Fashion Footprint

DIY Eco-Friendly Feather Bracelet

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:25:00 -0400

Feather jewelry is a huge trend for Spring/Summer 2012! Celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens, Blake Lively, Miley Cyrus and Ke$ha have all been seen sporting feathered styles. Fashion Footprint will show you how to make a beaded feather bracelet that is environmentally friendly—and it will cost you under $20!

Fast Fashion: The Fast Path of Corruption

Sat, 05 May 2012 17:26:00 -0400

In today’s world, we like everything fast—from our food to our cars to our fashion. Fast fashion is a new business model retailers have adopted in order to cash in on the consumer’s constant demand for new products at a low price, but this business model is as bad for the planet as fast food is for our health.

Big retailers, such as Zara and H&M, are well-known for implementing the fast fashion business plan. A fast fashion system combines short production and distribution timeframes with trendy styles. Fast fashion is lucrative because consumers demand a constant flow of new items on the selling floors, but don’t want to pay top-dollar for trendy items.

Since consumers know that the products are stocked in limited quantities, a “buy-it-now” frenzy occurs, where the consumer impulsively buys the item before it runs out. This enables retailers to profit off the consumer’s spontaneous buying decisions. It also allows retailers to sacrifice the quality of the merchandise because, by the time the consumer gets the item home, he or she is unlikely to return it due to the constraints of the company’s return policy.

Photo Credit: HelloBeautiful

The environmental impact of the fast fashion business plan is serious. The quick production and turnover that the system demands means that retailers will overlook both the quality of the merchandise and will forego using lengthier processes that may be more eco-friendly.

The use of water is one of the biggest threats fast fashion presents to the environment. Huge quantities of water are used to produce clothing. According to the Protected Water Fund, the production of one pair of jeans requires 11,000 liters of water and a single t-shirt uses 400 liters. This is a huge amount of water waste on clothing considering the United Nations recommends individuals need a minimum of 50 liters of water per day for drinking, washing, cooking and sanitation.

Photo Credit:The Huffington Post

The excessive use of water, combined with the retailers’ need to use the cheapest materials available prevents retailers from using eco-friendly fabrics, like organic cotton. The price of organic cotton is too high for fast fashion retailers to consider using. Organic cotton is 10 to 45% higher than regular cotton, because what the consumer is paying for is the guarantee that it was produced with clean water, fresh air, fair wages, sweatshop-free production and with a minimal environmental footprint (Everman, 2007).

Not only does the fast fashion industry negatively impact the environment, it also puts the workers who produce the clothing in the factories at risk. The human impact of the fast fashion business is alarming and unethical. In order to keep the cost of the merchandise down, retailers outsource the production jobs to other countries, where workers will work for less wages. According to the U.S. National Labor Committee, some Chinese factory workers make as little as 12 to 18 cents per hour (Cladio, 2007).

Photo Credit: Environmental Health Perspective

Not only are workers subjected to unfair wages, they are also exposed to unsafe working environments. A report in the Environmental Health Perspective states:

A textile worker takes a break at dawn after sanding jeans all night at a clothing factory in Guangdong Province, China. The blue dust from the jeans is a heavy irritant to the lungs. The factory where this worker is employed uses a wear-and-tear process to achieve the fashionable distressed look for the approximately 10,000 pairs of jeans it produces every day. Thousands of workers labor around the clock scrubbing, spraying, and tearing jeans in order to meet the production demand. China is one of the world’s largest producers of jeans (Claudio, 2007).

The wildly popular fast fashion business model meets the demands of consumers for fashionable items at an affordable price and retailers strive to profit by supplying this demand. But, between its environmental and human impacts, fast fashion comes at a steep price—the cost of the earth and humanity.

Works Cited:

Claudio, L. (2007). Waste couture: Environmental impact of the clothing industry. Environmental Health Perspective, 115(9), A449-A454.

