Fashion has been and will always be an essential part of our culture and the society we live in. Fashion can bring different people together, allows one to celebrate her individuality, and helps boost our confidence. But is it time we start to dig deeper and consider as what cost this all comes?
Unfortunately, our love for fashion comes with its own fair share of consequences. Awareness is growing around the harmful impacts of our fast fashion culture on the planet, people, and animals. Department stores like Kohls’s are trying to offer more sustainable designers in-store and online which is a step in the right direction. Shoppers may wish to visit a website like https://www.raise.com/coupons/kohls before raiding the store for their sustainable clothing!
The good news is, there are many companies, brands, and consumers, now pushing for higher standards across the fashion industry. Many brands are rejecting the notion that fast fashion is the only way to go. Alternatively, they are opting for better practices that minimize their environmental impact, forgoing child labor or underpaying factory workers, and opting for cruelty-free fabrics. Hence, the term ‘slow fashion’ has been adopted as an antidote to the fast fashion trend. If you are looking for long-lasting clothes, look no further than Bamigo Lewis Singlet Vest (2-Pack). Practical, comfortable and of good quality.
Slow fashion is about a more conscious awareness and approach to fashion. The slow fashion movement considers the fabrics and processes which are used in making clothing, and it primarily focuses on sustainable clothing. The movement encourages you to buy high-quality attire that is durable, and values the fair treatment for people, animals, and the environment.
Why Choose Eco-Friendly Fabrics?
The fashion industry is the number one cause of pollution in the world. This is because many brands use fabrics that are not friendly to the environment. The type of material used in making that dress, jeans or pair of socks that you love, will significantly determine the amount of environmental degradation your much-loved fashion item contributes to.
That’s why it’s important to wear clothes made from organic or renewable fabrics. Not only will you be reducing your environmental footprint, but you will also be being supporting the movement towards a more sustainable fashion industry.
You can easily find eco-friendly fabrics if you know the right places to look. Brands that understand the benefits of sustainable fashion are using these eco-friendly fabrics to make their products.
Let’s look at some of the eco-friendly fabrics you can wear and still look great in.
1. Bamboo
Photo Credit: Eric BARBERAU, Source: Unsplash
When you see or hear the word Bamboo, the first thing that may come to your mind is a panda or boating raft. However, what you may not know is that bamboo is a multi-functional clothing fabric used to make beautiful garments ranging from underwear, tops, pants and socks.
Over the years, Bamboo has slowly crept its way into the fashion industry, and now many fashion designers use it to create trendy clothing items. Bamboo grows fast, and it does well in wet areas, and it does not require harsh pesticides or fertilizers to grow which harm the environment.
- Organic Cotton
Photo Credit: Trisha Downing, Source: Unsplash
Organic cotton is different from standard commercially grown (or GMO) cotton in that no pesticides or chemicals are used during cultivation. Organic cotton is a product of natural farming; hence it is less harmful to the environment. It’s also one of the preferred types of fabric by sustainable fashion brands in the world.
Popular organic cotton products include socks, pants, t-shirts, underwear, blouses, bed linen, and skirts.
3. Hemp
Photo Credit: Mathew Brodeur, Source: Unsplash
One of the most eco-friendly fabrics you can find around is organic hemp. Hemp is a high-yielding crop and growing it is also healthy for the soil thanks to a process termed as phytoremediation. Also, it requires less water as compared to cotton for it to produce high-yields.
Hemp fabric to commonly used to make jeans, t-shirts, dresses, hats and even bags. Fabrics made from hemp easily absorb sweat and are lightweight, making it ideal for hot weather conditions.
However, the main reason hemp is considered eco-friendly is due to the fact it is a carbon-negative raw material. That means it also absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere.
4. Econyl
Photo Credit: Living Circular
Econyl was introduced into the market in 2011 by Aquafil. It is made from industrial waste; ocean, fabric scraps and industrial plastic recycled and turned to nylon fabric. The fabric has been used to make eco-friendly swimwear, lingerie, sport-wear, and other outdoor clothing types. Top fashion brands such as Kerig and Prada also integrated the use of Econyl due to the high quality.
- Fiber Cellulose
Photo Credit: Heddels.com
Fiber cellulose is derived from plant-based materials. Organic brands in India mainly use the fabric to create fashion fabrics that are friendly to the environment. Cellulose fiber in its purest form is known as LIVA. LIVA is used to make eco-friendly pants, dresses, kurtas and other garments. The fabric is soft, flowy and feels glorious against the skin, and it ensures that it gives you comfort throughout the day.
The use of cheap and low-quality fabrics is a trend within the fashion industry that is no longer sustainable for the world. It not only harms people and animals, but it also poses a significant threat to the environment when large piles of waste products are left in the open for long periods.
Now is the right time to put eco-friendly fashion at the forefront. Spruce up your fashion collection by buying pants, dresses, t-shirts made from the above eco-friendly fabrics. By choosing eco-friendly materials, you get high-quality clothes and help protect the environment from pollution.
Author Bio: Author Bio: Leanne Lee loves fashion to no end so she writes about it for Blue Bungalow, reads about it and basically lives and breathes it every day. She’s an avid collector of oversized handbags, indoor cacti, and loves a good G&T to cap off the week.