Eco-Friendly | Eco-Friendly Essentials

The Value of Bamboo

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The world is changing. The standards of the past, the once accepted rules, are being redefined — proven inadequate for an environmentally conscious public and their demands for safety. The reliance on carbon drenched products is being slowly (but steadily) replaced. The denial of future troubles is disappearing. Instead individuals are becoming aware of how they effect ecology and wish to lessen their burden through smart choices and careful planning. And this extends even to clothing and currency. If you were interested in forex currency trading online, bamboo is profitable form of currency to invest in.

Consumers have suddenly realized the dangers of using materials that can’t be sustained, soaking them instead in synthetic dyes and non-recycled buttons. The effect (though never before considered) can be devastating. And alternatives are now being presented to offer clothing longer lifespans and fewer worries.

Bamboo is one such alternative.

Though too often confused as a simple plant, bamboo has proven itself to be among the most versatile materials known to man. Its resiliency, strength and ease brand it ideal for a variety of uses: from food to flooring to even clothing. Products shaped from this are known to retain their shape, be resistant to wrinkles, breathe well even in stifling heat and — most importantly — be renewable.

Simply explained: a renewable resource is one that can be constantly resupplied. It appears naturally and can be found in infinite abundance. Bamboo is among the fastest growing plants in the world. It can survive in most climates, able to sustain itself with scarce amounts of water or sun. It’s perfect therefore as an outlet for style.

Outfits created from bamboo offer sustainability (they will not lose their designs, even through persistent washings). They will not need to be constantly replaced and therefore offer each consumer longevity. This allows them to aid the environment, requiring fewer warehouse productions and lessening the strain of other resources.

Bamboo simply works.

It’s the eco-friendly choice for a fashion conscious world. And the impending years will prove it to be an undeniable wisdom.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly, Environment Tagged With: Bamboo, Clothing, Renewable resource

Eco-Friendly Fashion Trends

Eco-friendly is the theme everywhere, even in the fashion world. If you are like many people, you are looking for a way to stay stylish while also choosing clothing that fits your needs of being environmentally conscious. Can you have both? Chances are good you will find a way to mesh the two.

Tips for Fashion Sense

Finding ways to dress up your look without breaking any eco-friendly rules can be a challenge. With a few tips, though, you can transform your wardrobe easier than you think.

Consider using clothing made of soy. This is one of the most sustainable of all fibers available, and some designers are enjoying using it in their clothing lines. There are no petrochemicals involved in these clothing options.
Some designers are going high-end using bamboo. This type of clothing has no chemicals and does no damage to the environment during the production process. It is a nice, breathable fabric, too.
You do not have to give up on your cotton, either. However, do choose organic. Organic cotton is comfortable and enjoyable to wear, but it is also a great choice because it is sustainable and biodegradable. Some fashion designers are using more of it in their clothing lines, especially undergarments and tees.
Know that you can find all sorts of unique options for any occasion. You can find costumes that fit your style and even recycled dresses that reduce your impact on the environment.

As you consider these and other fashion trends, know that you can feel good about the way you look. Finding fun, trendy styles can be a lot of fun, too.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly, General Tagged With: Clothing, Environmentally friendly, Fashion design

Eco-friendly clothing – The next wave of fashion

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Eco-friendly clothing is the new-age fashion fad. Many designer houses have jumped onto the idea, and are making a splash at fashion shows showcasing their creations.

What is eco-friendly clothing? Eco-friendly clothing is clothing made from eco-friendly materials. Materials that are not harmful to the environment are eco-friendly. During creation of certain materials used for making clothes, carbon is released into the atmosphere. Such materials are non eco-friendly. But materials that do not produce carbon into the atmosphere, while producing it are eco-friendly.

Some examples of non eco-friendly materials used to make clothes are wool and cotton. Though both materials are used extensively in the textile industry, they indirectly produce harmful effects to the atmosphere. That is because the way they are manufactured.

