529viewsIf we were to separate clothing into categories, somewhere in between natural fibers like cotton or hemp and man-made petroleum fibers like polyester, we’d find Lyocell, “a natural cellulose” product. Lyocell is made by processing wood pulp into fiber so it can be woven into fabric and sewn into socks, underwear, pants, and blouses, among many other fashion options. Lyocell, […]
Archive | Eco-Fashion
How to Shop for Eco-Friendly Clothes – Part 1: Read the Label
If we want our apparel to be “eco,” most of us start by buying vintage or second-hand, swapping with friends or family, or dragging out the sewing machine to pull together a pattern or alter an old style into something more trendy. We recycle our clothes in a lot of creative ways, too. But even […]
Clothing: What’s Eco, and What’s Not
What does it take to manufacture, sell, and dispose of clothing? You might be surprised. The clothing industry is one of the most environmentally intensive in the world. If it’s made from cotton, it’s been doused with as much as 22.5% of the pesticides applied to agricultural crops worldwide. If it’s made from a synthetic fiber, […]
Bamboo Clothing: Green, or Greenwashed?
If you’re looking for more eco-friendly clothing, should you choose bamboo? Bamboo has been touted for the last several years as being one of the most environmentally-responsible fabrics on the market. A hardy grass, it grows like a proverbial weed, sometimes sprouting 4 feet in a single day – and that’s without the assistance of […]
A Glimpse Inside Mother Nature’s Jewelry Box
I’m a big fan of “natural” jewelry – necklaces, bracelets and rings made from seeds and stones, or sea glass found on the beach. But jewelry doesn’t have to be this rustic to meet my “green” criteria. Generally, for reasons I list here, I look for accessories that are * fashioned from recycled or reclaimed materials (like gold, […]
How to Recycle, Re-Use, or Donate Your Wedding Dress
27.7kviewsWhether you’ve just celebrated your own wedding day or your daughter’s, you may be left with one souvenir you don’t need to hold on to: the dress. Here’s how to recycle, re-use, or donate your wedding dress, which is a much greener option than keeping it in a bag in the back of your closet for the next […]
‘Green’ is the New Black: Eco-Friendly Fashion Finds for Summer
Whether we look good in green or not, more and more of us are wearing it. Soft organic cotton T-shirts. Bamboo-based business attire. Versatile vests spun from recycled soda bottles. Raw silk scarves. Linen shirts, slacks, and dresses. Shoes carved out of cork and padded with refurbished rubber. From top to toe, our wardrobes are […]
How “Organic” Is Organic Dry Cleaning?
5.4kviewsAre “organic” dry cleaners popping up in your neighborhood? Are they legit, or another greenwashing scam? Here’s the low-down: What Makes A Dry Cleaner Green? It’s not PERC. Just because a dry cleaner claims to be “organic” doesn’t mean it’s free of toxic chemicals. That’s because, scientifically speaking, any chemical is considered to be organic […]