Sustainable Fashion and Clothing

Clothing manufacturers and fashion designers are coming together to address the environmental impact of the industry’s practices and the glut of “fast-fashion” clothing on the market.

Increasingly, savvy consumers are paying attention to sustainability when they hit the stores or think about what’s hanging in their closets.

The field of eco-focused fashion and clothing is gaining momentum. Manufacturers focus on lines and processes that reduce the mountains of material waste long associated with apparel. Companies like Coca-Cola are finding ways to turn recycled PET plastic into eco-apparel and merchandise such as t-shirts and tote bags.

Early in 2009, more than 300 fashion companies worldwide signed a code to reduce the industry’s environmental impact. Their efforts include use of more sustainable fibers and materials like bamboo and organic cotton, the reduction of waste and other practices.

Consumers can support this movement by doing their homework on designers and manufacturers that are working to introduce lines with “green” fabrics, designs that minimize waste and maximize longevity.