Everman, V. (2007). How eco is organic cotton? Gaiam Life. Retrieved from: http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-eco-organic-cotton-facts-7-questions

Protected Water Fund. (2007). Water shortage facts. Retrieved from: http://www.pwf.co.im/watershortage.htm

Water Neutral. Q&A. Retrieved from: http://www.waterneutral.org/faq.asp

This video shows the Raleigh Denim chambray pants (which are...

Fri, 04 May 2012 23:32:00 -0400

This video shows the Raleigh Denim chambray pants (which are sold in Barney’s) being hand-dipped in a 100% natural Indigo dye bath to achieve a distinct and beautiful dark blue color. It is so interesting to watch the process!

Designer of the Week: Raleigh Denim Workshop

Fri, 04 May 2012 21:01:00 -0400

Photo Credit: Raleigh Denim Workshop

Trying to find a good pair of jeans and also a pair of jeans that do good for the world is almost impossible. In a small retail store in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina lies Raleigh Denim Workshop, where the impossible is made possible.

Raleigh Denim Workshop is a denim company run by Sarah and Victor Lytivenko, a husband-and-wife team, that is known for its well-made jeans that fit immaculately. Raleigh Denim produces styles with both fit and sustainability in mind. The team handcrafts the jeans using locally-sourced materials, all which come from within 200 miles of Raleigh.

Photo Credit: Raleigh Denim Workshop

Using vintage machines, the Lytivenkos design, sew, wash and finish each garment in the workshop. Each pair is produced as a limited-edition style and is inspected to ensure optimal quality. The Lytivenkos hand-sign the inside pocket to signify the jeans have passed inspection.

“We want people to know that every single pair is made by real people,’ said Sarah to Nylon Magazine.

Aa worker cuts through many layers of denim. PC: Raleigh Denim Workshop

An inside pocket, hand-signed by Victor and Sarah Lytivenko. PC: The Daily Green

There are many ways in which Raleigh Denim is benefitting the community. The company’s commitment to quality over quantity and individual input over automation, is in many ways a regressive notion that has turned progressive in an age where everything we consume is mass produced.

Sourcing raw materials locally, hiring actual people (and not computers), and producing items individually was the way production worked before mass production and outsourcing became popular. Raleigh Denim has reinstituted these antiquated ideas, and in the process, has shown that their unique business model can help revive the textiles industry and foster job growth in the U.S.

“Our company has grown to a size that is literally sustainable: a ‘sweet spot’ for small manufacturing, where we fit into the bigger industrial pipeline but are able to stay true to our ideals,” said Victor in a journal article about Raleigh Denim. “…We’ve had time to train our team and everyone is working effectively. We’ve grown organically, but steadily…”

Raleigh Denim’s focus on staying local and growing jobs in America is the reasoning behind the company’s choice to not use organic cotton. Victor told The Green Daily that using local cotton made more sense to him than shipping organic cotton from Pakistan or India. This decision enables him to work closely with local farmers and encourage them to start farming organically in the future.

Photo Credit: Raleigh Denim Curatory

Raleigh Denim also has a retail store, called the Curatory, where the jeans are sold alongside other items picked out by the couple. An array of items, such as bags, books, jewelry and perfumes, lay alongside neat racks of denim pants, collared shirts and lace shorts, creating a unique experience that makes one wonder if they have stumbled into an unchartered vintage boutique.

Raleigh Denim can be found in the Curatory, Barney’s New York and boutiques across America, as well as in Europe and Japan.

“When we moved in, we put the North Carolina state motto — ‘to be rather than to seem’ — on the front wall because it sums up what we’re aiming for,” said Victor. “I think we’ve found a good balance, and from here will push ourselves to learn more, and create more.”

Designer of the Week: Beulah London

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:24:00 -0400

Do you ever feel guilty after spending a lot of money on a shopping spree? With Beulah London, you will never have buyer’s remorse.

Beulah London is a luxury brand started by Natasha Rufus Isaacs and Lavinia Brennan, whose inspiration for the label stemmed from their mutual love of fashion and desire to create social change. Beulah London is known for its beautiful, timeless pieces that are completely wearable and versatile enough for either day or night.

