Sustainable Fashion

Eco-Friendly Evening Wear Gowns

Our affiliated member, designer Lindsey Pelli Cha Pelliccia is excited to bring you an exclusive line of eco-friendly demi couture evening wear.  She is a first-generation Italian American whose heritage has influenced her young contemporary and classy-chic style.  The line is made exclusively of natural fabrics, produced in a sustainable way.  The textiles are made in small artisanal communities, and are then dyed using natural and non-polluting processes.  Lindsey comes from a long line of woodworkers, painters and seamstresses.  While the art of dressmaking is becoming a thing of the past, she has vivid memories of her mother and her grandmothers making clothes for her family.  As a child she sewed with them, and as a teenager she began experimenting with her own designs.

As an adult, she continued sewing, though mostly for friends and family.  She has made formal wear and wedding gowns for loved ones, and has always given hand-made gifts, never thinking of turning her passion into a business.

The wake-up call came while Lindsey was completing her International MBA.  Through her travels she noticed the levels of pollution in developing countries, and for her final thesis she decided to explore the environmental impact of the textile industry in Brazil.  As she dug deeper into the topic she was fascinated and alarmed to discover how much water pollution the textile industry generates, and how harmful it is to the eco system.  She knew she had to act.  Now for the first time, Lindsey Pelliccia is sharing her talents with the world.  She hopes Pelli Cha will be more than a brand.  She hopes everyone who wears it will feel a connection- to the traditions of her family, and to the realization that every choice makes a difference. Pelli Cha debut will be on April, 11^th at the Miami Fashion Week - 10th Anniversary event.

First Eco Demi-Couture Eveningwear Collection Produced in Brazil by Pelli Cha

The first and only eco-friendly, demi-couture eveningwear fashion designer, Lindsey Pelliccia, showcases Pelli Cha; her premiere collection of eveningwear fashions made exclusively of natural fabrics and produced in a sustainable way during the 10th Annual Miami Fashion Week®. Pelliccia is the first among four designers in the Eveningwear Showcase to present her collection Friday, April 11th at 8:30 p.m. in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District.

The designer combines inspiration from the traditional artisanal communities in India using natural processes in the production of silk fabric. With her wonder and great concern for the environmental impact of the textile industry around the world, and her innate talent for design making which was derived from a long line of remarkably talented women in her family of seamstresses and dress makers, Pelliccia showcases a young contemporary and classy-chic style that is organic, timeless and wonderfully imperfect.

“I want to communicate the strength and beautiful imperfection that makes us women all so spectacular, naturally beautiful and individual,” said Pelliccia. “And, I want to do it in a way that is respectful of the environment because it is something I feel so connected to.”

Pelliccia uses eco-friendly materials such as raw (undyed), cruelty free dupioni silk and 100 percent artisanal silk. All silks are then dyed using natural extracts by a natural, non-polluting process unlike conventional dying processes, which can harm the environment and pollute our water resources. She plans to produce her collections in Brazil using sustainable practices and helping impoverished communities.

The wake-up call for Pelliccia to become an environmentally conscious designer came while she was completing her international MBA. Through her travels, she noticed the levels of pollution in developing countries, and for her final thesis she decided to explore the environmental impact for the textile industry in Brazil.

“I had always felt the need to communicate to others the importance to be consciously aware of how the fashion industry was contributing to the pollution of our environment,” said Pelliccia. “But I didn’t know how to do it until I went to Brazil. There I saw such stark contrasts; human potential and poverty, natural beauty and pollution all in one place. I instantly became inspired to create my line, Pelli Cha, as a way to educate and inspire others.”

Pelliccia has the full support from the Brazilian-American Fashion Association. The Association’s Executive Director, Nadia Schwartz, will personally attend the showcase to provide support on behalf of the Association. "Pelli Cha is a brand that from concept to actual production is all about being respectful to humans and the environment, so it's just a natural thing for us to give our full support. Best of all, this collection is chic and so unique. I personally envision Pelli Cha making a huge fashion statement during the coming show."

The Association strives to help those in the Brazilian fashion industry make international connections. In addition, they promote and encourage sustainable practices within the fashion industry and strive to be a leader in that capacity.

Of special note, famed musical group “Deep Forest” endorses Pelliccia’s efforts to create an eco-friendly line and has given her rights to use their 1993 smash “Sweet Lullaby” during her fashion showcase. “Deep Forest,” who are known best for innovatively fusing traditional ethnic musics with state-of-the-art rhythms, really felt a connection to Pelliccia’s designs and efforts to make the world more consciously aware of our beautiful and yet fragile environment.

