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We talked not too long ago about the impact that conventional fabric dye has on the environment. Denim in particular stood out as a fabric responsible for quite a bit of pollution. So, whats a green crafter to do? There are a couple of choices for eco-friendly denims.

Organic Denim
Organic denim is tricky to track down. Daisy Janie has a couple of organic denims in her shop, but theyre printed which might not work for all of your denimy projects. Folks in the UK might look into Organic Cotton, a website that wholesales all manner of ecofriendly fabrics. They have a good selection of organic denims. Youd want to ask for more information on the dye process, though, to make sure its Oeko-Tex Standard 1000 certified. Have any of you guys had luck finding new, eco-friendly denim? I had a really tough time coming up with usable options!

Get Thrifty

Of course, the thrift store is a treasure trove of second hand fabric. The easiest way to lower the impact of your denim-related crafts might be to find yourself a pair of thrift store jeans, harvest the fabric, and get sewing! You can also look for denim skirts and dresses, which might give you more continuous fabric, depending on where the seams and darts are. Thrifted denim most likely didnt use the most eco-friendly dyes to create, but the impact there is pretty much done. At least if you turn these items into something cute and new, youre keeping that denim out of the landfill!

OUR TOP 10 ECO FRIENDLY DENIM BRANDS by Bonny Osterhage, White Apricot Staff Writer

In the fickle world of fashion, trends come and go. But the one trend that stands the test of time is denim. Seriously, can you think of a more universally appealing and versatile item than a great pair of jeans? Worn with a hip tee and boots, they are downtown cool With a great pair of heels and a blazer, they blend in at the officeand with a sexy top and strappy stilettos, they can boogie the night away. How many other items in your wardrobe can say that?

Thanks to some of the most recognized names in denim, as well as some of the leaders in the organic clothing industry, there are now plenty of jeans that let you and the earth live happily ever after. Most are made from 100 percent organic cotton, dyed with natural indigo dyes and some even feature recycled zippers, buttons and rivets. One unique brand is so committed to recycling that they even make jeans from their own jeans! If you think organic denim is code for mom or hippie jeans, you are in for a shock. These companies feature all the latest and greatest in colors and styles from the low-riding relaxed fit to the super skinny jean and every fit in-between. Here are our picks for the top ten most eco-friendly and stylish jeans.

Be sure to look for the White Apricot symbol next to many items. Click on it to go to our exclusive offers for great discounts on these & many other products!

7 for all Mankind Who doesnt love their Sevens? Now you can love them even more, knowing that they offer a line made from 100 percent organic cotton in both mens and womens styles, all in a wash appropriately called Yosemite. These are so popular that the company keeps selling out quickly every time they get them in, so keep checking the website if you don't see them. www.7forallmankind.com

Aoki Aoki jeans (aoki is Japanese for green tea) are made from 98 percent organic cotton with 2 percent of stretch. The womens line is designed to make you look long and lean with three different cuts to fit any body type. Get yours at http://www.shopmodify.com. The Aoki website is not quite ready yet, but keep checking back. www.aokijeans.com

Del Forte Denim Designed for the eco-chic woman who is transforming the face of fashion, Del Forte jeans are made from 100 percent organic cotton and come in classic and fashion forward styles. Check out the reJEANeration limited edition skirt made from recycled Del Forte jeans. You can see the whole line and find a store near you at www.delforte.com.We found the largest selection at www.btcelements.com and www.thewhitepebble.com.

Denim Therapy Okay, this one isnt really a clothing line, but it is a good way for those of you who refuse to part with your favorite jeans to still do something good for the earth. Instead of throwing out your jeans when they become ripped or torn, salvage them by sending them to denim therapy, where they will be reconstructed with a woven-in color matched fabric. www.denimtherapy.com

Good Society & Sling & Stones We've grouped these two together because they come from the same designer. Good Society is the "affordable" line, while Sling & Stones is the high end line at about $350 a pair! But, according to the company, Sling & Stones denim is made of American-grown organic Supima cotton, one of the finest and rarest natural fibers on earth. They say that the cost of this fabric alone is more than the entire cost of producing most other premium jeans...and they have 24K gold plated hardware... even the thread is real gold. Good Society is also made of 100% organic cotton...just not the rare one. Both lines donate a portion of their proceeds to charities to help people in under developed countries. Both lines

are available at www.revolveclothing.com. See the collections and find a store near you at www.slingandstones.com and www.goodsociety.org.

