It wasn’t so long ago the first “hemp” clothing stores opened and turned on a new generation to natural fibers and ecologically friendly, though often not-so-fashionable, style trends.
But in this oil hungry, greenhouse gas guzzling world, eco-fashion has now made many more inroads – and it’s come up looking stylishly ravishing afterall.
Soy Sweaters and Tire Sandals
Fabrics are now made with natural vegetable dyes and pesticide-free cotton, soy, bamboo and coconut fibre for built-in sun protection and a 21st century chic. Accessories are molded from recycled plastic and paper bags, discontinued packaging, discarded vinyl and even recycled tin cans. The green trend boasts sweatshop free labor for a finish that’s sweet to workers and easy on the environment too.
Green From The Roots Down
Hair too has gone green (though not in the way you might think). There are a lot of hair products that are animal-cruelty free with fewer toxic chemicals than ever. Formulas have been devised to take the harmful-to-the-environment chemicals out of shampoos and conditioners while maintaining the desire for long lasting lather and a way to keep the kink in your hair.
The Green Fan Club
And who’s buying into this gotta-be-green movement? Celebrities and stylists alike. Cameron Diaz and Lindsay Lohan have been spotted sporting trendy eco-friendly handbags. Natalie Portman and Kyra Sedgewick are eco-friendly. And Sean Penn and Bono are big backers. Kate Hudson and her stylist have recently come up with a line of nature-friendly hair products and are now developing a similar cosmetics line.
Green Chic
Early adopters of eco-sensitive materials include a lot of outdoor athletics stores such as Patagonia, Timberland and Mountain Equipment Co-op. Great for hikes but not really cocktail hour style. Happily there are now a number of options from a growing number of young designers. Stella McCartney whose mother Linda was famously anti-fur, has long been pushing green chic in the fashion world. But for those who might find designer labels a bit unfriendly to their wallets, there’s always the prospect of browsing through pre-loved fashions at second hand stores for vintage clothing that’s still got it. And that’s something no celebrity can get away with!
