut up some sweaters and sew them together. Adding a vintage or hand-knit piece of costume jewelry would lend even more personality to this particular creation. The third and final project, the felted bolero, teaches us how to use small elements of nature, such as marbles, shells, river rocks, or hazelnuts, to create a spectacularly textured vest. Adding sleeves from another sweater, pockets, a zipper, or button closure would be as easy as spending a couple extra minutes in front of the sewing machine.

For those with a passion for chains and baubles, check out page 64’s jewelry making "Lost & Found" feature. Sent a collection of vintage and new materials, three indie jewelry designers use their one-of-a-kind tastes to create unique pieces on the cheap. Though the feature focuses on necklaces, this concept can easily be embraced with any sort of accessory you are looking to craft: rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches … etc.

These two articles are the particular ones that lend themselves to green style, but the rest of Adorn magazine’s Fall 2007 issue is more than worth a look for more ideas and inspirations on how to create great new items or customize and update the ones you already own (but haven’t worn in how long?).

The company was started only three years ago by Carmena Su and James Wvinner, who both shared a love of yoga, art, and fashion.

[Our] dream was to create a line of clothing and media products that was hip and authentic while using consciously sourced materials. Yoga, Tribe and Culture arose out of living in this day and age – to make sense of our identity consciously (or not) by the way we dress, what and who we listen to and where we devote our energy."

This passion for change has attracted some of the most well-known faces on modern day yoga to the brand, such as: Shiva Rea, Duncan Wong, Seane Corn, and the AcroYogis. YTC is also a major supported of YouthAIDS, a global, action-based initiative, working in more than 60 countries to educate and protect young people from HIV/AIDS. A limited edition women's tank top and men's t-shirt (featured in the image above) is available, which gives $10 of each shirt sold directly to YouthAIDS.

Yoga means Union – it is a worldwide spiritual and physical practice but you don’t have to have a yoga mat or go to a yoga class to practice yoga. Skaters, surfers, dancers, knitters, musicians, couch potatoes can all be great yogis. Our goal at Yoga, Tribe and Culture is to speak to the urban yogi, combining ancient yogic concepts and intentions with a strong, modern, bold design. Ideally a yogi is someone who is engaged with the world and who dedicates their practice to the betterment of others.

As previously mentioned, items for men, women, and children are available from the company's online store. Currently, there is only one design available for both babies and toddlers, for $30. Three different collections are available for women, mostly comprised of tank tops, but some long sleeve tops are available as well, with prices ranging from $40-42. Men have 3 collections available as well, ranging from $32-40. If you join the company's e-newsletter mailing list, you received 10% off your first order.

For the fourth episode of their Big Ideas For A Small Planet series, the Sundance Channel takes on the challenging topic of dressing green. The first three episodes of this original documentary series have gotten a large amount of critical acclaim for bringing environmental issues to the millions of Americans who tune in. So far, the topics of fuel, building construction, and city development have been examined, offering up three different topic-specific ideas of how to enhance our lives and reduce our carbon footprint at the same time in each episode.

Premiering this Tuesday, May 8th at 9pm Eastern and Pacific, the Wear episode features commentary from Ali Hewson (Bono's wife and founder of Edun Clothing), Simran Sethi, Carson Kressley (the wonderfully flamboyant blond fashion guru from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), and Graham Hill (founder of TreeHugger.com). I must admit that when I saw Carson come on screen, I was worried that the episode might end up being less than serious, but he had a unique point-of-view to add to the subject of green fashion, acting as a voice for the many that see style as an integral part of their life, just like eating or sleeping. Helping to show people that wearing sustainable fabrics has little, if anything, to do with tie-dye and hippies is one of the most important factors for the growing green fashion market, and this episode does a darn good job of getting that point across.

"Can we imagine a world that is both green and stylish?" was the question presented at the very beginning of the 25-minute documentary. Following this, three ideas are given to make this imagination a reality: organic fibers, recycled fabrics, and reusing fashion. While the concepts of recycling and reusing are much less polluting, I'm not surprised that new, sustainable fabrics were covered first. The underground craft movement has been growing to a mainstream level, but not enough so that taking the time to modify or reinvent items in your closet has become chic. Buying stylish, green clothing right off the rack is still the easiest and most timely option for the bulk of consumers. Linda Loudermilk, the main feature of the first segment, is a great representation of being chic and sustainable.