James Jeans Mainstream denim brand James Jeans istaking a different approach to eco. While the jeans are not made of organic cotton, the process that they go through to achieve the different washes is green. Rather than using potassium promagnate and a washing machine to "age" the jeans, the company hand brushes a mix of tea leaves, coffee and other natural "reactants" on each pair and then dries them in the open air and sunshine. The story goes that this open air technique was discovered by accident when the staff left a bunch of jeans in a warehouse with a sunroof...hmmmm... But, the result is great looking, soft and comfortable jeans, processed without chemicals. Available at Barneys New York (www.barneys.com) and www.greenrohini.com. www.jamesjeans.com

Levi Strauss The name synonymous with jeans has evolved and produced two eco friendly lines: Levis Eco and Levis Captial E. Whats the difference? Eco is made with all or a large percentage of organic cotton, while Capital E features all organic cotton, as well as recycled buttons, rivets, zippers and natural indigo dyes. Both lines feature the same style and quality that made this brand famous. www.levistrauss.com

Linda Loudermilk Denim Loudermilk has been leading the organic fashion march for several years, so it is no surprise that she has gone above and beyond in making denim fashionable. Her line, Loudermilk Denim, is not only limited to jeans, but also includes dresses, coats and more, all made with her signature materials including sasowashi, bamboo, soya and other self-sustaining plants. Available at www.kaightnyc.com. See the line and find a store near you at www.lindaloudermilk.com.

Loomstate Organic Clothing Inspired by roots of casual, American style, Loomstate jeans are made from 100 percent certified organic materials and designed with respect for the ability of the environment to balance, shape and color itself. Whether high-rise, low-rise, white or dark denim, these jeans capture that perfectly lived-in feeling. Available at Barneys New York (www.barneys.com). See the collection and find a store near you at www.loomstate.org.

Serfontaine Okay, here's another one that may not be purely organic in the sense that they do not use all organic cotton, but Serfontaine does substitute organic fruit enzymes for harsh chemicals in the wash process and hand grinding to achieve the stone washed look, instead of pumice stones mined unfairly in third world countries in order to achieve the perfectly distressed look of the jean. They must be doing something right because Brittney, Beyonce, J Lo and Paris couldnt be wrong. Rock your own pair at www.shopintuition.com and www.kaightnyc.com. Find a store near you at www.serfontaine.com.

As you walk east on New Yorks 6th Street, dodging ripped trash bags and discarded stacks of books, Gomi NYCs neon-green awning beckons, bright and defiant. A modest placard sits out front, inviting you to pause and browse.
Inside, the tiny roompainted a rich, dark redis packed with stacks of clothes festooned with little hand-written cards. Try it, touch it! they say. Or, in the case of a mound of organic cotton-pashmina-blend shirts, So soft for you. The notes feel loving and maternallike the tender missives tucked into lunchboxes by doting grandmothersand the shops well-coiffed staff is no less endearin. With racks of dresses, glass cabinets packed with jewelry and leather handbags, and tables piled high with jeans and sweaters, Gomi NYC is the kind of expertly curated neighborhood boutique New Yorks fashion eliteyoung, stylish women with thick bangs, Wayfarers and knee bootsswarm for cutting-edge, special-occasion pieces and simple, well-crafted basics. And while youd never presume it from a casual browse, Gomi NYC is also stocked exclusively with sustainable, eco-friendly clothing. Over the last half-decade, the practice of going greenreducing waste, avoiding or cutting back on non-renewable resourceshas become fairly commonplace. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed in the Nature Conservancy's Harris Poll on green living have "taken steps to green their lives," like driving less, reducing utility use and replacing incandescent light bulbs for fluorescent ones. But the clothes we tug off of hangers and pull over our bodies every day arein many casesas damaging to the earth as plastic bags and gas-gulping vehicles. Maybe its the longstanding stereotype about the aesthetics of eco-friendly clothes (the phrase still conjures images of yoga instructors and meditation leaders, bedecked in dashikis and medallions), or maybe its a dearth of easy options, but fashion is one of the last facets of American life to go mainstream green.