Creative directors of Beulah London, Natasha Rufus Isaacs and Lavinia Brennan. Photo Credit: Beulah London

The UK-based retailer is inspired by the energy of India, a country the label has worked with to institute its ethical, fair trade practices. When Natasha and Lavinia took a trip to India in October 2009, the women worked with victims of trafficking in the southern slums of Delhi. From this experience stems the charitable heart of Beulah London, a company committed to making a social impact while producing beautiful and ethically sourced clothing. Now, Beulah London aides women who have been victims of the rampant sex trade in India and the United Kingdom. The brand donates 10% of all proceeds towards community-based projects in India that are helping to alleviate the sex trafficking issue.

Photo Credit: ADRA

According to an official estimate from the Dalit Freedom Network, there are 3 million prostitutes in India, and of these, 1.2 million are children. Some believe these numbers to be even higher— there are NGO reports that indicate there may be up to 15 million sex workers in India. The brand also recognized the need for aid in their own country when the Association of Chief Police Officers reported that there were up to 12,000 women being forced into sex slavery in the United Kingdom.

The Spring/Summer 2012 collection is vivid and cheery—mixing rich hues like coral, fuchsia and royal blue with girly prints. The collection features flattering styles such as v-necklines, empire waist dresses and airy maxi skirts and dresses.

Photo Credit:Beulah London

The styles are made out of luxurious silk and cotton and retail for between £100 and £600.

For more information, visit www.BeulahLondon.com or find them on Facebook & Twitter!

Works Consulted:

Dalit Freedom Network UK, (2012). Modern slavery in India: Sex trafficking. Retrieved from: http://dfn.org.uk/trafficking/sex-trafficking.html

India's Environmental Footprint: A Story of Sustainable Development

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:00:00 -0400

As a developing country, India is working towards a brighter future through sustainable development. In the past few years, the Centre for Sustainable Fashion worked on a project to introduce sustainable textiles in India. Partnering with the Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affiars (Defra), the project worked to introduce ecological textiles in India, position India into the sustainable textiles market and enable India to trade eco-friendly textiles to retailers in the United Kingdom.

A second project was initiated to revamp the Indian dye houses in order to make them more eco-friendly. From 2009 through 2011, Color Connections Ltd. worked with the Indian dye houses that supply the UK market to reduce the environmental impact of the houses.

Women in a village in India pick the cotton crops. PC: CNN

These projects are examples of the progress India is making in sustainable development and agriculture. India’s production of textiles accounts for 14% of its production and 17% of the country’s exports. India exports its textiles worldwide, and according to Defra’s Sustainable Clothing Roadmap, while India’s textile export industry is an economic success story that grosses over $500 billion, the industry has a serious environmental and social footprint associated with its supply chain.

An assessment was done to find out exactly what India’s environmental impact was before it moved towards sustainable development. Researchers assessed its use of water, its greenhouse gas emissions and its chemical pollution. It was determined that Indian cotton was the worst offender of all the textiles.

Indian cotton accounts for 16% of the world’s production and provides jobs for 40 to 50 million people (Hussain, 2010). However, the cotton industry is known to use large quantities of water and chemicals during the process.

An organic cotton farmer carries a bale of cotton. PC: Greta Blue

India is now offering fair trade, organic cotton and has emerged as the second least expensive producer of organic cotton behind Tanzania. The fair trade and organic combination appeals to retailers abroad because it is good for marketing.

The Maikaal Project worked to transform the way cotton was being produced in India. It helped to lessen the agricultural impact on the environment as well as yield higher profits for the farmers by substituting synthetic fertilizers and pesticides with organic farming techniques. In 2005, Maikaal bioRe® was established in central India and the initiative set up 1500 small farms and produced 1,000 tons of cotton.

An organic farm from the Maikaal Project in central India. Photo Credit: ETH

Though there are still several issues to overcome, the future for sustainable development in India is promising. By switching to eco-friendly agriculture, the farmers are likely to yield more profit from the crops while reducing their impact on the environment.