There is no denying that the market for green fashion is growing rapidly, and one of the first facts presented in this episode proves it: since 2000, manufacturer demand for organic cotton fiber has increased an estimated 93% per year. Loudermilk in particular has shown that looking good and doing good can go hand in hand seamlessly. "We're not going to get rid of the ego, so to use it in a positive way is what I decided I wanted to do [eight years ago]." The downside of her line is that it is out of reach for a large portion of consumers due to cost. No other green fashion brands are featured in this segment, adding to the myth that new, eco-style has to be expensive (which we all know is not true thanks to the many affordable brands I have featured here at Green Options during recent months).

Idea two focuses on recycled fabrics, particularly on the efforts of outdoor mega-brand Patagonia. The concept of being able to break down an old garment to its molecular level and spin new fabrics that are just as effective as its first life truly embrace the Cradle to Cradle process. "The Ecospun recycling process has the potential to keep more than 2.5 billion bottles and containers out of the world's landfills each year." Considering the fact that our culture is having a tough time learning to live without plastic bottles, this tidbit of information is all the more pertinent. Other brands have been taking this idea and running with it, openly accepting old, used garments to be recycled back into their supply chain, saving the company money and protecting the planet's resources. Something that is rarely considered when clothes shopping is the true cost of the items you are buying: not just the price tag, but the environmental, social, and shipping costs as well. Buying items made from organic, sustainable, recycled, or fair-trade materials often have these factors built into their retail price, helping your purchase speak for more than just your personal style.

Last but by no means least, idea three centers around reusing fashion. "We get bombarded by magazines, newspapers that tell us that we have to be in the trend and we have to get new clothes every year, but it's actually not true. I think people are tired of looking like everyone else," says LoriPetitti, organizer for one of over 40 Swap-O-Rama-Rama events in cities around the world. Adding personal creativity back into fashion is what reusing is all about. While some are content while blending in with the crowd, many individuals, especially those under 30, are striving to be unique by modifying and creating their own garments and accessories in a variety of styles. I can honestly say that at least 50% of my wardrobe is rarely worn, either due to size or change in personal taste. Embracing the concept of reusing fashion allows you to adjust a piece to your liking, or even overhaul itcompletely by, for example, turning a pair of jeans into a skirt or combining two different tops to create one. The only extra resources used in this process are thread and a little bit of electricity to run a sewing machine; everything else comes good old human power. While this idea may not be the first choice for those that fancy the stores of New York's Fifth Avenue, it is a wonderful money-saving option for the average American.

"One of the biggest problems about fashion is that it's a really disposable industry. We have marketers, retailers, designers - all working towards creating new styles for every season," states Simran Sethi towards the end of the program, and I couldn't agree more. In a broad sense, the deceiving concept of disposable living is the issue for all of the subjects covered within the Big Ideas For A Small Planet series so far. All of our resources, from fuel and building supplies to clothing fibers and community, are ever depleting and can not be guaranteed. While this episode only begins to scratch the surface of what sustainable options and brands exist within the fashion world, it is concise enough to help inspire people to continue to investigate what is available within their price range.

For more information about the Wear episode, including clips and air times, click here. If you do not have cable TV (like me), you can download the full episode after it airs via iTunes.

What did YOU think of the Wear documentary? After viewing the full episode, come back and leave a comment for us with your opinion and feedback.

HTnaturals is committed to the development, manufacturing and sales of comfortable, durable and affordable daily wear garments that are less harmful to the environment and provide benefits for the people involved in the entire product supply chain, from the farmer, to the processors, distributors, retailers and ultimately the consumer. Fair Trade and Organic certified, the company even has a corporate office in China to monitor factory conditions. The brand gladly displays pictures of their overseas factory on their website. If that wasn't enough, only sustainable fibers (organic cotton, bamboo, soy, hemp, and recycled polyester) are used to create their entire collection.

Items for men, women, and babies are available via the company's online store, as well as through various retailers in Canada and the U.S. A catalog of HT's soon-to-be-released Spring 2007 line (as show in the picture) is available on their website as well. Personally, I know I will be order a few styles for myself (Capilano Scoop, Jericho Tank, and Burnaby Bamboo Sweater), as well as my boyfriend (Belcarra Bamboo Tee, Seymour Stitched L/S Tee, Stanley Park Soy Boxer) once they are for sale. For those who work in a slightly casual work environment, the short-sleeve polos are a perfect addition to your business wardrobe. If you happen to be in the market for some nice soap, candles, or home accessories, make sure to check out HT's Mind, Body, and Home section in their online store. The handcrafted soaps have cheeky names, along with vintage (i.e. 1920s) style packaging. Dried flower compliment the unique scent blends of the red flower long-burning candles; great for any bath or guestroom.

