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WHAT'S NEW
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Trend watch: Eco-friendly clothing
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Going eco-friendly doesn't have to mean sacrificing your sense of style. Here's how to find clothes that work for you and the environment.
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By Natalie Bahadur
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Flawless Zip Hoodie, Cotton Ginny, $55
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We need to save our environment. That's not exactly a news flash, but it's an issue that continues to grow in importance for Canadians.
Hybrid cars, rabid recycling and increasing availability of organic foods are just some examples of attempts to salvage our planet's resources. And now clothing manufacturers are jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon, too. The growing trend of environmental responsibility extends to the fashion world and the result is a burgeoning accessibility of clothes that are made with our environment's well-being in mind.
What is eco-friendly clothing?
According to Laurie Dubrovac, marketing director at Cotton Ginny, which recently released a line of eco-friendly clothing called OLOGY, eco-friendly clothes are made from sustainable resources such as organic cotton, bamboo, milk, soy and corn. "Organic cotton, for example, is grown without the use of toxic chemical pesticides, fertilizers or genetic engineering, which saves thousands of pounds of chemicals from contaminating the earth," says Dubrovac.
Why is this a trend right now?
"Saving the planet is in!" says Kathy Tsolakos, marketing director at La Senza. The lingerie retailer recently debuted a line of environmentally responsible products, fittingly called La Senza Eco-Friendly. The sexy line of bras, panties and sleepwear is made from organic cotton and bamboo.
"This trend has started slowly, and we believe it is just the beginning as more and more people are conscious of all the damage we do to our planet," says Tsolakos. "We believe it will last and maybe grow stronger. It all depends on how eco-friendly our customers are and how much they care." All in all, Tsolakos is confident that shoppers will continue to buy eco-friendly clothing.
Are clothes made with organic cotton more expensive?
In a nutshell, yes, organic-cotton clothing may be more expensive that nonorganic. According to Tsolakos, the process of cultivating and growing organic cotton is totally different and takes much longer than nonorganic cottons.
"The fabric is a bit more expensive since we don't use any pesticides and the crops are not as abundant," she explains. "So of course it becomes more expensive. Less yarn is available so the prices goes up." Tsolakos also explains that in order to ensure authenticity, organic fabrics must be certified. "There are also a limited amount of resources for both organic cotton and bamboo," she says.
What are the advantages of environmentally friendly clothing?
Tsolakos says that the growing process is so much better for the environment. "There are no artificial fertilizers or pesticides used in the growing process," she says. Even better -- there are fewer chemicals in the clothes you will be wearing against your skin. As an added bonus, she promises the material is extremely soft and comfortable -- bamboo, in particular.
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