Instead, Americans are continuing to embrace disposable fashion, buying bushels of clothes at low-cost, high-trend mass retailers like H&M and Forever 21, and then stuffing the pieces into trashcans when they shrink, unravel or fall apart. Even worse than the glut of wasted clothing is the way in which these garments are made: Most of the synthetic fabricsacrylic, polyester, rayon, acetate, triacetate, nylon and othersemployed in mass-market clothing are aggressively treated with toxic chemicals (many carcinogenic) during and after manufacturing, and both the process and the compounds can have ruinous environmental effects. Consider, too, the proliferation of sweatshop and child labor overseas and, suddenly, the way we dress has never felt so politicalor so vital. But a new generation of designers and retailers are trying to change the way Americans think about clothes by reinventing the notion of eco-friendly fashion: Gone are the ill-fitting hemp dresses and Birkenstocks of yesteryear, replaced by bias-cut dresses, high-heeled leather boots, and impeccably sewn skinny jeans. In October 2008, Bravos Project Runway named Leanne Marshalla 28-year-old Portland, Ore.-based designerits fifth victor. Marshalls stunning final collection, which showed at New Yorks annual Fashion Week in Bryant Park, was constructed, in part, using ecofriendly textiles like bamboo and organic cotton, which Marshall detailed during her final judging session. It was one of the most-discussed (and highest profile) moments for ecofriendly fashion to date: Although small designers had been experimenting with sustainable materials for years, most major design houses had long eschewed the notion. Marshall had an enviable platform, and spoke loudly on behalf of the eco-minded. You know, its kind of shocking how a lot of the high-end designers totally dismiss or scoff at the thought of using sustainable textiles, Marshall says. There are certainly some that do choose to use themits a smart decision for the planet and for business, because there are increasingly more and more consumers who do care about the environment, and choose accordingly. They want to buy products from people who give a damn and are doing whatever they can in a positive direction. But, of course, there is also a mass of consumers that dont care as long as they are paying a cheap price and saving themselves a dollar or two. Marshall admits that, for a designer, going eco-friendly can be taxing and, occasionally, impossible. Although eco-friendly materials arent necessarily more expensive, they do limit a designers choices. Color suffers, Marshall confesses. Its really hard to find good colors and patterns in sustainable textiles. Most are a natural off-white, or muddy, muted earthy hues. Every once in a while, you can find a nice, bright bamboo jersey. Its also very hard to find really high-end luxurious fabrics that are sustainablethey dont really exist, she continues. There arent, to my knowledge, any organic silk organzas, or high quality organic duchess satin or chiffon. You cant really make a floaty, ethereal couture gown out of bamboo jersey. There are a lot of limitations, but when I need to use the silk chiffon Ill find a way to line the garment in a sustainable fabric, she says. If I could be anything else than a clothing designer, it would be a textile developer, and I would create all those sustainable textiles that dont exist yet. Because of the complicated ways in which clothes are constructed and distributed, declaring a

