| So what does sustainability have to do with fashion? | | | | ingredients in beauty and daily use products that may |
| We all wear clothes on a regular basis, so why not | | | | be linked to a number of health risks such as cancer. |
| pick greener alternatives that are healthier for us and | | | | The event was presented by Whole Foods Market |
| the Earth? Our everyday choices about what we buy | | | | and consisted of an eco-fashion show and green spa |
| and where to shop have a major effect on the | | | | displaying the latest sustainable, organic and green |
| environment, and it's even more dramatic when we | | | | products. Eco-conscious fashion stylist Bahar Shahpar |
| take into consideration everyone else who lives here. | | | | was able to showcase her works on the runway, |
| What we buy affects not only the demand for the | | | | where her designs use only ecologically sound |
| Earth's natural resources, but also how these | | | | materials [including natural buttons and unbleached |
| resources are manufactured into products and how | | | | organic cotton linings], minimizing waste and overall |
| they are disposed. By learning about the costs of what | | | | energy consumption in every instance possible. What's |
| we purchase, we can start making informed shopping | | | | even more interesting is that I managed to bump into |
| decisions that will protect our planet. | | | | Bahar at the second annual "Project Earth Day" event |
| The nonprofit Sustainable Technology Education | | | | three weeks later. Presented by the EGBNY (which |
| Project (STEP) defines eco-fashion as clothes "that | | | | stands for Emerging Green Builders New York, and is |
| take into account the environment, the health of | | | | part of the national US Green Building Council), the |
| consumers and the working conditions of people in the | | | | fashion show is dedicated to the promotion of green |
| fashion industry." I've learned through my research that | | | | design and creating a platform for leaders - both |
| cotton accounts for 10% of the world's annual | | | | present and future - in the design industry to bridge |
| pesticide consumption, which costs about $4 billion | | | | their environmentally-conscious ideas and |
| annually worldwide according to Earth Pledge, an | | | | developments together. Its eco-friendly venue was the |
| organization that partners with business, communities | | | | Teknion Showroom, which played a key role in |
| and government to accelerate the adoption of | | | | highlighting sustainable techniques such as the use of |
| sustainable practices such as green roofs, local | | | | compact fluorescents for accent lighting at the bar. |
| agriculture and eco-fashion. Cotton is also among the | | | | There's also been an emergence of eco-friendly |
| world's most heavily irrigated crops, in part because | | | | stores in New York City. For example, Kate |
| water runs quickly off fields where beneficial soil | | | | Goldwater is a 23-year-old NYU alumna who designs |
| organisms such as earthworms have been | | | | clothes for AuH2O, an environmental and socially |
| exterminated (J.C. Ryan and A.T. Durning, "Stuff: The | | | | conscious clothing store in the East Village. A few |
| Secret Lives of Everyday Things," p. 22-23). This has | | | | blocks away is Gominyc. This earth-friendly boutique |
| caused major water pollution, chronic illness in farm | | | | carries brands such as Del Forte Denim and |
| workers, and devastating impacts on wildlife. In the | | | | Loomstate and holds environmentally responsible |
| United States, cancer rates in states that produce | | | | materials such as organic cotton, bamboo and hemp. |
| cotton are significantly higher than in neighboring states | | | | The store has been named "Best Eco-Friendly |
| that do not. The acidic chemicals used to process | | | | Fashions" by Village Voice 2006. MooShoes, Inc. is |
| synthetic fabrics find their way into our rivers and | | | | another example. It's a vegan-owned business that |
| streams, lowering the pH and destroying ecosystems. | | | | sells cruelty-free footwear as well as other goodies, |
| And according to World Health Organization estimates, | | | | and offers its services through an online store and in |
| one-third of the 500,000 to two million victims of | | | | its retail store in New York City. It is the first |
| agrochemical poisonings worldwide are cotton farmers. | | | | cruelty-free store of its kind in New York City, and its |
| Leslie Hoffman, head of Earth Pledge's FutureFashion | | | | slogan is "One cannot have fashion without |
| Initiative, believes that sustainable fashion is within reach | | | | compassion." Gaelyn & Cianfrani in Brooklyn is |
| and need not limit the range and quality of products | | | | known for their signature material, often mistaken for |
| that designers can offer, from couture to sportswear | | | | leather, that's made by hand from recycled bicycle |
| to home furnishings. By promoting eco-friendly | | | | inner tubes. |
| products such as organic cotton, organic wool, corn | | | | We live in a wasteful society, and it has become |
| fibers, recycled fabrics, biopolymers, natural dyes to | | | | increasingly clear that we can no longer ignore the |
| industry and consumers, we can prove that style and | | | | impact of industry on our health, habitats, and |
| sustainability can coexist - creating market demand | | | | resources, so it seems only logical for businesses to |
| and improving our environment and health. Other | | | | adopt more sustainable practices. But it's also obvious |
| materials such as bamboo and hemp are faster | | | | that the philosophies of eco-fashion and its savvy |
| growing, more durable, and more renewable than | | | | designers can change the consciousness of |
| conventional textiles. The Inter Press Service article | | | | consumers in all areas of consumption in a |
| "CULTURE-ITALY: Eco-Fashions Find a Place in Shop | | | | revolutionizing way. So what can you do to help? |
| Windows" also argues that recycling is another | | | | Clothing swaps, rummage sales, and shopping at thrift |
| important component of eco-fashion, "not only for | | | | stores or eco-conscious ones are some ideas. Other |
| protecting the environment, but also for promoting | | | | pieces of advice include buying what you need, buying |
| conservation in big companies or recuperating | | | | products made locally, choosing products with minimal |
| materials in developing countries." | | | | packaging, watching what you eat, reusing and |
| I was able to participate in a number of Earth Month | | | | recycling, buying low-impact products, looking for |
| events this past April in New York City. I attended | | | | durable products, and getting involved locally. |
| "Turning Green" hosted by Teens for Safe Cosmetics, | | | | Remember: every step you take counts towards a |
| a league of extraordinary young women educating | | | | brighter, healthier and more sustainable world for |
| and inspiring awareness about potentially harmful | | | | everyone. |