There are a lot of misconceptions about eco-fashion out there. There are some people who believe that eco-fashion is weird, scratchy fabrics or upholstry re-made into clothing, some who think it's simply sustainable products or vintage deconstructed and re-worked, and others who believe that it's not realistic from a financial perspective. I have my own issues with eco-fashion. Bamboo materials tend to attract pet hair, so is it truly eco-fashion if I have to use the plastic sticky sheets, which use plenty of oil and other materials bad for the environment to produce? Would I not use the sticky sheets anyway, regardless of clothing material? These are the questions you have to ask yourself - kind of a cost benefit analysis for how eco you want your closet, or your life, to get.
Good news, though. Cotton, as ever, is eco. Local to Raleigh is a great resource for all things cotton, Cotton Inc. They track changes in the textile industry, provide information about cotton and the environment, and provide information about their campaign "The Fabric of Our Lives". I like cotton. It's nice and simple, easy to use and sew, and although it doesn't have the panache of, say, a silk, it's breathable for everyday and active wear.
Despite my pet quandry about bamboo, I do like the feel of it. And luckily for me, Bamboo Magazine keeps me current on bamboo's uses, not just in clothes, but accessories, nail polish, and eco fashion shows. So frequently, environmentally conscious is what drives people to bamboo - as every gardener knows, once you plant it, it's nearly impossible to get rid of it, which is great from a sustainability aspect.
What are your thoughts? Are you content deconstructing and updating vintage, or do you like to shop for new clothes made from sustainable materials? Or have you always thought eco-fashion is just too weird?
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