skirt or pair of jeans sustainable isnt always an easy endeavor. Gomi NYC owner Anne Bernstein, who has been dedicated to educating the public about the advantages of ecofriendly fashion since she opened the shop five years ago, believes that in order for a piece of fashion to be accurately dubbed sustainable, its creators have to be conscious of three things: the health of the planet, the health of the workers making the garments, and the quality of the product (for an item to be truly sustainable, it has to be built for long-term use). Sustainability is a term thats thrown around a lot these days, Bernstein says. When we first opened the store over five years ago, almost no one had ever heard the word before. In terms of sustainable fashion, how the raw materials are created is keyso with cotton, for example, the use of excessive toxic pesticides is avoided. How is the fiber woven or created? How is the factory powered? How do the materials get to the factory? During manufacturing, how is waste dealt with? When the fabrics are turned into articles of clothing, how efficient is that process? How well is the garment made? she demands. Nodding to the preponderance of sweatshop-produced products, Bernstein is also conscious of the human workers involved. In all stages, from raw-material production to retail, work conditions are also key, she adds. Humans must be treated well and fairly. But while sustainable fashion is slowly eking its way into the mainstream, plenty of people Bernstein includedworry that if it becomes too much of a fad, a backlash will be inevitable. Instead, theyd like to see sustainable fashion become an irreversible norm. I hope people actually think its important and not just a passing trendthat the shift of interest is because of necessity. I hope in the near future every designer is eco-friendly so that we dont have to even use the term, its just understood, says Erica Bradbury, a 31-year-old jewelry and clothing designer, who runs her eco-friendly company, Species by the Thousands, from her Greenpoint, Brooklyn, apartment. Bradburys jewelry, in particular, focuses on the use of recycled materials, which is a relatively simple way fashion can be made sustainable. I really like old stuff, and the idea of repurposing outdated jewelry parts and fabrics seemed like a good way to reconcile putting new things into the world without having the anxiety of adding to the problem of the overabundance of stuff in the world, Bradbury says. Over the last couple of years, its become easier to find ways to make jewelry and clothing ecofriendly without relying on using solely vintage materials. For jewelry, I can make cast pieces in precious metals that are 100-percent recycled, thanks to companies like Hoover and Strong who don't buy their metals from mining companies, but instead use scraps. Likewise, Tierra Del Fortea 34-year-old denim designer based in the San Francisco area senses that public perception of eco-friendly clothing is changing. There has been a huge shift in the last few years, she notes. When I started, many of the buyers I would talk to about the line didnt even know what organic cotton was. Now, people are much more informed. Most people are very aware of the climate crisis and want to take action to reduce their own impactone easy way to do this is to buy organic whenever possible, and now thats possible in boutiques and department stores as well as the supermarket. Del Forte Denim is made exclusively from organic cotton, which is grown without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Instead, Del Forte explains, Organic farmers use biological methods of discouraging pests and increasing yields. For example, theyll release ladybugs around their crops instead of spraying pesticides, because ladybugs are a natural predator of the pests that harm cotton plants. Although eco-friendly fashion is still mostly the terrain of younger, smaller designers, a few larger corporations are embracing sustainable ideology and incorporating more eco-friendly materials into their lines. Edun, a denim and graphic-tee company founded in 2005 by Ali

Hewson and her husband, U2s Bono, is dedicated to introducing fair commerce to impoverished communities (what they describe as a trade, not aid philosophy). The companys missionto drive sustainable employment in developing economies by bolstering the skill sets of factory workers in places like India, Peru, Tunisia, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Mauritius and Madagascaris based on manufacturing, but Edun is beginning to incorporate more sustainable materials (at present, all of its graphic tees are made from organic cotton). Meanwhile, TOMS shoesa Santa Monica, Calif.-based shoe company that donates a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchaseduses all natural textiles, avoiding petroleum-based molded pieces, metal eyelets, and buckles, and limiting toxic glues in the construction of its signature shoe, a no-frills variation on the Argentine alpargata. Eco-friendly clothings reputation is evolving, both as consumers learn more about the devastating environmental repercussions of traditional manufacturing processes and as designers strive to squash preconceptions about the way these clothes look. "I strive to make it something entirely modern and sophisticated and, quite frankly, something that you would never even know was sustainable, says Marshall. Its just great design that people can appreciateand oh yeah, by the way, it just happens to be sustainable, too.
Abstract

The garment industry's new drive towards high value added products is prompted by increasing competition from other countries. Current size of apparel industry is 45 Billion US$, which is 40% of the world market, highest amongst the other potential segments-Technical Textiles (18%), Home Textiles (20%). Worldwide chemical consumption in apparel segment is around 60%. Chemicals play a very significant role be it giving a class of touch through the effects colorful prints to soft handle, from easy care to nano finish and so on. But, the use of chemicals in finishing has created illicit effects of the environment as a whole.

Textile industries are facing a challenging in the field of quality and productivity, due to the globalization. The highly competitive atmosphere and the more stringent ecological parameters make way for innovations and changes in the present processes.

Textile industries must look to provide one-stop sustainable solution along the whole textile value chain from pretreatment, through dyeing to finishing. The understanding of how to minimize the impact of their production on the environment and maximize quality, innovation and efficient solutions using intelligent chemistry and eco friendly treatments must be their long term goal. This will promote eco friendly garments as a whole and counterbalance the harmful effects of the present day chemicals.

Thereby, Garment industries are developing textiles with smart functioning using new ecological products to provide extra comfort and increased performance in an eco friendly manner.

