Eco-Friendly Fashion

Oh, synthetic fabrics! From the Teflon in our nonpress shirts, the wonder of nylon in that groovy jacket, and our favorite pieces crafted from acrylic—man-made materials abound in our closets. As much as we love them, though, their production has been linked to creating harmful greenhouse gases, and the chemicals used to make them can be damaging to our bodies.

It’s no wonder that the health-conscience fashion world has gone gaga over eco-friendly fashions, which don’t use synthetics or bleaches to color fabrics and are made by fairly paid laborers in healthy working environments. Once upon a time, eco fashion was a style adopted by tree-hugging hippies more concerned with spotted owls than couture, but these days designers and fashionistas alike are jumping on the eco bandwagon.

At last September’s Fashion Week, an event called “Be Eco Chic” was one of the hottest events of the week. Hosted by Angela Lindvall, the night was a showcase for eco fashion designs by hot-to-trot designers such as Carmen Marc Valvo, Chado Ralph Rucci, and Vena Cava. Even Alek Wek was there to promote her own eco bag collection, Wek 1933.

One of the most talked about collections—and a pioneer in the area—is Edun, founded by Ali Hewson and Bono in 2005. They specialize in organic clothing with a mission to drive sustainable employment in developing economies. Another recent launch with celebrity backing is Propr, by David Arquette and Ben Harper. The line, which launched in 2008, is filled with amusing tees and well-tailored separates for both gents and ladies.