Does climate change more quickly than fashion? Yes it does. In this eon of global warming it is more sensible to let the temperature decide as to what you should wear. The timing therefore is ripe for eco wear. As Editor Roberta Myers notes in Elle's trend-setting May green issue, "Young designers offer style with a conscience, including alternative materials such as organically grown cotton and bamboo, and supporting sustainable labor practices." We have been dumping everything from the waste and pollution on our planet earth. Today a bit of penance is required for the survival of our future generations. Fashion is about being glamorous, exploring options to express individuality, to have variety and comfort and to be stylish. Therefore it is time for regenerative fashion - like biodegradable clothing that puts nutrients into the soil, paper diapers with seeds in them and garments that put oxygen into the atmosphere. It's dire times, ecologically speaking, but it's also a stimulating time for the creative prospective. To be earth aware you require no sacrifices, no itchy materials, just pure style and class and remain just as trend-worthy. As the goliath-sized retailers make room for more affordable environmentally conscious options, here are a few basics that should absorb space in every green wardrobe.
Denim
Levi's Eco jeans (distinguishable by a lowercase e stitched in green) are priced comparably with traditional Levi's. Ever popular, Rawganique's organic cotton and hemp jeans along with Grace & Cello Eco Jeans, made from a blend of organic cotton and bamboo are the other options.
Tees and Tanks
Layering pieces, such as tanks, tees and any simple knit shirt, are indispensable to any wardrobe. Last fall, The Gap has sweatshop-free t-shirts unbleached, organic cotton men's t-shirts while for women, Under the Canopy's "Faith," "Awaken" and "Devotion" are basic, stylish tops made of 100 percent organic cotton or soy.
Earth Speaks' sleeveless, boat-neck Dakota dress is made of 100 percent hemp, while Anna Cohen's long-sleeved, V-neck Soy Drape Dress blends organic cotton with soy fibers, a byproduct of tofu production. For a softer look, there is Habitude's hemp-and-silk sleeveless dress or Loyale's organic cotton Charlotte Wrap dress.
Swimwear, Flip Flops and Tote Bags
Most swim suits are made with petroleum-based synthetics, such as Lycra and nylon, but with natural fiber alternatives there is Rawganique men's hemp swim shorts and Eco Body Wear's surf shorts are a blend of cotton and hemp. For women, try Kelly B.'s One Piece Glamour Suit of organic cotton and Spandex. Anna Cohen's Factory Surplus String Bikini is made with fabric leftover from Olympic speed skater uniforms.
With Eco-consciousness is seeping into every aspect of our lives, green is hailed as the new black. The land-scape of fashion is changed with the use of environ-friendly fibers like organic cotton or bamboo. Hemp too has become the darling for green clothes because it’s a renewable source that grows quickly and naturally fertilizes the soil.
Accessories in natural hemp include bags, jewelry and footwear. Backpacks and messenger bags also come in a variety of sizes and colors.
Reclaiming and sustaining what already exists is what can be called as all-chic and all-eco giving the wearer a cleaner conscience.