Introduction

Garment Finishing though is synonymous word for the process in Denim industry called "Washing Effects", has now extended to the processing of whole range of ready garments from shirt, T-shirt, trouser, jacket to all types of clothing. In apparels, chemicals are widely used to add value to garments through effects varying from various feels such as soft, supple, dry feel, bouncy feel etc. and/or to adding to the functionality and durability of the garment such as water-oil repellant finish, wrinkle free finish, moisture management, stain protection, to name a few Both natural and synthetic textiles are subjected to a variety of finishing processes. This is done to improve specific properties in the finished fabric and involves the use of a large number of finishing agents for softening, cross-linking, and waterproofing.

A suitable textile processing method that delivers not only eco friendly finished products but also does not hamper the surrounding atmosphere and environment by way of polluting the air and water respectively, due to emissions and effluent water discharges.

Now world around us is fully aware of the implications of the damages already done to it for its water and environmental resources by way of gas and effluent discharges from polluting industries such as textile and leather processing. In order to reduce and save earth from the pollutions of industries, automotives etc., there comes in to existence stipulated norms and standards for the finished goods and the way of operation.

Throughout the world almost all countries have forms certain rules and regulations for importing and exporting processed textile goods. This paper depicts the various textile finishes employed in the finishing of garments with a major concern on the environment and new innovative concepts that can be employed in finishing.

HAPPY EARTH DAY! Ill be the first one to admit that denim trends move so quickly that I can barely keep up at times. This past year alone weve all experienced the skinny leg, the wide leg, high-waisted denim and even colored denim. With all these crazy trends you can never be too sure what trends will have staying power. So whats a person to do? No need to be blue, in honor of Earth Day today why not go green? Eco-Friendly denim is good for the environment for several reasons: its easier to dispose of when you want to get rid of your old denim, and the dyes are safer for the earth. During my quest to find environmentally conscience brands, I found this great guide about how to recycle your old denim. Here are some truly amazing environmentally friendly brands that I want to share: J Brand Green Label. These jeans are not only environmentally friendly, but they come in a super cute organic tote bag. The bag features tips on how to live a more environmentally conscience lifestyle. Sounds like a great idea, people need to how to change their lifestyles and not just what they wear. J Brand Green Label Monroe jeans, $227 at Singer22

James Jeans use four eco-friendly denim techniques: they use only 100 percent organic cotton, organic dyes to color their jeans, natural latex to keep them waterproof, and organic olive leaf extract used during the finishing process.

Greencaste by Earnest Sewn is using techniques like air-drying jeans, replacing detergents with natural surfactants, and eliminating all resins from the 3-D finishing process.

Levis, Hollywoods new it jean, have come out with a new Eco line. Levis with the lowercase e are made from 100 percent organic cotton and recycled buttons, rivets, and zippers.

See active discussions and articles about Levis created by members of the DenimBlog community Read comments about James Jeans created by members of the DenimBlog community Read comments about J Brand created by members of the DenimBlog community

Linda Loudermilk. This denim goes above and beyond the usual pair of green denim. Loudermilks jeans are antibacterial and anti-allergenic, yes you read that right! Loudermilk

thanks Japanese paper and herbs, found in the fabric and tags, for this unique quality. I have never heard of anything like this, but it sounds quite amazing. How many people can say their jeans are anti-allergenic? Linda Loudermilk No Filth sasawashi jeans go for about $300.

Aoki Denims pants are made with organic cottons and soy and vegetable dyes. However, its the labels name itself that may make the biggest eco-friendly statement; Aoki means green tree in Japanese.

Pine IV. Denim is made from the finest eco-friendly Japanese materials. A brand so comfortable you can sleep in them. Jennifer Garner is shown wearing them below. Pine IV is in partnership with American Forests, an organization that works to protect and restore natural habitats, to implement a tree planting program in which a single tree will be planted for each of its Pine IV jeans sold in the US. American Forests is the oldest and most respected non-profit organization dedicated to funding tree planting. Prices start around $145.00. Interested in getting yourself a pair? Check out Pine IV Jeans.