As Pelliccia makes the final preparations for the upcoming debut, she has only ne request to the attendees:

“I hope this line gives others a fraction of the feeling it gives me and motivates people to make better decisions to preserve what we have.”

Innovative 100% Eco-friendly Fabric is Available!

[Português]

Designer Caio Von Vogt

A Brazilian born with German ancestry, designer Caio Von Vogt is the creator of a fabric that is 100% ecological- a true innovation in the fashion industry. Differently from currently produced bamboo fabric, the Ecovogt is 100% made of natural fibers and is not harmful. After a 6 year research on fabrics and patterns, Caio found out about the jute fiber in 1998. Jute fiber is made of a plant from the Amazon, also called Liberian fiber. He had to convince Companhia Têxtil Castanhal, a non fashion textile company, to produce the fabric. At that time, it was difficult because there was no consumers for the new product, but Caio’s passion and the potential market he envisioned was enough to persuade the company’s owners.


The Ecovogt fabric, registered as an international patent, can be used to make clothing or accessories such as shirts, dresses, pants, handbags, belts and even shoes. Comparing Ecovogt with other fabrics- if disposed of in nature, the material will decompose in just two years, while cotton will take ten years and polyester will take nearly a century.
 
With the help of a group of researchers, it was developed with a 10 color palette and softeners that is all-natural and sustainably produced in the Amazon region, to create a fabric that is fashionable and marketable.
 
Accomplishing a social responsible practice, Ecovogt employs impoverished people living in the Amazon regions where one thousand families work exclusively with the jute plant. According to Caio, experts say that Ecovogt is 50 years ahead of its time because the raw material and the production process are both eco-friendly.
 
With the persistence of a visionary, Caio has given a huge contribution to the fashion industry towards a sustainable future. We hope the industry will be open to embrace such a fine product in our time!


by Nadia Schwartz
Brazilian-American Fashion Association - Executive Director


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ModaFusion Show During Rio Fashion

ModaFusion launched its second Couture Ethique collection during the Rio Fashion Spring-Summer 2008-2009. Gorgeous models in bamboo designs, local sewers behind their machines and international journalists wearing paper folded hats to protect against a burning sun. These were the main features of ModaFusion's fashion show in Rio de Janeiro. The collection was designed by French-Canadian designer Bianca Kuttickattu and inspired on Brazilian fauna. Together with local designers, Bianca had translated traditional techniques such as embroidery, crochet, "fuxico" and silk painting into high fashion pieces. A remarkable characteristic throughout the collection were the 'church windows' that gave a modern look to the collection. All items were made of sustainable materials such as recycled plastic bottles, organic cotton, cruel-free silk and bamboo.



The collection had been developed with four cooperatives in different parts of Rio de Janeiro. Justa Cor (Maré),Instituto Salamanca and Coroa (Santa Teresa) and Coostuart (Santa Cruz). The last one, Coostuart, hosted the event in their new building with ateliers, a shop and offices. It was the first time that the women who had put their creative skills into beautiful fashion, met journalists and possible buyers. They were proud to carry some of their designs onto the catwalk while their lovely daughters and nieces modeled others. Together they closed the show with samba dancing provided by musicians playing their instruments under the palm trees.

The event was held on the last day of Rio Fashion Week and was attended by journalists from Tokyo, Geneva, Moscow, Paris and New York, the cultural attaché of the French embassy in Rio de Janeiro, Fashion TV, Boris Provost, Who's Next comunication manager and several Brazilian press.

Recycle Your T-Shirts in Style

A fresh take on recycling is coming to Barneys New York stores this spring. The iconic, upscale retailer is partnering with Sundance Channel (which is kicking off Season 2 of its "The Green" block of eco-themed content) and stylish green fashion line Loomstate in an initiative that begun April 13.


After that day, consumers will be able to drop off old t-shirts at all Barneys locations nationwide (including the seven flagship stores and numerous regional outlets). Loomstate will then re-dye, style and print the used duds to create a limited edition T-shirt collection, which will be sold at Barneys at the end of the year.

Those who bring in a shirt will receive a 20% discount on women's Loomstate for Barneys Green and men's Loomstate gear from April 13 to the 27th. Designed by Rogan Gregory and Scott Hahn, Loomstate has made a name for itself by delivering cutting-edge, yet relaxed, fashion based on eco-friendly materials and processes.


