Sustainability in the Apparel Industry and Eco Fashion (Video)

Sustainable apparel and eco-friendly fashion is growing. This type of fashion has a much smaller environmental footprint this includes minimizing waste and eliminating the use of harmful chemicals. For years the clothing industry has been dominated by cheap imports from places like China and India, however, burgeoning consumer awareness about social and environmental issues are pushing brands in more responsible directions.

Nike has been pushed by consumers to become a more sustainable company and Patagonia has made a name for itself by being one of the most responsible and sustainable companies in the world. A host of other brands have also boarded the sustainability train. This includes accessible brands like H&M and North Face, to high end designer brands like Gucci, Calvin Klein and Stella McCartney.

Employee Uniforms Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles

There are a number of greener textiles ranging from organic cotton to cutting edge silks and wools, but one of the more interesting apparel choices involves repuposing recycled plastic bottles. The fabric is called RPET which is simply recycled polyester made from post consumer plastic bottles.

One potentially lucrative uses of this textile is in the fabrication of employee uniforms. By using RPET for employee uniforms, companies looking to introduce sustainability programs enhance their corporate reputation while getting a leg-up on their competition.

Sustainable Green Fashion is Being Buoyed by Growing Consumer Demand

There is a growing wave of interest in green fashion sweeping around the world. Companies are responding to demand from socially conscious consumers who are looking for sustainable clothing. However in the absence of clear standards, it is hard to know who is truly making sustainable clothing and who is simply looking to cash in on sustainable demand.

Cotton is the worst and most ubiquitous culprit in the fashion world. Conventionally grown cotton is a major pollutant and it poses a serious health risk. Cotton uses more insecticides than any other single crop. Cotton producers around the world spend nearly $2.6 billion on pesticides each year. According to the Pesticide Action Network, an international organization dedicated to eliminating hazardous pesticides, this amounts to more than 10 percent of the world's pesticides, and nearly 25 percent of the world's insecticides. However, there is increasing interest in organic cotton which uses no pesticides or insecticides. This represents a significant improvement over traditional pesticide rich cotton textiles

The North Face Increases "Clothes the Loop" Recycling

The North Face recently announced the expansion of its apparel and footwear recycling program. The company's "Clothes The Loop" program will now be available in more than half of its retail store locations across the nation. Clothes The Loop is now available in a total of 27 The North Face stores nationwide.

The program diverts thousands of pounds of apparel and footwear from landfills. It also enables consumers to recycle their unused clothing and shoes, moving these items into a continuous closed loop product cycle thus reducing waste, preserving material resources, protecting the environment and enabling sustainable consumption. Items are either reused or reverted back to basic materials for manufacturing.

Last year the North Face pilot program succeeded in diverting 1,350 lbs of apparel and footwear away from landfills.

Laggards in Toxic Clothing Detox: Adidas and Nike

Greenpeace has been very successful at encouraging some of the world's largest brands to stop using hazardous chemicals in their manufacturing process. While some have voluntarily agreed to detox, some big brands like Adidas and Nike are stuck on the first step, while others like Disney have not even begun. As Greenpeace puts it these brands and others like them need some serious "Detox rehabilitation."

Video - Toxic Clothes: Direct Action at Burberry

This video is one of many direct actions organized by Greenpeace activists. In addition to a social media firestorm, Greenpeace has also staged a number of direct actions to encourage major clothing brands to "detox." In this video, a group of rogue mannequins got sick of modeling clothes made with hazardous chemicals so they decided to tell Burberry to stop using these little monsters in to make their clothes.

Video - The Success of Greenpeace's Detox Fashion Campaign

A growing movement is demanding that the fashion industry clean up its act. The combination of social media and direct action have succeeded in convincing a number big brands (including Zara, Mango, Valentino, UNIQLO and H&M) to commit to toxic-free fashion. The effectiveness of these campaigns is a warning for clothing and textile manufactures to remove toxins from their products.

Video - Nike, Adidas and Puma Agree to Detox

Thanks to a protracted campaign to Detox Fashion, Nike, Adidas and Puma have all signed up to eliminate all toxic chemicals from their products and supply chains.

Video - Resistance to the Hazardous Chemicals in our Clothes

Toxic fashions are polluting waterways in Asia and Mexico. Global fashion brands like Calvin Klein and GAP are using hazardous chemicals and dyes to make our clothes. These chemicals poison our rivers, and people who wear these clothes are subjected to traces of these hazardous chemicals. While a number of major brands have already signed on to Greenpeace's Detox Fashion campaign, there are a number of others who still need to be convinced.

Greenpeace's 5 Step Detox Program for the Fashion Industry

What are the steps required to detox the fashion industry? Greenpeace has proposed 5 crucial steps.