Works Consulted:

Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs, (2009). Sustainable clothing roadmap: Summary of Defra commissioned projects under the sustainable clothing action plan. Retrieved from: http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/products/roadmaps/documents/summary-projects-sustain-clothing-ap.pdf

Hussain, A. (2010). Sustainable textiles for fashion from India. Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs. Retrieved from: http://sd.defra.gov.uk/2010/09/sustainable-textiles-for-fashion-from-india/

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, (2011). The impact of organic cotton cultivation on the livelihood of Indian smallholders. Research Fellowship Partnership Programme. Retrieved from: http://www.rfpp.ethz.ch/fellowships/concluded_fellowships/organiccotton

Happy Earth Day! Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Restore....

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:59:59 -0400

Happy Earth Day!

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Restore. Replenish.

"It’s got to be fashion and not what people perceive as ‘organic fashion’—..."

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:58:00 -0400

““It’s got to be fashion and not what people perceive as ‘organic fashion’— those hippie oatmeal, type of clothing—they have to be gorgeous clothes. Otherwise, no one would buy them.””

- Katharine Hamnett

Designer of the Week: Ambika Boutique

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:25:00 -0400

Those fur-loving fashionistas who were disappointed to hear about the harmful impact fur farming has on the environment can rest easy knowing that other options are available.

Our designer of the week, Ambika Conroy, is an excellent example of how, with a little creativity and a working knowledge of sustainable agriculture, the fashion industry can evolve to become more environmentally friendly.

“I just couldn’t understand why we had to torture and kill all these sweet animals, when we could make an equally warm and luxurious product humanely,” Conroy said on her website.

Designer Ambika Conroy with one of her Angora rabbits. Photo Courtesy of Ambika

Ambika Boutique offers a Friendlyfur line of accessories and attire that is made out of Angora rabbit fiber. The Angora rabbits are raised on Conroy’s farm in Upstate New York where they are loved, cared for and humanely shorn and sheared.

“My first two [Angora rabbits] lived with me in Brooklyn and would hang out on the couch and watch movies,” Conroy said on her website. “I sought out spinning classes after their fiber started piling up, and my obsession continued from there.”

Photo Courtesy of Ambika

The bunnies have a natural molting cycle of three months, and when the fiber length reaches a minimum of three inches, Conroy shears the animals and spins the fiber into yarn. After shearing, the raw material is washed with a natural detergent to ensure that it is clean. This step will also remove most of the fur’s allergenic properties. Next, the fur is carded, or brushed, to align the fibers and is then spun into a single strand. Finally, two of the single strands are spun together to form a durable 2-ply yarn that is ready to be crocheted!

Ambika Boutique offers a wide-variety of products—from furry mittens to a luxurious fur jacket. Prices range from $145 for some of the accessories up to $1,800 for the jacket.

Photo Courtesy of Ambika

Consumers can customize their order by choosing from an array of pewter closures that are hand cast by a company in the United States of America. Ambika also gives customers a choice of color. Ambika offers a variety of of natural colors like white, oatmeal, caramel, chocolate and grey.

Photo Courtesy of Ambika

Each garment is handmade by a group of women in the Catskill Mountains of New York, who Conroy employs to help her crochet the garments. Since all orders are custom-made, the company asks customers to please allow anywhere from two to eight weeks for delivery, depending on the size of the order.

Ambika also offers a collection of crochet swimwear that takes on a completely different aesthetic, proving the versatility of the Angora yarn.

Photos Courtesy of Ambika

Prices for the bikinis range from $125 to $325 and come in a variety of styles, colors and prints. The beautiful swimwear is a must-have for the upcoming summer season. To order, please visit www.AmbikaBoutique.com!

Pelt Propaganda: Why "Eco-Friendly Fur" is a Fur-ocious Lie

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 01:26:00 -0400

The fashion industry’s use of fur has been a contentious topic for decades, but the introduction of fur as an eco-friendly material may be the biggest piece of fiction conjured up by the fur industry to date.

Furriers are trying to “greenwash” the industry by using deceptive marketing to convince consumers that fur is natural, and therefore, environmentally friendly. While animal fibers do occur naturally and are a renewable resource, the environmental impact of harvesting the material is considerable due to the amount of pesticides and chemicals used to produce the fur and the by-products of the animals themselves—all of which contribute to water and air pollution, as well as global warming [1].