For more information, visit www.sundancechannel.com/blogs/thegreen/390331450

Textile Industry Alarming Pollution

The TRUTH Behind Standard Cotton Textile Production Methods

Cotton is the world’s most widely used fiber for textiles... and why not? It is easily grown, and then re-grown. It is durable, comfortable, washable and wearable. It’s what our favorite t-shirts and jeans are made of. It is the fashion world’s equivalent to “comfort food”. But- is it possible that one of our most basic indulgences is also one of our most blatant environmental violations?

Absolutely.

While cotton in itself is a natural and wholesome fiber, most don’t realize that cotton textile production typically follows the “wet method”, which contaminates the environment through all stages. Textile wet processing (from fabric production to dyeing, printing and chemical finishing) has always been considered one of the worst industrial sectors in terms of water consumption and pollution. One of the most harmful activities occurs at the onset of fiber processing. Cotton fibers must be desized to remove starch, which hinders dye penetration into the fiber. Starch is removed either by hydrolysis or oxidation, both of which use harsh chemicals to make the starch water soluble. When the starch is rinsed out, the waste water has a high biological oxygen demand (BOD) that renders it unusable. About 50% of the water pollution is due to waste water from desizing.

In treating 1 ton of cotton fabric the composite waste stream contaminates roughly 50-160 cubic meters.¹ Brazil produces, on average, one million tons of cotton textiles annually.² This means that anywhere from 50 to 160 MILLION cubic meters of water are contaminated annually, only by the production of the textile. Just to put this into perspective… only 1385 million cubic kilometers of water exist on earth. Only a small percentage of that is fresh, 90% of which is locked in ice caps, and yet another percentage is in clouds and underground. The actual availability of fresh water computes to 1,302,000,000 cubic meters.³ Cotton is such an everyday product, yet somehow we overlook that the level of water contamination produced through its processing quickly pushes the limits of availability. This is the output of contamination only by processing and though nature works to recycle some of this and cities reclaim much of the water used, it is not enough.

Dyeing is another matter altogether. Did you know that to dye one kilogram of cotton requires 70-150 liters of water? This means that for every few pairs of jeans you own, you could fill your gas tank twice with the amount of polluted water generated. This directly applies to Brazil, where much of the water quality has been directly impacted by the textile industry’s inappropriate disposal of chemicals. One of the most obvious effects of dye-saturated wastewater is the strong color. Colored wastewater is regularly dumped in rivers and streams, which then produces a significantly negative impact on the development of water-life. The dye-darkened water blocks the light, which in turn inhibits photosynthesis- the building block of aquatic ecosystems. The Amazon is worlds most diverse and fragile ecosystem, and this ecosystem fuels the planet. The protective atmosphere of the earth “breathes” every six months. This semi-annual thinning and thickening of the atmosphere, which is visible from space, is attributed to the earth’s tilt and the effect that indirect sunlight has on the rainforest (the Amazon). For half of the year, the rainforests in the southern hemisphere work hard to regenerate oxygen and remove contaminants. The Amazon’s breath of fresh air is something that we cannot do without… so why don’t we work harder to treat the problem?

In Brazil’s case, having less stringent business and environmental standards makes the country more appealing to historically dirty industries, such as the textile industry. There are so many reasons why manufacturers do not employ cleaner practices or do more to purify the water they’ve used. To make a long story short, if it is more expensive to do the right thing and the laws of the country do not require cleaner practices, then why bother?

That is why it is important for each of us to take responsibility. It is time to know the consequences of our actions. Each time we fill our gas tank, we should think not only of the emissions we generate, but also remember that the clothes on our backs may also contribute to the degradation of the environment. We should try more to support companies that use organic fibers and dyes, and who treat their workers ethically. The stark reality is that we are approaching a time of complete globalization- not only as economies, but as communities. Making the right everyday choices is a good way to start taking better care of one another and ourselves.

Lindsey Pelliccia
Contributing Writer to BRAMFSA

(1) Dr. Hirschler, R. “Pollution Prevention Through Automation in Textile Dyeing and Printing”
(2) De Coster, J. “Brazil’s Textiles and Apparel Ready for World Market”
(3) http://www.lenntech.com/specific-questions-water-quantities.htm

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Bamboo Textiles- A Natural Fiber?

[Português]
Is it possible to produce a natural textile fiber made of bamboo? A lot of people get really excited about it, but some experts are doubtful. Let’s see what Chemical Engineer and Director of BambuSC (Bamboo Association, SC, Brazil), Hans-Jürgen Kleine has to say about that matter.

