Go Green and Win! Shopping never felt so good...

Be Seen In Green

Regardless of the latest looks and trends, fashionistas know that the hottest style choices can also be earth-friendly. Fortunately, major retailers are working to give style-savvy shoppers more and more eco-chic choices, especially when it comes to items like must-have denims, trendy separates and even accessories. But before you head to your neighbourhood Cadillac Fairview shopping centre to update your wardrobe or shop for your family, read on to learn about these industry leaders:

Green Jeans:

In the fall of 2006, Levi's announced it would offer jeans made with 100% organic cotton for men and women in both the iconic Red Tab and ultra-premium Capital E lines. Then in spring 2007, Levi's broadened its offering with the Eco line. "It is critical for us to continue to innovate with our products in order to drive positive change," said Robert Hanson, Levi's U.S. brand president. "With Levi's Eco, consumers who seek to minimize their personal impact on the environment can choose jeans that demand less from the environment without forfeiting style or quality."

Just this fall, the company introduced its newest in green-friendly couture. Kicking sustainable fashion up a notch, the new RECYCLED line is made from 17% recycled cotton and available in Ultra-Low Boot, Low Skinny and Mid-Rise Straight fits. Plus, any external packaging on the jeans is made from organic fabric, recycled paper and printed with soy-based inks.

Organic Objectives:

Initiating eco-smart practices in 2004, H&M mixed some organically grown cotton into fabrics for a selection of children's clothing. By 2007, the company's commitment to making a difference extended to producing 100% organic cotton garments for men, women and children.

This year, in an effort to actively contribute towards increased demand and thereby motivate more growers to invest in organic cotton growing practices, H&M further expanded its use of organically grown cotton - going from using 30 tonnes of the fibre in 2006, to approximately 2,000 tonnes in 2008. The company's venture into organic cotton will continue with the aim of increasing volumes by at least 50 percent a year in the next five years.

All the organic cotton H&M uses in its clothing is certified by the Control Union. H&M is also a member of Organic Exchange, an organization designed to promote the growth of organic cotton. H&M also works with such organizations as the WWF to improve conventional cotton growing through the Better Cotton Initiative, a project that attempts to reduce the negative effects of traditional growing practices.

From fashion items to wardrobe basics, all H&M clothing made from organic cotton is marked with an "Organic Cotton" label and has special hangtags. The fall of 2008 also heralded the start of other conscious choices of materials such as organic wool, recycled wool and even recycled polyester.

Oh, Canada!

Canada's own Roots is also a leader in innovative eco-friendly fashion and accessories. Our country's natural beauty has long inspired the 35-year-old company and keeping with its core values, Roots has always supported efforts to protect the environment, especially in recent years in the fight against global warming.

The company incorporates such enviro-conscious fabrics as organic cotton, sustainable bamboo and hemp into its made-in-Canada Roots Green line of everyday basics, polo tees and more.

Looking for more green reasons to shop?

• Roots Stop Global Warming bracelets are not only made from 100% recycled scrap leather, but 100% of the profits from the $5 bracelet are donated to the Global Warming Fund.
• The Roots Eco-Automatic Adventure line of watches integrate classic styling with the company's commitment to protect the environment. Rather than running on battery power, this analog watch winds automatically with the movement of the wearer's arm.

Most recently, in August 2008, Roots announced its partnership with the Tree Canada Foundation and its work to promote public awareness, education, and community action for the planting and caring of trees. With the purchase of any of the watches in the new Natural Inspirations Collection, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to TreeCanada to plant a forest. There's never been a better time to make a difference!

For our full listing of all our green products, check out our Holiday Gift Guide.

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