An advertisement run by the European Fur Breeders’ Association that was banned in March 2012 for claiming fur is eco-friendly. Photo Courtesy of Guardian Sustainable Business

According to the International Trade Fur Federation, eighty-five percent of the animal skins come from fur farms [2]. These animals produce waste that can lead to pollution and disrupt nearby water supplies. For example, Bursjian (2003) said that each mink produces 44 pounds of feces during the span of its life on the farm [3]. According to a USDA report, in 2010 there were 2,822,200 minks killed for their fur in the United States [4]. This means that 124,176,800 pounds of waste containing phosphorus, a harmful by-product found in the urine and feces of animals, was released into the environment. This results in abnormally high levels of phosphorous in the soil. Subsequently, the erosion of the farmland can lead to water pollution, as well as eutrophication—the excessive richness of nutrients in a body of water, which causes algae to thrive and animals to die from a lack of oxygen [5].

A lake that has been affected by eutrophication, seen in the overgrowth of algae. Photo Courtesy of Soil Net

Not only does raising livestock contribute to water pollution, it also affects air quality. The animals on the farm release ammonia into the air through the by-products of their waste [6]. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (2004), ammonia emissions contribute to the formation of smog in the air. In the United States, smog has decreased natural visibility from 90 miles to between 15 and 20 miles in the East and from 140 miles to between 35 and 90 miles in the West [6]. The ammonia emissions pose a threat to the air quality of our planet by acidifying the soil, exacerbating the problem of eutrophication and increasing the amount of smog.

Smog over Los Angeles, California. Photo Courtesy of Steven Buss (via Flickr)

Ammonia emissions can also have a negative impact on human health. The exposure to the chemical may result in irritation of the eyes and lungs. Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established that an employee may be exposed to ammonia of 50 ppm over an eight-hour period, while the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists only recommends that a worker be exposed to 35 ppm of for 15 minutes [6]. These regulations may protect people when the ammonia levels are being regulated indoors, but if the levels of ammonia continue to rise, the outdoor pollution may result in widespread health issues. The chemical is dangerous because ammonia compounds to form very small particulate matter, which is especially dangerous because its small size allows it to penetrate deep into the lungs. Several community health studies reported a spike in respiratory and cardiovascular issues associated with particulate matter with 2.5 microns or less [6]. Particulate matter with this diameter will put children, the elderly and individuals who suffer from cardiovascular or lung disease at the most risk [6].

Photo Courtesy of Cobalt123 (via Flickr)

For years the fashion industry has debated over the ethical issue of wearing fur, but now the fur industry has used words like “natural” to indicate that fur is eco-friendly. This is pelt propaganda—lies created to greenwash the fur industry and reposition it as an environmentally friendly material. The truth about fur is that the farms where the animals are harvested are harming human health and having a devastating impact on the earth.

References:

[1] Hethorn, J. & Ulasewicz, C. (2008). Sustainable fashion: Why now?: A conversation bout issues, practices, and possibilities (p. 330). New York, NY: Fairchild Books, Inc.

[2] International Trade Fur Federation. (2009). Fast Facts. Retrieved from: http://www.iftf.com/#/facts-sheets/2/

[3] PETA. Wool, fur, and leather: Hazardous to the environment. Retrieved from: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/wool-fur-and-leather-hazardous-to-the-environment.aspx

[4] United States Department of Agriculture. (2011, July 8). Minks. Retrieved from http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/Mink/Mink-07-08-2011.txt

[5] Net Industries. Phosphorus. JRank Science Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://science.jrank.org/pages/5141/Phosphorus.html

[6] Gay, G.W. & Knowlton, K.F. (2009). Ammonia emission and animal agriculture. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from: http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/442/442-110/442-110_pdf.pdf

Watch the MADE WITH LOVE IN NAIROBI video by Ethical Fashion...

