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Eco Chic Fabrics

Think dressing green is a hot trend? Think again! It's a stylish lifestyle choice that's here to stay. And with an ever-growing number of fashion designers and retailers offering eco-chic choices, going green is easy.

So where to begin? Read the labels. Whether you're shopping for baby clothes or a new pair of jeans, be on the look out for eco-friendly fabrics - from bamboo to organic cotton to hemp and more - whenever you're shopping.

Bamboo

This tall grass is the star of current enviro-friendly fabrics. A truly amazing plant, it's very quick growing, sometimes reaching its full potential in the first year. Also bamboo plants do not usually require the use of pesticides to flourish, thus maintaining its organic status. Plus, because farmers don't have to destroy the whole plant at harvest, bamboo a sustainable crop for farming and can be replanted or even propagated yearly.

Fabrics made from the pulp of bamboo are super easy to wear. Aside from its earth-friendly qualities, here are some other benefits of wearing bamboo:

• Antibacterial: it keeps you odor free and smelling fresh
• Absorbent: it absorbs perspiration to keep you dry
• Insulating: it keeps you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter
• Tactile: it's one of the softest fabrics next to your skin
• Hypoallergenic: if you're allergic to wool, try bamboo
• Protective: it naturally contains a high UV-ray sun block

Organic Cotton

Have you ever thought about the impact that shirt on your back has on the environment? Well, if it's cotton, here are a few things to know:

• Conventional, non-organic cotton production uses more chemicals per unit area than any other crop
• Non-organic cotton crops account for 16% of the world's pesticide use
• In 2003, 55 million pounds of pesticides were sprayed on the 52,000 sq km of conventional cotton grown in the U.S.
• The chemicals used in the processing of cotton can pollute the air, soil and run-off waters, and the residual chemicals may irritate the skin

Fortunately, there is a greener-cotton alternative. When cotton is grown without the use of toxic chemicals, and with sustainable and established biologically based ways, it is considered organic. It all starts with seeds that have not been genetically modified or treated with chemicals. The cotton is grown without the use of chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. When made into fabric, organic cotton is usually spun into its inherent natural tones, like honey, pale green or darker tan, rather than dyed. Alternatively, non-chemical dyes are now being used to add colour to organic cotton - offering fashion-savvy, eco-eco-conscious consumers more choices than ever.

Hemp

Yes, this is a form of cannabis, but no, it's not a "pot" plant. Hemp is one of the oldest and most prized plants known for providing food, fabric, lighting oil, paper, incense and even medicine (for its anti-inflammatory properties). Napoleon's soldiers wore uniforms made from the strong fabric (controlling hemp supplies was a rumoured reason he invaded Russia), George Washington cultivated the plant and the Declaration of Independence was drafted on paper made from hemp fibres.

Like bamboo, hemp is a powerhouse in the plant world, needing no chemicals or pesticides to thrive plus, unlike bamboo, it grows in virtually any soil and climate conditions. Fabrics make with hemp also repel UV rays, offering sun protection when you're outdoors. The latest? Companies are blending hemp with cotton, silk and other natural fibres to add strength and sustainability to their existing product lines.

Other fabrics to watch for are organic linen, recycled wool, recycled silk and even soy. This is a relative newcomer to the idea of sustainable, eco-friendly fabrics to the fold. Soy fabric is made from a by-product of soybean oil production, is source from a sustainable plant and it's biodegradable, too. Clothing manufacturers are slowly introducing soy to fabrics, blending it with other natural fibres, such as silk.

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

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