Want to be more green in everyday life? Check out Auto Blog Green for constant updates

on companies and brands and their efforts to go green. They have great tips and advice on how to live a more environmentally conscience life. The trend toward designing, manufacturing and purchasing green fashion is increasing with each year. News reports from around the world tell of a growing number of major department stores that are carrying natural clothing and accessories. And now more than ever before, designers are leaning toward green in their fashion lines, from the fabrics used to the process of making the clothing. By all accounts the fashion industry is just as enthusiastic in their efforts to heal the planet as all others. Vancouver's Eco Fashion Week This year was the first fashion week for the city of Vancouver, which is quickly becoming a green city. The clothing offered by the designers was stylish as well as wearable. Everyone that had even a small part in this event coming together showed that it's possible to run a successful business while utilizing sustainable solutions. Even the event's organizer acknowledged that trends are changing for the better, even in her personal decisions. She once owned over 100 pairs of shoes but now she is an advocate for green fashion. She has worked tirelessly to organize the designers, buyers and attendees during this eco friendly, week-long fashion event. Trendy Shoes A new trend in eco fashion is stylish, earthy friendly shoes and boots for men and women. Large stores like Dillards and Nordstrom, as well as online boutiques, carry eco-friendly designer shoes such as Naya and others in a wide variety of styles and sizes. Naya shoes are colored with vegetable dyes and glued with water-based cements. Natural cork is also used in the footwear, and their shoe boxes are made with recycled paper pulp and soy-based ink. Freedom of Expression in Green Fashion Design Designers more than ever are boldly offering earth friendly designs in their lines. Take Korto Momolu, who says her designs come from their sense of environmental responsibility as well as creativity. Although they do not have a "take it or leave it" attitude by any means, they do not shy away from putting their natural clothing on runways and in stores.

Korto Momolu became well known as a featured designer on Project Runway. She incorporates her African roots into her versatile clothing. She is also the designer of an entirely eco friendly line of jewelry. Green Jeans Pepe Jeans has recently introduced a new line of organic denims. Although Pepe is an extremely popular line of premium jeans in India, the introduction of the organic jeans is their effort to incorporate casual and denim wear for men and women into their line. The denims are manufactured using an ozone technology that greatly reduces the amount of water, energy and toxic chemicals used in the process. They are made from organically grown cotton. More familiar in the U.S., Levi's is also upping their green offerings, with their recent introduction of WaterLess jeans. According to the company, the average pair of jeans uses 42 liters of water in the finishing process, while the WaterLess collection reduces water use by an average of 28%, and up to 96%. This move is expected to save 16 million liters of water for the spring 2011 lines. The future of green fashion is bright, as consumers are increasingly asking for it, and designers are putting their talents to work, making fashions that are more sustainable as well as more beautiful.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/eco-friendly-fashiontrends#ixzz1Y6M3LEVK

n today's current climate there is a clear trend towards environmentally-friendly and organic products, not only in our homes but in what we wear. "The whole ethical thing is booming like crazy at the moment," says ecostylist Elizabeth Lasakar, who also heads up the Ethical Fashion Forum.

An Ethical Makeover
Whilst for years women have been obsessed with what we put into our bodies, it is time to reconsider what goes on them too. With the boom in eco-friendly fashion there are now all manner of organic products, from eco jeans to wooden lingerie, (made from pine nut trees). Even fashion accessories have come in for an ethical makeover, with eco-friendly totes, purses and clutches, cork boots, ballet flats and high-heels, doing their bit in reducing the carbon footprint. It's a question of updating your undies, rethinking your jeans, hankering after eco-friendly (rather than high-end designer) handbags, seeking out vintage or usedclothing, and being open to new and unusual fabrics. These include bamboo and coconut, banana fiber and hemp, natural indigo for jeans and the use of natural dyes involving potato starch and mimosa flowers. From recycled buttons and zips, to bottle tops and aluminium cans, there has been a revolution in eco-friendly fabrics and materials.
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In the past there have been two big barriers to being both eco-friendly and stylish:

Style Versus Eco-Friendly Fashion

Whilst many would like to minimize the personal impact we make on the environment, women may be turned off the broader concept of organic fashion (such as jeans) because they think materials are stiff, ugly, uncomfortable and expensive. Whilst some may have the odd environmentally-friendly T-Shirt or organic cotton tote bag, eco-fashion as a complete wardrobe, has, until now, been a long way off. It is now possible to choose eco-friendly clothing without compromising on style and quality. In fact, with green becoming the new black, it has in itself become a trend that many young women wish to take advantage of. Levi's Eco jeans are a case in point where their organic jeans are emblazoned with the letter "E" on the bottom right leg or inside front pocket, an eco-status symbol if ever there was one!