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:06:00 -0400

Watch the MADE WITH LOVE IN NAIROBI video by Ethical Fashion Africa Project, an eco-friendly and ethical fashion project created by our designer of the week, Vivienne Westwood (via DameVivienneWestwood)

Designer of the Week: Vivienne Westwood

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:59:00 -0400

Fashion mogul Vivienne Westwood has launched an ethical fashion project in Africa called Ethical Fashion Africa. Westwood has partnered with the International Trade Centre in the Ethical Fashion Programme in order to improve the lives of people by working to produce retail items.

”It gives people control over their lives. Charity doesn’t give them control—it makes them dependent,” said Westwood in the brand’s video, Made With Love In Nairobi.

The project currently supports over 7,000 women living in some of the poorest communities in the world. Westwood has set up a business model that gives these women opportunities to work and earn wages that can cover medical expenses and other basic needs.

Photo Courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar

Photo courtesy of Juergen Teller for Vivienne Westwood A/W 2011-2012 Gold Label collection

The goal of the Ethical Fashion Africa collection is to inspire the creation of enterprises in Africa. From there, workers can train future generations to become skilled laborers, which will ultimately raise the standard of living in these poverty-stricken communities.

”I love my job because it has enabled me to move on with my life, so I gain from it,” said Winfred Wangari, the production supervisor of Ethical Fashion Africa. “It has helped me a lot. I am proud of it.”

Photo courtesy of Juergen Teller for Vivienne Westwood A/W 2011-2012 Gold Label collection

Ethical Fashion Africa not only pays fair wages and provides dignified working conditions, but also works to protect the environment.

”I am traumatized by the problem of climate change. It’s really changed my life. My outlook on the world is completely different,” said Westwood. “In fact, I think that everybody’s outlook on the world is completely different…The human race never looked out on such a future. We always kept on going thinking the world was our oyster, we could do what we wanted. Now we realize we can’t.”

Photo courtesy of Juergen Teller for Vivienne Westwood A/W 2011-2012 Gold Label collection

Ethical Fashion Africa includes an accessories line that are handmade in Kenya from recycled materials, as well as a ready-to-wear collection. The brand continues to grow and expand the project in an attempt to create a better world.

”It’s quite incredible to think that we may save the world through fashion,” said Westwood.

Photos Courtesy of Vivienne Westwood

Photos Courtesy of Purl Alpaca Designs Chic alpaca knitwear that...

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:48:29 -0400

Photos Courtesy of Purl Alpaca Designs

Chic alpaca knitwear that is easy on the environment AND the eyes.

Reduce Your Carbon Hoofprint: Choose Alpaca Fiber

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:32:00 -0400

As a child, I visited an alpaca farm in upstate New York on a road trip with my family. It was one of those unplanned (and unwanted) adventures that gave my parents an opportunity to rest from the long drive and gave my brothers and I the chance to complain. In response to my whining—or perhaps as punishment for it—my parents convinced me to ride the alpaca. Cautiously, I approached the animal, as the farmhand gave me a boost onto the beast.

Photo Courtesy of Fly Over People

When I got up there, I exhaled a sigh of relief, then quickly inhaled through my mouth to avoid the strong stench of farm manure. I wasn’t enjoying myself and grew even more miserable when the animal began walking around the pen. Anxiously, I grabbed onto the fleece of its neck and tried to stabilize myself.

Two things became clear to me very quickly: first, that I wasn’t cut out for farm life, and second, that I was most certainly going to fall off. I left the ranch that day with a bump on my behind and a new pair of soft, Peruvian-patterned mittens. It was at that moment that my love affair with alpaca fleece began.

Photo Courtesy of Estates Net

Alpaca fiber is an eco-friendly fabric that has a less harmful impact on the environment than traditional wool. It is soft, lightweight and very fine. Alpaca wool also insulates extremely well; it is five times warmer than sheep’s wool.

Alpaca fiber is easier to process than sheep’s wool. Sheep’s wool contains a grease called lanolin, which is extracted by pressing the sheep’s wool through rollers. Lanolin is an allergen that can irritate human skin, and therefore requires more scouring agents. Alpaca fiber is hypoallergenic and can be cleaned without using harsh chemicals.

