Eco-Friendly Fashion is Not Just “Green Washing”

Among the fast-fading myths of eco-friendly clothing is that you’ll end up looking like a hippie and having to wear clothes that aren’t comfortable. eco-friendly clothing has come a long way from the days of scratchy, tie-dyed shirts. Now organic clothing is soft, stylish and luxurious.  Eco-friendly fashion is readily accessible and even affordable, when you buy from companies like The White Pebble.

But what happens as the demand for eco-friendly clothing grows? National sales of organic cotton–versatile, affordable and breathable—soared from $86 million in 2001 to $275 million in 2005, and double that figure for global sales (as reported by Organic Exchange). Such growth is due partly to major manufacturers and retailers which have been attempting to provide eco-friendly fashion to the general public. Some companies, however, use a blend of eco-friendly fibers and pesticide-grown fibers. The marketing companies sometimes paint products to be more green than they are. Other companies have simply dyed fabric green, or even offered green colored bracelets as “green fashion”. Deceptive marketing intended to align a major company with the eco-friendly movement is called “green washing”, and has become more prevelant as the demand for eco-friendly clothing has grown. “Green Washing” makes it hard for the average consumer to know what products to buy to truly benefit the environment.  At The White Pebble, however, we carefully screen our suppliers the ensure our products - be they bamboo clothing, hemp clothing, or organic cotton clothing - are made with certified organic and sustainable materials. Shopping at The White Pebble makes eco-fashion easy. You can shop with confidence knowing we offer eco-friendly clothing and that we won’t participate in “green washing”. We also like to think that our clothes make more of an individual statement in their style, so you’ll feel as good about your clothes as you look in them.

What sets eco-friendly fashion apart from conventionally produced garments is the environmental, ethical and even social considerations weaved into the design of each piece. It can be as simple as using a sustainable fabric like organic cotton and donating proceeds to an earth-friendly charity, or as extensive as providing ethical employment to offshore factory workers. Across the entire fashion spectrum, from accessories to haute couture, designers are finding ways to incorporate their green lifestyles into their work. At The White Pebble we go the extra step so that you can be assured that everything we sell meets the highest standards not only for organic materials, but also for ethically produced eco-friendly clothing.

Ultimately eco-friendly fashion shouldn’t be about following clever marketing trends. At The White Pebble, eco-friendly fashion is about recognizing the environmental costs involved in every decision and finding innovative ways to minimize that impact and help consumers make easier green choices.

Tags: bamboo clothing, eco friendly fashion, green fashion, organic clothes, organic cotton, organic cotton clothing