The "wearin' o' the green" today takes on a whole new meaning.
On this St. Patrick's Day, many stylish items will be truly green as more Earth-friendly fabrics, made from fibers grown without chemicals, go mainstream.
The lineup includes organic cotton, silk, soy, linen, wool, hemp and even bamboo mdash; the snack of choice for giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta.
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JOEY IVANSCO/Staff |
| Bamboo isn't just for Zoo Atlanta's panda cub, Mei Lan, anymore. Items in the Panda Snack collection, such as this knit hoddie ($84) and tank top ($54), will be available in April. |
| This green clutch ($69), made from recycled candy wrappers and soda bottle labels, is by Nahui Ollin.
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Going green has even made it to the red carpet.
Lesley Chilcott, co-producer of the movie "An Inconvenient Truth," wore a strapless Linda Loudermilk gown made from organic bamboo corduroy and a ring from recycled metals last month to the Academy Awards.
It helps that fashions with eco (the acronym for environmentally conscious and organic) qualities are becoming more stylish and less hippie-chic.
Items range from soft shirts and pretty dresses to baby clothes and even wedding dresses.
"Eco is on the minds of consumers and businesses today," said Kevin Knaus, creative director of Material World, the largest fabric/trade fair in the country. "To help out designers and clothing manufacturers, we are adding an eco section to our fabrics wholesale division in September.
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Organic cotton represents an estimated 1 percent of cotton grown in the world, according to Organic Exchange, a non-profit California organization committed to expanding organic agriculture worldwide. Members of the exchange, including Nike, Timberland, Patagonia and Nordstrom, are working to increase those numbers by incorporating more organic cotton into their merchandise.
Nike plans to blend a minimum of 5 percent organic cotton into all its cotton merchandise by 2010, while expanding the number of 100 percent organic cotton products available.
Five percent of Nordstrom's exclusive clothing incorporates organic cotton, and the company plans to increase that amount in years to come, said spokesman John Bailey. The high-end retailer also offers organic cotton sheets and bath towels.
"So many retailers now want organic cotton that the demand may not be reached for three or four more years," said Knaus, an Atlanta resident.
"This will cost the producer and consumer a bit more, but in the long run, it will not be a matter of expense but a responsibility."
The Panda Snack line mdash; made from, you guessed it, bamboo mdash; is one of many new companies taking a green approach. Business partners Deborah Boria and Dearrick Knupp developed the idea after a trip to China, where they found that clothing made from bamboo is not only soft like silk, but it's also resistant to bacteria and microbes mdash; making it odor free.
"What's been exciting is having the ability to create stylish products in eco-materials that are better for the planet," Boria said.
Accessory designers also are jumping on the green bandwagon. Chic jewelry and handbags are made with everything from recycled candy wrappers and glass to fabric scraps and reclaimed wood.
At Citizen, the Eco-Drive watch uses the power of light for energy. The $135 watch, with a hunter green strap, can store enough juice to function for at least six months, even in the dark. Replacement batteries are not a factor, preventing the unnecessary disposal of watch batteries.
The green movement has even reached the wedding industry. In her book "Eco-Chic Weddings" (Hatherleigh Press, $12.95), author Emily Elizabeth Anderson offers ideas, products and resources for an environmentally responsible mdash; and stylish mdash; wedding.
And, no, you don't have to wear a green-colored gown. Instead, Anderson suggests recycling a dress mdash; opting for a family heirloom or a vintage store find.
"Going green doesn't mean you have to spend the green," she said.
Ready to spend green on green clothes? Here are a few options:
Eileen Fisher: The well-known designer recently added items made with organic cotton as well as new weaves and knits. Prices range from $68 to $258.
Fisher's organic tanks, pants and a short dress are available online at .
Under the Canopy: This company offers sportswear for the family. Prices range from $30 to $150.
Items are available at Whole Foods stores and www.underthecanopy.com.
Edun: Bono, the lead singer of U2, is behind this line of casual wear for men and women. Prices range from $155 to $225. It's available at Nordstrom online at .
Blue Canoe: The line offers sportswear for men and women, plus lingerie and baby clothes. Prices range from $17 to $68. At .
Luxury Eco: This collection features sexy couture clothes, including jeans, designed by former Atlantan Linda Loudermilk. A T-shirt costs about $45. Other tops and bottoms start around $150.
Mooncake Clothing Co. in Virginia-Highland will carry items from the line.
Panda Snack: The company uses bamboo, which is resistant to bacteria and microbes.
The line for men and women includes T-shirts, tanks, hoodies and dresses. Items range from $54 to $144. It will be available after
April 20 at Evoke, a new women's boutique in Emory Village.
Information: .
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