The fiber comes in 22 different shades of colors that can be blended together to create varying shades of yarn without the use of dyes. Alpaca fiber will take dye very well if other colors are desired, and natural dyes, such as indigo or pomegranate rind, may be used.

Photo Courtesy of Purl Alpaca Designs

Also, alpacas do not cause over-grazing like other farm animals. Alpacas have unique physical properties that lessen their impact on their surroundings. Alpacas have padded feet that do not rip up the grass like hooves do and unusual front incisor teeth that allow alpacas to graze differently than other species; alpacas eat just the tops of the grasses, leaving the roots in tact.

Finally, alpacas are raised primarily in South America and the United States. By buying alpaca products, consumers can support sustainable small farm businesses locally, domestically or abroad.

While I may not be jumping at the chance to ride an alpaca ever again, I have certainly jumped on the alpaca fiber bandwagon!

This video by our Designer of the Week EDUN is amazing! The...

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:19:00 -0400

This video by our Designer of the Week EDUN is amazing! The butterflies and unique look of the models really conveys the beauty and cultural richness of the brand’s aesthetic.

Designer of the Week: EDUN

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:26:00 -0400

Photo Courtesy of EDUN

EDUN is a global fashion brand founded in 2005 by U2 singer, Bono, and his wife, Ali Hewson. EDUN is a socially-conscious contemporary clothing line, offering both men’s and women’s collections, that was born from a love of fashion and a desire to create change.

EDUN founders, Bono and Ali Hewson Photo Courtesy of African Fashion Guide

The brand works to create labor opportunities in developing countries by employing ethical business models that promote trade and commerce in countries such as Tunisia, Peru, Kenya, Madagascar and more. With a focus on Africa, EDUN has brought about positive change by virtue of its unique trading relationship and ethical labor practices.

The company obeys fair labor laws and EDUN requires all the factories it works with to abide by all legal labor and health and safety regulations. The brand sends auditors to inspect factories bi-annually and asks employees for recommendations to improve the work conditions.

“We wanted to show that you can make a for-profit business where everybody in the chain is treated well,” Hewson said to Time Magazine.

Hewson was inspired to create EDUN through her extensive travels and charity work in Africa that revealed the poverty and poor working conditions the laborers were subjected to.

“I would prefer to know that the clothes I buy for my children weren’t made by someone else’s children,” Hewson said to Time Magazine.

EDUN co-founder Ali Hewson Photo Courtesy of Crispin Rodwell

EDUN is based on “four respects”, which includes respect for the people who make the product, respect for the community where it is made, respect for the materials use and respect for the consumer who buys the clothing.

Photos Courtesy of EDUN

Edun is currently available in Selfridges and Liberty in London in the United Kingdom, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus in the United States, and several stores throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The brand’s success continues to inspire growth in Africa.

Bamboo: Fashion Friend or Foe?

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:51:37 -0400

Photo Courtesy of David via Flickr

Bamboo is is known as ―the friend of the people in China, “the wood of the poor” in India, “the brother” in Vietnam and, now, “the alternative to cotton” in the eco-friendly fashion industry (Farrelly 1984). But don’t be bamboozled by the bamboo hype: is it really a sustainable textile?

The Pros

Bamboo is a renewable resource and is one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Bamboo can grow up to four feet per day and be harvest 3 to 4 times a year. It also has the capability to capture carbon emissions.

“Bamboo can sequester carbon faster than similar fast-growing tree species such as Chinese fir and eucalyptus when properly managed,” said Coosje Hoogendoorn, director-general of International Network for Bamboo and Rattan to the Environmental News Network.

Bamboo also grows organically, without the need for irrigation, pesticides or chemical fertilizers. This is due to its anti-microbial properties, known as “bamboo kun”. The bamboo reeds are naturally hollow, which creates gaps in the fiber; these gaps can “absorb and evaporate human skin moisture just as the bamboo plant absorbs and evaporates moisture in the ecosystem” (INBAR 2004). Bamboo’s anti-microbial properties, along with its silky hand, ultra-violet protection, ability to drape and anti-static nature, makes the fabric ideal for casual clothing and fitness apparel.