“All kinds of ‘bamboo fabric’ are fraud because they cannot be made of a bamboo natural fiber as will be explained below.



The 1,300 species of bamboo grown all over the world are made of cellulose (as any other plant), besides lignin, hemicellulose, starch and silica. The cellulose fibers are minuscule and in many lengths. Their shape is tubular like a hose averaging 2 to 3 millimeters long, and their width is 100 times smaller than that, visible only with a microscope.

Any textile fiber, natural or artificial, needs to be at least 30 millimeters long. The yarn produced by [...] are 38 mm, 51 mm, 76 mm and 86 mm long, as stated on their website. Therefore, those yarns are 10 to 30 times longer than the natural cellulose bamboo fiber.

There is no way to mend bamboo fibers to make them long enough to produce a yarn.

Every so called ‘bamboo fabric’ is made of a textile fiber called viscose. [...] mentions this fact on their website, as well as [...] and many other companies do. Nobody hides the fact that it is made of a viscose fiber. And they are not ashamed of saying that clearly.

So, what is the fraud about? The problem is that viscose is an artificial fiber obtained by a chemical process created more than 100 years ago and that uses a very toxic product called carbon disulfide. This product reacts and melts with the natural cellulose fiber transforming into a plastic substance similar to nylon. After that, the substance is processed by an extruder producing the yarns that will be cut later for textile purposes. Any type of cellulose fiber can be used to produce viscose, so they can be from trees, bushes, or even agricultural waste (wheat, corn, or rice), and bamboo is also included.

Viscose fibers always have the same chemical and physical characteristics no matter the type of cellulose it was mixed with, so a viscose fiber from eucalyptus is exactly the same as a viscose fiber from wheat and also the same as a viscose fiber from bamboo.

Therefore the fraud I am talking about is that: most of the viscose fiber produced in China is made of bamboo because there bamboo is abundant and cheap. As the process of producing viscose is pollutant, in the last 50 years, most of developed countries have stopped manufacturing this type of product, so nowadays viscose production became strong in Asia with low salaries and high levels of pollution.

On the other hand, worldwide, bamboo is recognized as a natural and ecologic product (and they are absolutely right!). Unfortunately, for marketing purposes, unethical business people have publicized viscose fabrics as bamboo fabrics, hiding the fact that after becoming viscose fabric there is no way to find bamboo in it. Actually, when you buy a bamboo-viscose fabric, it is impossible to determine from which kind of cellulose fiber it was made of. Even if we could, it wouldn’t change the fact that viscose fabric is artificial and pollutant far from being natural and ecologic.

I hope, I got straight to the point on this detailed explanation. If any doubt is still left, please let me know. To me, it is not a problem to go over this subject again and again, and I will go the extra mile to unveil this fraud that I personally consider an absurd. It makes me sick to see opportunist people trying to take advantage of the eco movement spread all over the world by misleading others.“ 

by Hans-Jürgen Kleine
BambuSC - Director and Chemical Engineer

Published Jun-2007 BambuSC, SC, Brazil
Published Oct-2007 European Bamboo Society, Germany


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Eco-Chic Fashion: Green is the New Black

What kind of style can you wear and still be a strong advocate of the eco-friendly sustainable fashion? From the radical rustic adventurer to the refined socialite... It is all in, and it is all green!

For those who love outdoor sports and travel, Gooc offers products that are 100% made of recycled material with original designs that translate freedom. Since its inception in 2004 the company has recycled over 1 million tires creating innovative foot wear and rubber sandals. Moreover, they have a complete line of accessories that includes handbags, travel bags, back packs, and belts. Gooc’s philosophy is deeply rooted in freedom and social inclusion. Its founder, Thai Q. was a Vietnamese refugee rescued from the Atlantic Ocean by a Brazilian petroleum ship. For him, having to overcome several challenges didn’t keep him from building a successful business that was shaped based on his own personal values and strengths. As he says: “There is nothing that would communicate the idea of freedom better than our products.�?

For those who are looking for refined style, there are designers working seriously in delivering fashionable eco-chic pieces, like Linda Laudermilk and Oskar Metsavaht (Osklen).