Cotton needs water and fertilizer to produce it. In manufacture of certain types of cotton, even insecticides are inducted. Insecticides are harmful to the environment.
Many brands have become synonymous with eco-friendly clothing. Levi Strauss, for example uses natural indigo dye – which is eco-friendly. This was not the case before, when Levi Strauss was using synthetic dyes, that were harmful to the environment.
Which means the answer is clear. Eco-friendly clothing is manufacture of clothes using materials which were not made with the involvement of release of pesticides, carbon, or other harmful quantities into the environment.

So which are some eco-friendly materials? Bamboo and hemp are popular eco-friendly materials to manufacture clothes. Now you may be wondering how you can wear a bamboo outfit. Now that’s the beauty of it all. Fine layers of bamboo are used to create clothes. Likewise with hemp.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly Tagged With: Clothing, Environmentally friendly, Levi Strauss

The Benefits of Eco-Friendly Clothing

From CreativeCommons.org: Flickr

Eco-friendly clothing can come in many different styles and types, but in general, the benefits that are associated with buying these types of clothing are always going to be quite the same. The key is that you are benefiting the environment by buying clothing and shoes that do not harm it. And many of these clothing companies are socially responsible and are doing good things across the globe. Here are some of the benefits associated with buying eco-friendly clothing.

The Benefits of Eco-Friendly Clothing

Eco-friendly clothing companies are socially responsible, and doing good things worldwide. For example, Tom’s Shoes donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair that the company sells. Companies that sell eco-friendly clothing and accessories are doing good things, and you can do good things by helping them.

Eco-friendly clothing is typically made out of materials that are comfortable. There is no other difference between eco-friendly clothing and clothing that is not eco-friendly, except that you know you are doing a good thing when you’re wearing them.

Doing something socially responsible, helping the environment and contributing to companies that clearly care about the environment are some of the best benefits of buying and wearing eco-friendly clothing brands. If you are passionate about the environment and want to be able to contribute positively to it in some manner, then buying eco friendly clothing is definitely a smart option that is well worth considering. Many companies are now producing eco-friendly clothing, including many of the brand names that you are already wearing.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly

How to Fashion Recycled Clothing Outfits

Fashion today is largely dictated by the whims of large companies just trying to push a new product line. Thankfully for eco-friendly clothing fans, the vintage look is now in, and hopefully it is here to stay. Here are some tips and tricks for how to make a cute vintage outfit made from recycled materials.

Start at your local thrift store or consignment store. Although shopping at thrift stores can be difficult, because there is such a large volume of unwanted clothing, the experience can be worth it if you have enough time to hunt. Check the jewelry section – at first glance it may look like a glass case full of Grandma’s ugliest brooches, but linger here, and see if you can’t find a gem among the dross. Sometimes you might find a piece of unusual jewelry, or perhaps something that could be fashioned into a wearable piece of art.

Next, comb the scarves and hats section. Vintage handkerchiefs can be a great way to dress up an outfit and add a little flair. A floral or similar pattern could be worn as a headband, or worn around the neck to complement a dress or sweater. Also, look for a large width or thin belt – outlandish is okay when it comes to accessories, because these can spice up an otherwise bland outfit.

One of the most helpful aspects of vintage fashion and the recycled fashion look is that your outfit does not have to match. To repeat: your outfit does NOT have to match. Instead of worrying about finding the perfect shade of purple shoes to go with your purple cardigan, think in terms of color schemes. Purple shoes might look fine with a light blue or gray cardigan. Try stripes over flannel, or paisley with floral. It’s important that your outfit has an overall theme, but not as important that ever item matches in the traditional sense. Check online or at fashion magazines for ideas of color schemes and mismatching outfits, then go and create your own.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly, Recycling Tagged With: Fashion, Recycled Clothing

Environmental Clothing, Fashionable Relief

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It’s the most surreal of images — clothing woven from tangles of moss and leaves, accessories carved from discarded branches. The eco-friendly ideal has swept across all facets of the world, including fashion; and the concept has left many individuals confused. Environmentalism is thought to be a collection of hemp fibers and clumsily cobbled styles (good sense has never been known for its design). Too many believe it to be unworthy of their time, their dollars and their artistic sensibilities.