Although bamboo possesses properties that are favorable and eco-friendly, it has its drawbacks.

The Cons

Although bamboo does not require chemicals or fertilizers to grow, it does require chemicals to be processed from its raw state into a textile. Heavy-duty chemical solvents, such as sodium hydroxide, carbon disulfide and chlorine are used to process bamboo into fabrics. These toxic chemicals are released, polluting the air, and even waterways or landfills. Also, it is important to note that while bamboo will grow without fertilizers or pesticides, some farmers may use them nonetheless. It is important to make sure that the company is organic certified.

The anti-microbial and silky properties of bamboo fabrics are currently being disputed. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, stated in a consumer alert that “the soft ‘bamboo’ fabrics on the market today are rayon. They are made using toxic chemicals in a process that releases pollutants into the air. Extracting bamboo fibers is expensive and time-consuming, and textiles made just from bamboo fiber don’t feel silky smooth.”

Finally, the ability of bamboo to capture carbon emissions is counteracted by the deforestation that is taking place in China. Farmers are clearing lots of land in order to grow large bamboo forests for a profit. The deforestation threatens rare animal species, such as the pandas and mountain gorillas, and increase CO2 emissions.

The eco-friendliness of bamboo fabric is still a contentious topic. Bamboo is a renewable resource that has favorable properties for clothing, however, companies are currently misleading consumers about the origins and production processes of the textiles. Perhaps advancements in the future will allow the industry to produce bamboo fabric that is truly eco-friendly.

Works Cited:

Farrelly, D. (1984). The Book of Bamboo: A comprehensive guide to this remarkable

plant, its uses, and its history. London, Thames and Hudson.

INBAR. (2004). Bamboo—A brief introduction: a unique resource for livelihoods

development. INBAR Development Pages. Retrieved from:

http://www.inbar.int/livelihood/doc/Bamboo%20Introduction%20Devpage.pdf

Designer of the Week: ORGANIC by John Patrick

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:32:00 -0400

Photo Courtesy of The New York Times

“Certain things can make you really happy — a good vanilla cupcake is one. A fun pair of jeans rolled up to the knee is another,” John Patrick says.

Here at Fashion Footprint, we agree. A great pair of jeans can instantly lift your mood (and your butt), especially when those jeans are made completely out of recycled or sustainable cotton.

For close to a decade Patrick has been challenging the idea that eco-fashion means boring, beige t-shirts with his line, ORGANIC by John Patrick. The brand’s deep appreciation for style and nature fuels its desire to respect the environment and give back to the community.

Photo Courtesy of ORGANIC by John Patrick

While most designers can be found working in skyscrapers in the garment districts of major metropolitan cities, Patrick resides in the Hudson Valley, where he finds himself inspired by the farmers, locally-grown produce and poets of the past.

”The Hudson Valley has great farmers and great produce…” Patrick told MindBodyGreen. “I enjoy and cherish my trees and the great artists who chose to live here before me, like Thomas Cole and Frederic Edwin Church. They are my heroes and my mentors. I walk in the footsteps of people who were pioneers and were not afraid to be original.”

The fact that ORGANIC uses eco-friendly materials and ethical practices is only one reason to love the line. ORGANIC is cool, contemporary workwear that focuses on detail, silhouette and durability. ORGANIC offers the modern woman clothing that is transparent. Patrick believes consumers have the right to know where the clothing they buy is sourced from.

Photo Courtesy of ORGANIC by John Patrick

“Our entire business is run on a very small scale so that it itself is the sustainable anchor,” Patrick told Exposed Zippers. “I have pioneered many initiatives such as source maps, transparency, advocacy for farmers and seed-saving campaigns all over the world.”

From his use of botanical dyes, locally-sourced and recycled fabric and eco-friendly production processes to his commitment to exploring innovative techniques, Patrick has emerged as a pioneer in the eco-fashion industry.

The Environmental Impact of the Fashion Industry (via Fashion...

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:34:53 -0400

The Environmental Impact of the Fashion Industry (via Fashion Footprint)