Thursday 15 September 2011

Fashion Design Goes Green

Nowadays, everyone seems to be going green. In other words, people are altering their lifestyles and consumption rates in order to reduce their ecological footprint on the Earth. This summer season saw record-high temperatures in many parts of the United States. It is becoming clearer and clearer that the globe is slowly warming up. However, going green does not have to mean compromising your fashion sense. Plenty of people have figured out ways to make fashion design into a more environmentally-conscious industry. Here are some recent methods used to combine sustainability with style.

Wholesale clothing manufacturers and fashion designers are taking extra care to use sustainable materials such as cotton, hemp, bamboo and wool produced without the use of chemicals or pesticides. And whether or not the use of sustainable materials are employed in the latest designs, designers are taking specific care to find alternative materials to fur, leather, and other skins and animal products which seem to be regularly associated with high fashion.

Another eco-friendly trend of late is the development of fabrics from recycled clothing and other materials. Innovative, up-and-coming designers are creating entire fashion lines constructed from recycled clothing. This includes men's hair style, dress shirts that are fashioned into women's skirts, or vintage nightgowns re-vamped and sewn into evening gowns. And this trend extends beyond recycled fabrics alone. Some designers are making clothes, bags, shoes and accessories made from recycled materials like candy wrappers, plastic water bottles and even old tires!

Being aware of the material that your clothing is made from is only one aspect of sustainable style. There is also the awareness of where your clothes come from. Much of what is considered "couture" is made overseas and shipped to the United States. This uses a lot of energy and creates the excuse for an inflated price. The trick is to shop locally. Buying clothing made in the United States, or even in your own hometown can cut energy costs, and support your local economy.

There's no reason why you can't stay fashionable without adding to the environment's boiling stew of problems. With the consciousness of green fashion comes the consciousness of a greener world beyond fashion. That attitude is exactly what we need!

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