Eco-friendly Clothing for the 21st Century

Eco-friendly clothing is yet another subcategory of earth friendly products obviously focusing on the garments we will wear each and everyday. The most obvious element people consider relative to Eco-friendly clothing are the fabrics and other materials used to construct the garments. There is a natural tendency to consider the types of fabrics used to produce various clothing items when evaluating their possible environmental impact.  When you encounter garments made from natural fabrics most people leap to an immediate assumption that they are also environmentally friendly.

But is that always the case?

As far as the nature of the raw fibers used to produce the fabric, the answer is most likely yes.Regretfully however, it’s not quite as simple as that.Not only do you have to consider the fiber itself but also the processes and materials involved in both growing, harvesting, then manufacturing both the fibers and ultimately the fabric.In order to be truly defined as Eco-friendly many folks also argue you have to consider the working conditions of the people involved along the various steps of the production processes. Next you have to determine whether or not the production practices are considered humane and ethical.

Those cases where the grower/manufacturer are using organic methods to produce the raw materials as well as environmentally conscious and humane practices during fiber and fabric production then all natural fabrics could indeed be considered earth friendly and green.

Types of fibers and fabrics …

Common types of natural fabrics include organic cotton and linen (derived from raw materials like flax and hemp), wool and even silk when produced under Eco-friendly conditions. Each of these fabrics offers different characteristics including relative durability, shrink potential, resistance to wrinkling, breathability, warmth, water absorption and antimicrobial qualities. When ultimately used to manufacture the garments, these natural fabrics help provide green clothing items for every occasion.

In addition to fabrics derived from natural fibers, there are also a few man-made fibers also considered to be green and environmentally friendly. In reality these fibers are also derived from natural products mainly parts of trees and grasses. Most people wouldn’t think about these plants when considering sources of natural fibers.

Bamboo is used to produce a wide range of Eco-friendly products and is also used to produce fibers and woven fabrics to manufacture clothing. Other woody by-products such as the pulp of hardwood trees such as oak and birch or reprocessed cellulosic material from beech trees are used to produce fabrics known as Lyocell and Modal, respectively.

Man-made Eco-friendly fabric … Really?

Beyond the fibers and fabrics derived from natural sources there is also another commonly used fabric the rider from recycled plastics commonly known as fleece. I guess since the environmental damage would have already been done to produce a host of petroleum-based items like plastic bottles, recycling and reusing this material in order to produce fleece is a good thing. Based on this re-use practice, the vast quantity of fleece produced today helps fill a need, is in high demand today and is definitely considered green and earth friendly as well.

So the next time you hit the shopping mall in search of a new shirt, pants, jackets, undergarments or even shoes, take a few extra moments to read the production labels and identify the types of materials used in the construction and opted by Eco-friendly clothing.

You’ll not only be green but should be glad you did.