The next time you are in the market for some fashion basics, log on to HTnaturals' site before you hit the mall; I'm quite sure you will find just what you are looking for (and at a good price).

Image courtesy of HTnaturals

Launched a few years ago, their organic cotton line began with only a few tops for men and women. Since then, 21 of their classic styles have become available in some of the softest and smoothest fabric around. Men, women, kids, babies, and even the family dog can get in on the organic cotton party with this brand. Oh yeah, there is one topic I haven't mentioned yet: how much does it cost?

Your wallet will smile and your closet will open its doors for American Apparel's more-than-affordable organic cotton line. The stylish dog tee that you see in the above picture is $14 and comes in six different sizes. For fellas that enjoy the classic t-shirt and jeans look or prefer to wear a shirt under their business attire, a 3-pack of t-shirts are $36. If you happen to be a briefs kind of guy (don't worry, we won't tell anyone), AA's organic men's briefs are on sale for only $8 a pair. Keeping those nasty chemicals away from babies is ever so important and easy to do with the infant short-sleeve one-piece for $14. Don't worry ladies, I personally own two of the short-sleeve tees with green thread and they are beyond cozy; at just $15 each, I'm pretty sure you can afford one, no matter your fashion budget.

Though the rest of the brand's offerings are sweatshop-free, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that their organic line continues to expand. At the 2006 San Francisco Green Festival this past November, AA had a sizeable booth, selling custom-dyed items from their organic cotton collection. What kind of dyes they used is beyond me, but no news on if they will be adding colors to their current eco-line.

Which green fashion brands would you like to know more about? What part of your wardrobe needs an eco makeover? Leave a comment and you'll help inspire my future posts. What can I say; I love to be interactive.

Image courtesy of American Apparel

Maybe you heard that Levi started a line of organic cotton jeans? Maybe you’ve seen the RED Gap ads, featuring numerous celebrities trying to raise money for AIDS in Africa? With a fractional amount of media coverage compared to Al Gore’s impeccably honest documentary, eco-conscious fashion is a key aspect of reducing your footprint on the planet.

Just as important as the food you eat, the clothing that you wear each day affects more than your own health. A whole host of farmers, field workers, factory workers, shippers, and sellers are involved; each purchasing decision you make has an impact on them and their business. If there is a clear demand for planet-friendly styles, then most brands will happily comply (i.e. Levi and Gap). But wait … why should you demand green fashions in the first place?

The Environmental Protection Agency considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 in the United States as "possible," "likely," "probable," or "known" human carcinogens. It takes roughly one-third of a pound of chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to grow enough cotton for just one T-shirt. With facts like these (provided by the Organic Trade Association), it is hard to believe that anyone would want to buy anything made of non-organic cotton. Over 65% of what comes into contact you’re your skin is absorbed directly into your bloodstream; makes me think twice before I buy another top. Sheep’s wool is another fiber that comes from a questionable background. Similar to issues in the meat and dairy industries, cruel acts against sheep raised for their wool have come to light recently, especially in Australia.

As savvy consumers, we have the ability to change the current state of the market by demanding safer and healthier products. Alternative fibers, such as organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp (much softer yet still as durable as it was in the 60s), are great options for fashion brands of all kinds. Unfortunately, fabrics aren’t the only issue to be addressed in modern-day clothing production; labor issues factor in as well. Sweatshops around the world; especially in South America, Asia, and Africa; continue to produce the major of our fashion purchases. As buyers, we owe it to give the creators of our garments an honest wage, as well as access to healthy food, clean water, medical care, and safe housing. Current conditions for millions of workers do not provide any of the previously mentioned daily needs.

Every dollar that you spend can be used to make a difference by buying organic, natural, local, or sustainable goods. You might be surprised to learn that it is becoming more convenient and affordable than ever to buy green fashions. The options are plethoric and I’ll be back next week to tell you all about them. Thursday, Feb. 22nd: How to find green fashions you can afford (a.k.a. why being stylish and green doesn’t have to be expensive.