Eco-Friendly Fashion

admin — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 01:07:10 +0000

What you have been hearing lately is true. Green is the new black. The fashion world might not care entirely about some issues like the protests against animal-fur, but the new go-green statement will be going on for years to come. It is no joke the issues our Earth is going through due to global warming, for this, fashion companies are doing their deed, like jewelry made from recyclable materials and the usage of distinct materials, like soy and eco-friendly fabrics like organic and sustainable cotton. Fashion is a great communication strategy to educate consumers about the problem faced with Global Warming, fashion influences people and this makes it an important aspect for change.

Global Warming is also dictating the trends, other than fashion itself, since temperature is so unpredictable. Fall in some places, can be hotter than summer, this is allowing us to wear boots and wool in any season.

Young designers are taking this seriously and developing outfits depending on sudden temperature changes, also, ecological materials are very present on the style and green conscious consumers and designers. Alternate materials like organic cotton, bamboo and hemp have increased notably in sales for the past 3 years. There is now a greater variety of natural textiles available for purchase like soy or bamboo silk, offering the sustainability needed for the earth needs. Hemp is actually the strongest known natural fiber, four times stronger than cotton and also helps block out UV rays.

Oscar de la Renta, Dian Von Furstenberg and Versace, are some of the fashion companies experimenting with hemp and bamboo. Organic cotton has been used by almost everyone including retailers like H&M and Zara. The colors used are also influenced by the environment this season.

Synthetic fabrics can also be ecological when they are made with reusable products and textiles like recycled wool and are offering consumers education about their manufacturing process so they know what they are buying.

If you want to contribute with as little as you can, you can start by washing your clothes less than you do, buy vintage clothes, this is another form of recycling. Also, participate with your clothing, get to know where it comes from who made it, how and experiment with it by adding special accessories like buttons and pins and illustrations if you dare to make it your own, this way, you are being your own co-designer. Do some research about which companies are trying to make a difference, these are the ones that should be supported, write to the ones that are not contributing, they would want to hear from you.

As you know, green means fresh, and everyone wants to beat out the hot weather, but there is still to do, especially with eco fabrics. In the future, there will be bigger improvements like using less water and chemicals, emitting less Carbon Dioxide and resulting in less air and water pollution. Everyone should join forces starting today; the hardest step would be the education of consumers around the globe.
wahm

Eco-Friendly Toys For Kids – And Dogs?

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:52:23 +0000

With an increased awareness about the state of the environment, more and more families are choosing to “go green”. Making choices that are eco-friendly is an easy process; there are now lines of environmentally-friendly foods, bedding, and cleaners, to name a few. However, many people fail to realize that in addition to teaching children to reuse and recycle, they can also fill their toy boxes with eco-friendly items.

Environmentally-friendly wood products are becoming increasingly common in the toy world. Wooden toys, a hit item of the past, are making a comeback. Everything from toy boxes to easel are being constructed of natural wood that will biodegrade over time. Many eco-friendly toy manufacturers also opt to use wood that is plentiful in supply, as opposed to scarce hardwoods. Wood is often used to replace certain types of plastic, which some manufacturers fear poses a health risk to children because of the chemicals it contains.

Stuffed animals, a popular addition to any child’s toy collection, are constructed of organic cotton in the eco-friendly world. Organic cotton causes as little harm to the Earth as possible, eliminating overuse of pesticides and fertilizers. This type of cotton has gained popularity over the past few years, with a production increase of more than fifty per cent in 2005. In addition to stuffed toys, organic cotton is also used in infants’ and children’s clothing and bedding.

It is important to be aware of the increased costs associated with environmentally-friendly toys. Often somewhat more expensive than other toys, organic toys are well worth the money. They offer safe alternatives to potentially hazardous chemicals, often last much longer than regular toys, and will not harm the environment in the long run.

Eco-friendly manufacturers are even producing organic pet toys. Like children’s toys, environmentally-friendly pet toys avoid the use of chemical-based plastics, instead using biodegradable materials. Many dog toys are made of hemp, best used for a game of fetch than as a regular chew toy.

Even stuffed animals made for dogs are created using organic cotton, like eco-friendly child toys. They do not contain bleach and may also be stuffed with a combination of cotton and hemp. In addition, the materials used in these products are usually hypoallergenic.

Some organic pet toy producers have even gone so far as to create their own materials. These new compounds offer alternatives to plastic and rubber without any toxic additives. According to dog owner reviews, pets appear to enjoy the new products just as much as the old, tried-and-true versions.

Community Forestry Team » Organic Cotton

Eco-Friendly Fashion

Eco-Friendly Toys For Kids – And Dogs?