In today’s time when buying the perfect outfit is only a click away, the demand for trendy and “fast fashion” designs is becoming a problem for the earth. In this dire situation, there are certain designers and brands that have taken it on themselves to make and promote eco-friendly alternative apparel.
There are many leading brands that are working towards making a sustainable change with their zero waste policy. They believe in ethical manufacturing and hence, use organic fabrics like botanical fibers, organic cotton, and other recycled materials.
These eco-friendly alternative apparel pieces are chic in style and can easily be bought online on various websites like:
These ethical fashion brands not only use eco-friendly fabric but also non-toxic dyes while also promoting fair wage to their workers. Thus, these alternative fabrics prove to be both eco-friendly and worker-friendly.
The planet-friendly fabrics are made from renewable fibers that make it easy to produce. Careful look at water and energy needed to produce these fabrics and to recycle them makes the process sustainable.
How To Buy Eco-Friendly Alternative Apparel?
So, when you are buying these eco-friendly alternative apparel, this is what you need to look for:
Linen – Made from flax. It is a plant that needs the least amount of pesticides, fertilizer, and water as compared to cotton. It can also be easily recycled or composted.
Hemp – This is a crop that can be grown with the least amount of harmful chemicals and fertilizers. It can be used to create a wide variety of eco-friendly fabric.
Silk – Produced naturally by caterpillars called silkworms, this fabric is lightweight while also being durable. At the end of its life, it breaks down on its own. Though many ethical vegetarians do not use silk as it generally means killing the silkworm, there is an alternative to it. There is something called peace silk or vegan silk that is a cruelty-free alternative to it.
Organic Wool – Organic wool is produced on organic sheep farms that avoid using harmful chemicals and fertilizers. This leads to keeping both the sheep and pastures healthy. The manure of organic sheep farms can also be used to nourish the soil that will make the land healthy and strong.
Bamboo – Bamboo is a fast-growing plant and almost uses no pesticides at all. However, making fabrics from it does require the use of toxic chemicals. The most eco-friendly bamboo fabric is the “bamboo linen” that is made without the use of chemicals.
Alpaca – Native to Peru, these mammals have long hair that makes sustainable and beautiful fibers. The wools made from Alpaca is more eco-friendly as compared to cashmere.
Lyocell – Made from wood pulp, Lyocell is commonly known as Tencel. It is mostly made from eucalyptus wood as it grows quickly with the use of little chemicals and water. This fabric is easy to maintain as it is naturally wrinkle-free.
The Final Verdict: There is no way around it. We have to go all out for sustainable and eco-friendly alternative apparels for the future of our planet and its existence. After the oil industry, the fashion industry is the highest pollutant of our ecosystem. And, to stop this from happening we must opt for alternative apparels.