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Fashion and the Environment Useful Women's Fashion Websites 2010 Eco-Friendly Clothing Lines

Eco-Friendly Information
Another biggest problem in the past has been knowing where to go to buy fashion-forward organic products. Now it seems that major high-street brands are dipping their toe in the water, in regard to selling organic products that are right on-trend. Retailers such as the UK's

Marks and Spencer, Next, Top Shop, European fashion chain, Zara, and the USA's Banana Republic are all promoting their environmentally-friendly range, from organic-underwear to eco-jewellery. There is also an ever increasing number of internet sites specializing in "going green." However, most people don't have the time, according to ecostylist Dawn Mellowship, "to trawl through the internet for hours looking for ethical fashion." Her company Ecostylist.co.uk, sources organic products from the internet on behalf of its customers. An exciting new resource is the BBC's recently launched, online ethical magazine called Thread, which gives the lowdown on where to go and what to buy, in terms of keeping up with trends. The BBC commissioned research for Thread of 550 people, from 16 to 30 years old. 31% of respondents believed that ethical fashion was a worthwhile cause but did not know where to turn to get information.

Thread - Online Ethical Fashion Magazine

According to the BBC's online press release of 16 April 2008, "BBC launches online ethical fashion magazine Thread", the magazine is dedicated to showcasing the latest in eco-fabulous style, showing the fashion-conscious how to get the look they want in an eco-glam way. This is done though presenting a mix of affordable fashion, celebrity videos and interviews, photo galleries and thought-provoking features. It also included a list of ethical organizations and includes information on eco-fashion in high-street stores.

Latest trends can be both Fashion-Foward and Eco-Friendly

Proving that you don't have to be non-environmentally friendly to be chic and glamorous, Thread features some of this season's hottest looks from colorful skinny jeans to eco cargo shorts, boho chic to urban and tribal prints to stripes. The online magazine claims to bring its readers the latest in eco-fabulous style. For fashion-conscious females, wearing environmentally-friendly fashion no longer means looking hippy or frumpy; it is possible to look stylish and eco-glam instead!

Read more at Suite101: Eco-Friendly Fashion Trends: How to Be Eco-Fashion-Forward; Sustainable As Well As Stylish | Suite101.com http://gill-hart.suite101.com/ecofriendly-fashion-trendsa53629#ixzz1Y6MMYmv4

andblasted Jeans Have Dangerous Effects On Garment Workers

By Nina Christensen
We all try to pitch in and do our part to preserve the environment by switching to greener lifestyles and making smarter purchases, but sometimes we can be wholly unaware of the harmful effects of our actions. Clean Clothes Campaign is an organization that has been fighting for the awareness and understanding of deadly garment processes such as sandblasting in the production of jeans. Workers

involved in this process to create that distressed, faded look on new denim are at risk of a deadly lung disease, silicosis, caused by long-term exposure to extremely fine dust. Who knew that we could be endangering lives of people in countries such as Turkey, China, and Bangladesh just by purchasing those sexy, worn-in boyfriend jeans? Well, now we do know, and while CCC is calling for a worldwide ban of sandblasting, we can do our part to support fair and healthy working conditions simply by switching to brands that don't use this dangerous process. (Hessnatur)

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Miss DD

4 months ago

I'm pretty sure working conditions in EVERY factory in countries over sees are horrible... I used to work for a shoe company that manufactured all their products in china and india... when we would get the shoes you would be blasted with a horrendous odor as soon as you opened the box... I can't even imagine what else goes on over there... its not just sand blasted jeans... its EVERYTHING YOU OWN Flag 2 people liked this. Like Reply Reply

HeyItsAlexP

4 months ago

Unfortunately this is all too true. I used to work at a denim company and would hear stories about our overseas sample room workers sandblasting without protected gear (which we did provide them) and smoking in the same rooms this was going on. Sandblasting makes your thighs look wider anyway... Flag 1 person liked this. Like Reply Reply

James hill

4 months ago

Im sure not 'all' sandblasted jeans are Evil but this really shows that we have no idea how the things we buy are really made and even when we buy expensive labels their is no Guarantee that it has been made in a fair way. I recently found this great site for eco , natural and ethical products you maybe interested (i have no connection to this company) http://www.ethicalcommunity.co... Flag Like Reply Reply

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