Being more ‘green’ or eco-friendly doesn’t mean that you have to drastically change your way of living, as every small change you make will help to reduce your carbon footprint. Why don’t you make the first step to ‘greener’ living by being more aware of the materials that are used to make the clothes that you buy?
Eco-friendly fashion materials have increased in popularity as fashion designers have become more aware of the natural beauty and characteristics that they have to offer. They love them so much that they have now begun to incorporate them in to their fashion lines and designer collections. Here are just some of the eco-friendly fashion materials for you to look out for and get creative with!
(Ruched Bamboo skirt from Bamboo Body)
1. Linen
Due to its durability, breathability and comfort, linen has been used as a clothing material for centuries. Be sure that what you are buying is the real deal as there are many linen imitations or linen blends that are made with manmade materials as opposed to natural linen.
2. Organic cotton
Organic cotton is widely available in both designer collections and on the high street. As with linen clothing, be sure that what you are purchasing is certified as organic cotton and hasn’t been treated with environmentally damaging chemicals. Organic cotton is used to produce a wide variety of clothing from t-shirts, shirts and undergarments to dresses, skirts and accessories.
3. Hemp
Hemp is an extremely versatile eco-friendly material as it can be used to make anything from ropes to soft undergarments. It can be blended with other eco-friendly materials such as silk, wool and cotton making it softer and more luxurious to the skin. Hemp is also used to produce active-wear clothing due to its breathability and durability properties.
4. Bamboo
Bamboo material is made from the fibres of the bamboo plant. It is often described as the cashmere of the eco-friendly material world because of its luxurious softness. It also has an inherent antibacterial property, which makes it popular for a wide variety of different uses.
5. Recycled Polyester
Recycled polyester material is made from recycling plastic bottles and is most commonly used in making fleece material. As a knitted pile type of fabric, it retains heat extremely well and, for this purpose, is used in the making of outdoor garments, hats, scarves and blankets.
6. Soy fabric
With its soft and velvety feel, soy fabric is referred to as an eco-friendly version of silk. It is made from the by-products of the soybean industry such as the production of tofu. Soy yarn is a wonderful material to knit with so if you are creative with a pair of knitting needles, knitting with soy yarn presents a wonderful alternative to synthetic wool yarns.
7. Tencel Fabric
This particular eco-friendly fabric is made with wood pulp from sustainable tree farms and is extremely breathable, durable and lightweight. Tencel fabric, or lyocell fabric, can be processed in a number of ways to produce many different types of fabric finishes from a suede-like finish to a silky smooth finish.
8. Organic Wool
Wool has been used for generations all over the world and is most preferred fabric for the making of warm clothing and blankets. Be sure that you choose organic wool, as it does not require any chemical inputs as opposed to the synthetic variety. Alternative uses for organic wool include mattress toppers, bedding and as an upholstery fabric.
The availability of eco-friendly materials has grown exponentially. We are now spoiled for choice when it comes to the wide variety of eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable materials that are now on the market. Given our responsibility to our planet and future generations, being a little more creative as well as socially responsible when it comes to the clothing choices we make is a positive step forward.
Hi, I’m Anna the Editor of Beauty and Lace.