The truth is quite different, however.

Eco-friendly clothing is not — despite what many assume — a disregard of fashion. It’s instead a compromise between the looks individuals want and the protection the environment needs. This allows it to succeed.

Defined simply, this form of style provides two distinct philosophies — recycled materials and organic choices. Both names offer easy explanations:

Recycled Materials: Fabric that has been passed between individuals, swapped from closet to closet is considered eco-friendly. This spares pieces from simply being tossed into the trash and forgotten. They are instead used again and again.

Organic Choices: Wares that have been shaped from biodegradable materials and natural fibers (such as cotton or linen) are deemed eco-friendly. These also boast inks that cause no harm to the soil or water.

These classifications don’t force fashion to be abandoned, however. They instead merely define it to practicality. Color, pattern and texture survive (and flourish). They’re simply without the aftermath of lingering fabrics and dangerous dyes. And this makes them essential for the Earth and the future.

Protection has never looked so good — or been so easy to achieve.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly, Recycling Tagged With: Clothing, Environmentally friendly, Fashion

Accesories made from Recycled Materials

What if you could be fashionable and help the environment at the same time? You actually can if you buy accessories made from recycled materials.

Candy Wrapper Handbags

These hot items are most often made from gum wrappers, but you will see them made out of gum wrappers as well. The bags are very popular amount teen girls and celebrities. Candy wrapper handbags are normally hand made. You can get one at any eco friendly store or even try to make your own. If you get a hang of learning how to weave candy wrappers, you can even use this tactic to make cool friendship bracelets for your group of friends.

Used Maps

Another trendy recyclable is used maps: park maps, subway maps, theme park maps. Most people just throw these items away, but crafty eco fashionistas have been making them into clutches and key chains.

Jewelry

You can make your own jewelry buy using soda can tabs. Collect a whole bunch of tabs and then weave them together using the thread color of your choice. Your friends will be wondering where you purchased your hot new bracelet.

Recycled Glass

More and more eco friendly designers are selling accessories made out of recycled glass. Glass comes in so many beautiful colors that it is a perfect medium for designers to work with. Designers have a special way of smoothing out the glass, so this is probably something that you want to purchase from a professional shop and not a project that you should try on your own. You can purchase beautiful earrings, rings and necklaces.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly, Recycling Tagged With: Candy, Environmentally friendly, Recycling

Eco-Friendly Clothing for the Great Outdoors

Buying eco-friendly clothing from clothing re-sellers is an easy way to be fashionable while still supporting an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, but what happens when you need to purchase quality outdoors clothing for your next camping, hiking, or outdoors adventure? When you need quality clothing goods, it can be harder to rely on recycled clothing stores. So use these tips to hunt down a clothing manufacturer that keeps to fair trade and sustainable practices.

New fashion with truly sustainable clothing is not easy to find. After all, no matter how earth-conscientious a clothing retailer is, it is still difficult to find, produce, and market a product or line of products that are completely sustainable (unless perhaps you are willing to wear loincloth). Consider the incredible amount of resources that went into putting your favorite pair of jeans together and put them on the shelf where you could buy them. Although you will be hard-pressed to make a purchase that eliminates the resources that are drained from the environment and economy to bring you those jeans, you can at least make purchase that will lessen that resource drain.

If you have to make a purchase of brand new clothing from a quality outdoors clothing retailer, know what you are buying. Generally, certain fibers and fabrics are more eco-friendly than others, such as recycled polyester, wool, and cotton rather than nylon. If you want to get even more serious about eco-friendly clothing, you can use completely recycled materials or sustainable materials like soy, hemp, or bamboo.

