| How can you tell what eco-friendly, green clothing to | | | | what green clothing you want. |
| buy if you feel like it is something you want to do -- | | | | Although the USDA has certain regulations on |
| move toward more green clothes for you and your | | | | certifying exact conditions for a grower to be |
| family? | | | | "organic," for growing foods and how the soil has been |
| When you buy green clothing, what may help you to | | | | conditioned for a certain period of time, it does not |
| be more clear on what to buy is what you believe in | | | | have any regulations for the land upon which fiber |
| regarding the environment and how you want to help | | | | production occurs, including animal products. The |
| improve it. You also should understand your loved | | | | exception to this is cotton, which, since it is a food |
| ones needs for their health and well-being. A third | | | | source (it can produce high protein foods, cooking oils, |
| consideration is how much you can afford. The best | | | | and the like). Check the regulations in your country if |
| way to start out on this venture is to find out more | | | | you have any questions about its standards. |
| about the types of eco-friendly "green clothing" out | | | | While natural fiber clothes only use fibers that will |
| there, how they are defined, and what will suit you | | | | re-compost, there are still issues that might affect |
| best. | | | | whether you want to purchase them or not. To think |
| One type of green clothing is organic; in other words, | | | | of green clothing on a wider scale, you may want to |
| these are made from materials that have been grown | | | | know how much energy is expended during either the |
| or produced without chemicals in any way. This | | | | growing or the production cycles of those fibers and |
| includes any animal products from sheep (wool), | | | | the impact on the environment. For example, to clear |
| silkworms (silk), cashmere (Cashmere goat) or any | | | | land for growing certain fibers, sometimes |
| other fabrics that can be made from animals. (Note: | | | | deforestation occurs, without proper reforestation or |
| we are not talking about fur here -- nor do we wish | | | | land management, which can be devastating to the |
| to!) | | | | environment in the long run. |
| Some of those chemicals would include pesticides | | | | Even though fibers may be grown on organically |
| used for insect control, fertilizers that promote growth, | | | | treated land, this does not guarantee that there are no |
| or any additives used during processing or | | | | chemicals used in the actual processing. Although they |
| manufacturing. Many of these have been proven to be | | | | may be labeled "natural" or "eco-friendly," that may just |
| harmful to humans as well as the environment. | | | | refer to the fact that the fibers can be re-composted, |
| Another type of eco-friendly, or sustainable green | | | | but not regard the processing or manufacturing. This |
| clothes are made from natural fibers, known as natural | | | | would still leave you subject to exposure to chemicals. |
| clothing. This means that the fibers come from | | | | Something to think about! |
| materials that will return to the earth at the end of their | | | | Recycling is good, as we know, but this would include |
| life cycle. In other words, they will not leave inorganic | | | | clothing and fabrics grown, processed, and |
| residue or un-composted materials, but will completely | | | | manufactured in traditional ways, including the use of |
| re-compost through natural decomposition. This | | | | pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, and all the varying |
| includes fibers made from plants and animals. | | | | chemicals used in clothes processing. It would still be |
| A third type of eco clothing are those items that have | | | | considered to be "green clothing" because it has been |
| been recycled through family reuse, consignment | | | | recycled for further use. However, it may be what |
| shops, vintage shops, etc., or those that have been | | | | your family needs financially, and can help you save a |
| broken down back into fiber that will be used in | | | | lot of "green" you might spend otherwise. It is totally up |
| creating NEW fibers and materials, re-crafted into new | | | | to you. It still helps save the environment by reducing |
| wearing apparel, and then sold as new. This is focused | | | | the production of new fabrics and clothing from |
| on true recycling, which is certainly in our | | | | scratch. |
| consciousness more and more these days! | | | | So in your search for the perfect green clothing, be |
| Now this is not all so simple, since we must take note | | | | aware of what the types are, how you define "green," |
| of some additional factors that impact the eco-friendly | | | | and what best suits your needs. Green clothing can be |
| green clothing market, such as how the original fibers | | | | fashionable, economic, and better for your health and |
| are grown, processed, and treated, if there are any | | | | the environment; it is up to you as to what will work for |
| chemicals used in those processes. These additives | | | | you. |
| may have an influence on your choices about exactly | | | | |