This just in from the Southtown Star in Chicago

Consider shopping for eco-textiles when going green

February 26, 2008

By Christopher Appelt

This week, I want to discuss one of my wife’s favorite topics, clothes shopping (yes, she knows I wrote the previous sentence). I’m sure by now, many of you have become aware of various environmentally friendly clothes and other items made from fabric (like sheets).

You’ve probably seen things made of organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, recycled fabrics and recycled soda bottles. There are even fabrics made from corn, soy and milk!

Despite the fact that I’m not very fashion forward, even I have noticed more and more eco-textile options. Yes, it seems that even the fashion industry is starting to be environmentally friendly, and fashion conscious folks won’t have to sacrifice.

As is always the case, we have to be vigilant and can’t necessarily take everything at face value. Take organic cotton, for example. Just like organic foods you buy at the grocery store, organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. That’s great because it causes less pollution.

However, cotton requires a lot of water to grow. Plus, an organic designation applies only to how the cotton was grown. The dyes and processing involved with making the fabric or clothing still can involve the use of nasty chemicals.

Check the labels. Look for things like “low-impact fiber-reactive dyes” or even better, vegetable dyes. See if there is a statement about not using formaldehyde in finishing. You might also check to see if the fabric is a blend. If it is, see if it’s blended with another sustainable fiber like the ones I listed above.

Bamboo has been getting a lot of attention lately. I still remember seeing a bamboo shirt for the first time almost two years ago. I thought the concept was interesting, and the fabric felt as soft as silk.

What is so amazing about bamboo (there are many species of this type of grass) is how quickly and easily it grows. In fact, it has become a nuisance in some places where it has taken up residence as an exotic species. It can be grown without fertilizers or pesticides, so it doesn’t cause pollution. Not only has bamboo burst onto the scene as a sustainable textile, but it’s also a durable and useful building material for making bowls, furniture and flooring………

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