There are some outdoor clothing retailers that are manufacturing eco-friendly clothing on the cutting edge of technology as well as a dedication to environmentally-sound resources, labor, manufacturing, and marketing practices. Instead of buying a new quick-dry running shirt made of nylon and other materials, you can now purchase outdoor apparel made from coconut shells or wood pulp. Shop for recycled cotton long johns or recycled polyester outer shell jackets that are not only going to perform well, but are helping to decrease the negative impacts of clothing resource surplus and exploitation.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly, Environment Tagged With: Clothing, Environmentally friendly, Retailing

Where to Shop for Recycled Fashion

The good news about the environmental debate is that environmentally-friendly and sustainable living has become wildly popular among the fashionable trend-setters in first world countries. Soccer moms love to carry their grocery tote-bags into the store. Young students enjoy wearing shoes made from recycled material and by fair-trade standards, such as the Tom’s Shoes brand. Many people shop at organic health food stores like Whole Foods. Sustainable, eco-conscious living is the hip thing. And eco-friendly clothing is another way that eco-friendly hipsters are expressing their concern about the environment.

There are several ways to wear eco-friendly clothing. One is to shop at consignment stores, thrift stores, or other stores where you can buy used clothing. Consignment stores and thrift stores are just as popular as ever with fashion-conscious hipsters. Consignment stores such as Buffalo Exchange have opened a chain that accepts used clothing at discounted prices, and then resells the clothes at a slightly higher price. It’s possible to exchange clothing, or to buy clothing at the discounted price. The chain is very selective about the type and quality of clothing that it accepts for re-sell, as it caters to a picky group of fashion fiends who do not want to waste time searching through stacks of old bathrobes. Consignments stores and clothing resellers are often more fashion-conscious than thrift stores, since they are more selective, and cater to a specific fashion audience.

Another great option for buying recycled clothing is via online shopping in auction sites like Ebay, where individual owners will re-sell their unwanted new or used clothing at discounted prices. These sites allow unwanted clothing to end up with the owners who specifically want them, taking the principle of a thrift store or consignment store and expanding it across the country or even across the world. It is possible for a woman in the MidWest to order a pair of jeans from a woman in Singapore, and to have the jeans mailed to her house within a few days. All of these methods make recycled fashion more readily available and easier to find than ever before.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly, Environment Tagged With: Charity shop, Clothing, Consignment

The Sewing Machine: The Eco-Friendly Fashion Fiend’s Best Friend

Image by Bekathwia via Flickr

For the eco-friendly clothing fan, one of the best investments you can make for your recycled materials wardrobe – and for your budget – is a quality sewing machine. Sewing can be time consuming and technically challenging, but if you have time to spare, want to pick up a new hobby, or are dedicated to making eco-friendly clothing a part of your wardrobe, then consider making the purchase. You will be able to mend old clothes in a jiffy, transform old clothes into wearable, fashionable outfits, and have fun getting creative with your projects. Best of all, you will be helping to minimize the demand for new clothing, which contributes to the exploitation of labor as well as the environment.

Sewing fanatics can make the old new with a few sewing tools. While it is possible to do your mending with just a needle and threat, it can be even more time consuming, and more technically challenging, than using a sewing machine. A machine can sew quickly and accurately, and all you have to do is know how to operate the machine on a very basic level. First, pick out the right color of threat, make sure it is long enough, then thread the needle, turn on the machine, place the area of the clothing item underneath the foot of the needle apparatus, and then begin sewing.

Besides mending and alterations, you can cut fabrics to add on or subtract from a favorite piece of clothing. You can think as big or as little as you want – perhaps just a fun fabric pattern around your headband would make you more willing to wear it. You might be surprised by how a small sewing job can transform your clothes from mediocre into hip and cute.

Lastly, once you have got the hang of your sewing machine, you can use it to make just about any article of clothing. Think beyond the typical sweater vest or pajama shorts, and try something totally unique, like a Japanese-inspired kimono as your new bathrobe or a matching handbag and coin purse.

Filed Under: Eco-Friendly, Environment Tagged With: Clothing, Sew, Sewing machine