Step 1 - Commit to Detox
Step 2 - Spot the monsters
Step 3 - Come clean
Step 4 - Beware of the unknown monsters
Step 5 - Be accountable

Purtex an Eco-freindly Alternative to Toxic Textiles

Purtex is a product that replaces many of the toxic chemicals used in clothing. Purtex is an eco-friendly, 100 percent solvent-free polyurethane treatment for textile finishing and coating. It is a solvent-free, water-based polyurethane emulsion that can be quickly and easily applied to any textile. It is completely safe, both to the people who work with it and to the natural environment.

While many major clothing companies are cleaning up their acts others are lagging behind. This constitutes a dangerous reputational risk for those who ignore consumer desires for safer and healthier clothing. The most common reason that companies use of toxins is due to the mistaken belief that there are no alternatives or that it is too expensive.

List of Hazardous Chemicals Lurking in Your Clothes

Greenpeace has significantly raised the profile of toxins in our clothing, they have also produced studies which detail the pervasiveness of these chemicals in our clothes. It is important to note that clothes at every price range, from bargain brands to high end retailers all contained these toxins. Here is a list of six hazardous chemicals that are commonly found in many clothing items that are widely available around the world.

Burberry & Primark Vow to Stop Using Toxins in the Manufacturing of Clothes

Two British clothing behemoths have agreed to rid their clothes of hazardous chemicals used in their manufacturing processes by 2020. The luxury brand Burberry and retail giant Primark are now on board to help create a toxic-free future. These are but the latest additions to the growing list of companies that have succumbed to Greenpeace’s Detox campaign. Burberry and Primack are the 19th and 20th clothing manufacturers who have agreed to clean up their act.

Thanks to the efforts of thousands of their supporters, Greenpeace has created a wave of action that is improving clothing manufacturing around the world. In addition to street protests, much of Greenpeace's campaign activity has focused on creating a social media storm.

Growing Eco-Awareness in Fashion and Clothing Design

London Fashion Week (LFW) is taking place against the backdrop of growing eco-awareness in clothing design. LFW is a clothing trade show held in London twice each year (February and September). It is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks, (along with similar events in New York, Milan, and Paris). LFW is big business as the event is attended by over 5,000 press and buyers, and has estimated orders of around £100 million.

Sensitivity to ecological considerations is increasingly important to some of the world's biggest brands. Greenpeace deserves much of the credit for this burgeoning awareness as they are the world's foremost advocates of more responsible fashion. They have produced a series of reports on the subject and as part of a campaign called "detox fashion" they have pressured 18 of the world's leading brands to engage more responsible clothing manufacturing processes. These brands have committed themselves to a long-term "zero discharge" goal.

Event - Eco Chic fashion Show

The Eco Chic fashion Show will take place today, Sunday, Oct 6, 2013, Markham, Ontario at the Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre & Spa located at 8500 Warden Ave in Markham from 11 am to 9 pm. This event was organized by the Simply Green Unique Events and it supports and raises awareness for OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network on behalf of the Canadian Blood Services.

• Exhibitors show (11 pm- 6pm)
• Dj &  Music
• Prizes
• Parking
• Fashion show times @2pm and 4pm
• Celebrities are invited
• Cash bar @5:30 pm
• Refreshments, snacks
• After party celebration! @7:00 pm

Video - See the Connection Between Clothes and Pollution in Thread The Documentary Trailer

This video educates consumers on how fashion and textile production effects our health and the health of our environment.

H&M's Sustainability Efforts Now Include Recycling

On February 21, 2013, H&M launched an ambitious program designed to reduce the amount of clothing that goes into landfills. The clothing retail giant is now accepting used clothing of any brand in its 48 markets around the world. H&M is working on the 3 R's, (reduce, reuse or recycle), with the ultimate aim of sending no waste to landfills.

H&M has partnered with Global Green USA, the American affiliate of Green Cross International, and I:Collect. Under the partnership, I:Co will repurpose the clothing collected at H&M stores.

Customers who submit clothing under this initiative will be compensated. For each bag of clothing donated, customers will receive a voucher for 15 percent off their next purchased item.

The Northface Launches a Bold Clothing Recycling Initiative

The North Face has launched an industry leading pilot recycling program for clothes. According to EPA estimates, more than 21 billion pounds of clothes linen and other textiles were thrown away in 2010, almost all of which (85 percent) ended up in landfills. According to the UN Americans throw away more than 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per person per year.

The Northface recycling program is called "Clothes the Loop," it provides customers in ten participating North Face stores with bins where they can drop off apparel hats and footwear from any brand.

Items collected are then sent to an I:Collect (I:Co) which either resells them or recycles them. Money generated by the program will be donated to the Conservation Alliance, which funds community-based campaigns to protect outdoor areas.

Customers who donate used apparel earn discounts that can used towards the purchase of The North Face products.

Puma's Cradle to Cradle Sustainability Leadership

Puma is a Sportswear company that has taken sustainability leadership to the next level with the launch of its InCycle, footwear, apparel and accessories. This product line has earned Cradle to Cradle certification.

Cradle to Cradle certification involves the following five sustainability factors:

Video - "Thread" the Documentary Trailer

This educational video explains to consumers how fashion and textile production effect our health and the health of our environment.