organic/environmental friendly clothing

Hey, so here's a topic that has been circulating the fashion industry for a relatively short while: environmentally friendly clothing. These "responsible" clothes and products were once only associated with the younger and environmentally conscious consumers, but are now mainstream.


What exactly does it mean to be environmentally conscious? Well, according to the textbook The Business of Fashion: Designing, Manufacturing, and Marketing, many companies are working to improve environmental conditions in order to show that they are conscious of industrial effects on the world. Some ways in which these companies decrease pollution and waste are by using recycled, organic, and less toxic materials in their products. Also, cutting down on the amount of water and energy used in production contributes greatly to the new techniques carried out today.

One of the most well-known environmentally friendly productions is that of cotton. On page 130 of the textbook mentioned above, the organic cotton movement is greatly discussed. Organic cotton fibers are used in everyday items, such as cotton swabs, upholstery, and apparel. This wide-spread use of cotton is great for it's manufacturers and consumers alike because everyone seems to want to get a piece of it. In fact, " the sales of organic cotton have been steadily rising over the past five years, with estimates that it will continue to grow 15 percent per year over the next few years" (Organic Trade Association). This "trend" of wearing all-natural fibers, such as cotton, can also be seen in advertisements, much like the cotton ones that are constantly playing on my TV. I attached a photo of a cotton advertisement, showing women embracing their organic cotton clothing.(above right, from http://thegoodlifelookbook.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/green-cotton/)

I for one think that it shows a certain level of responsibility when these companies use environmentally friendly techniques while manufacturing their products. The world that we live in is becoming so polluted with waste and who knows what, that the efforts of these forward-thinking companies are much appreciated. Of course, it does cost more money to create environmentally responsible machinery and systems. However, many consumers would rather spend a few more dollars on an item if they know that the process with which it was manufactured was an organic one.