Linda, in her determination to shake the foundation of fashion, uses exotic self-sustaining plants to produce textiles. The fibers of sasawashi, bamboo, sea cell and soya give way to designs that scream luxury and chic style while pulsating with the very life of the earth from which they came- and will ultimately return. More remarkable than her ability to pull together fibers from unconventional sources is her communication of nature and movement through design. Garments are made to grace the skin in fluid and natural ways. Mixtures of texture and color mimic the look of objects floating on a smooth patch of water or the way a sea flower or kelp would droop and cling to your body. The constitution, the design, and the spirit of “luxury eco by Linda Laudermilk�? embodies sophistication, simplicity, and oneness.

“I design to hit people at a gut level; to capture the soul and raw beauty of people and nature. The garments in my fall collection inherently bring up our universal connectedness and our responsibility to take care of each other and the earth. This collection is about the hope in the world and the 'we are all one' spirit."


-Linda Laudermilk


Oskar Metsavaht is a multi-sensorial creator. His brand Osklen is strong in the Brazilian market for 20 years already, and is expanding internationally. His lifestyle and professional background paved the way for him to express his ideas throughout creations that go beyond design, and includes visual arts, social and ecological initiatives and expeditions worldwide. His ten years dedicated to medicine, and the practice of surfing and snowboarding, taking him to places such as the glacial mountains of the Himalayas and the beaches of Indonesia, are all reflected in Oskar’s work. All of these different influences make his brand a true expression of unity… a meeting of refined, hurried and cosmopolitan with our ancient, adventurous and natural soul.

Oskar created the concept Better life in the new millennium and transformed into Osklen’s corporative philosophy since the late 90’s, and which intends to converge initiatives and affirm the commitment to be more than just a brand.

On the opposite side of the fashion world sits a new kind of advocate. Models- once considered pretty faces and nothing more- are realizing their power to influence change. Summer Rayne Oakes is a pioneer in her time, using her 21st century supermodel looks to get her cause recognized by more than just paparazzi. This Cornell grad boasts numerous awards for her social and environmental work and she recognized early on that by modeling she would expose her self and her cause to a population that may not usually move in the same circles as environmentalists. She acknowledges that those who are eco-centric are usually those who are already involved, so something unconventional had to be done to cast the net wider. She supports eco-chic fashion and admires the balance of sex appeal, luxury and environmental well-being in the work of Linda Laudermilk and Carasan Designs. Behind the nature-friendly practices of these companies resides a strong sense of human rights as well. Eco-chic fashion is made without sweatshop labor. Summer Rayne Oakes is outspoken… but even more thrilling are her actions. She inspires measurable change in business through consulting. She knows that the corporate world is finance obsessed, and she strives to prove how environmentally friendly business practices can positively impact the bottom line.

People are increasingly interested in doing something good for the environment, but the challenge is usually lack of resources or a means to participate. Summer Rayne Oakes admits that while she wants to buy all sustainable fashions, sometimes it simply isn’t available. Still, the grass-roots movement is underway –whether by necessity or trend- in the world of eco-fashion and environmentalism, and she believes in supporting this effort.

“There are a number of upcoming designers and college students that dedicate their work to high style and sustainability. I think that is where it all begins and those people should be supported every step of the way.�?


-Summer Rayne Oakes


For those of us that identify with the true warriors of environmentalism, the simple recognition that man and nature is connected and our decisions affect everyone is enough to motivate us to seek out eco-fashion. The rest of the world will eventually come to realize the truth; Green is the new black.

Lindsey Pelliccia
Contributing Writer to BRAMFSA


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FutureFashion Show 2008

Before the official opening of New York Fashion Week, on the evening of January 31 in the elegant sophistication of New York's Gotham Hall, two dozen internationally-recognized designers displayed their latest creations to a waiting high-powered audience at the Earth Pledge eco-fashion show FutureFashion. With fabric supplied by Hemp Industries Association (HIA) member EnviroTextiles, designers like Donatella Versace, Behnaz Sarafpour, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan International, Isabel Toledo and Doo Ri wove their magic with everything from hemp/organic cotton jersey knits to hemp/silk charmeuse.

Hemp, long known as a sustainable, practical fabric to the eco-set, has found a new home with top couture designers – and they are taking hemp clothing from enviro-niche to the glamour and bright lights of the runway.

Calvin Klein and Donatella Versace used hemp fabrics in some of their designs at the show as well. The FutureFashion collection will be on display from February 1 - 21 in the windows of Barneys New York at their flagship store on Madison Avenue and 61st Street. FutureFashion is an eco-conscious fashion event started in 2005 by Earth Pledge, a non-profit organization which promotes sustainable development and originated as a United Nations committee. The Earth Pledge event was sponsored by Barneys New York, Pure & Natural and Lexus Hybrid Living.

The HIA estimates that the North American retail market for hemp textiles and fabrics exceeded $100 million in 2007 and is growing around 10% per year, about the same rate as the general hemp market. Hemp is better for the environment because it does not require pesticides and improves soil quality. Unfortunately, makers of hemp clothing must import their raw materials from overseas because U.S. farmers are not allowed to grow industrial hemp. The DEA wrongfully considers hemp to be a drug crop under their interpretation of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), even though drug varieties of Cannabis are significantly different from oilseed and fiber varieties (industrial hemp). The industrial varieties are low in THC and high in CBD, making them useless as a recreational drug.


Source Hemp Industries Association

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ORGANIC FASHION - Get into it!

“Organic.�? What was once a term most frequently applied to your veggies at the supermarket now applies to a more exciting part of your life… Fashion! While organic fashion might seem like a trend only sought by the affluent granola-eaters, there are many reasons why this concept in fashion should be important to everyone. Have you ever considered that the same harsh chemicals you try to avoid while buying organic products are kin to the treatments used in cotton cultivation, dyeing, and finishing?

It is said that allergic contact dermatitis from textile resins has been greatly under-diagnosed.¹ Resins carrying formaldehyde which can be responsible for skin irritations are frequently found in wrinkle-resistant products. While this in itself is disturbing, the direct effects you experience from these chemicals are insignificant compared to the damage inflicted on the environment, or the health risks assumed by workers in the textile industry.

Brazil’s water quality has been directly impacted by the inappropriate disposal of dyes, and studies have been conducted proving that toxic metabolites are produced in reaction to waste water contamination.² While cotton is usually perceived to be a natural and environmentally friendly material for textiles, the truth is that in developing countries 50% of the agricultural pesticides are used for cotton fields. Sadly, these countries are the ones that do not have the infrastructure in place to minimize the effects that these pollutants have on the environment and the workers handling them. This results in chronic illnesses for people, and devastating effects on wildlife. The US is well developed, and still the cancer rates in cotton producing states are significantly greater than those of neighboring states.³ Even more fodder for thought is that organically produced textiles receive the same trade benefits as those of organically grown food, and sweatshop practices are rarely employed in the eco-fashion world. The best way to make sure you’re doing the best you can for the environment and for people is to catch the wave of eco-fashion.

“Many of us are becoming alarmed at the health threat presented by chemicals in our food. I feel that we should also be greatly concerned by the overuse of chemicals in the growing and processing of crops like cotton,�? says Linda Row from London based fashion company Eco Clothworks. “The plight of individuals who make our clothes worldwide is apalling. Many of these workers do not earn enough to cover their living expenses, and they always bear the burden of any pressure exerted by the retailer for cheaper goods. Their work is boring and repetitive, and studies conducted in the USA show a possible link between Alzheimer’s disease and prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation from industrial sewing machines.�? While organic cotton farming may clearly seem like the way to go with lower input costs and higher sale price, the future of organic cotton farmers relies on the end consumer.

The situation is similar to that of the automotive industry. Most can agree that hybrid or alternative energy cars are the best choice, but how many consumers are rushing to buy one? To that same effect, the environmentally conscious and fashion-forward will have to be convinced not only to accept organic fashion but also the price tag that comes with it. Still, the future looks bright. Almost $1.1 billion in organic cotton products were bought in 2006, nearly double the amount of the previous year. Sales worth $2.6 billion are predicted by 2008.⁴ These statistics offer much encouragement to developing countries such as Brazil, who are fast realizing the growing niche of organic cotton production and the opportunity it offers to farmers.

So what can you do? You help old ladies cross the street, you volunteer at the local food bank, and you carpool to work. Why not consider organic fashion? Who would have guessed that someday even the jeans you choose to slide into on Sunday morning (or afternoon) could mean a better life for someone… and a healthier world for all of us.


For some companies that produce organic clothing, try:
Wholesum Sustainable and Organic Clothing
EDUN
Earth Speaks
Inhabitat

Lindsey Pelliccia
Contributing Writer to BRAMFSA

1 Diagnosis and Treatment of Dermatitis due to Formaldehyde Resins in Clothing (www.MedScape.com)
2 Decolorization of reactive azo dyes by Cunninghamella elegans UCP 542 under co-metabolic conditions (www.ScienceDirect.com)
3 Organic Foodee
4 Cotton: the moral fibre of going organic

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