1.14.2011 11:51 AM

4 Hot Eco Friendly Fashion Trends

From snug organic jeans to trendy shoes and the freshest designers, here's what's in.

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model on runway at eco fashon week vancouver

Emesha Fashion at Vancouver's Eco Fashion Week.

Photo: Peter Holst

By Great Green Idea Staff

The trend toward designing, manufacturing and purchasing green fashion is increasing with each year. News reports from around the world tell of a growing number of major department stores that are carrying natural clothing and accessories. And now more than ever before, designers are leaning toward green in their fashion lines, from the fabrics used to the process of making the clothing. By all accounts the fashion industry is just as enthusiastic in their efforts to heal the planet as all others.

Vancouver's Eco Fashion Week

This year was the first fashion week for the city of Vancouver, which is quickly becoming a green city. The clothing offered by the designers was stylish as well as wearable. Everyone that had even a small part in this event coming together showed that it's possible to run a successful business while utilizing sustainable solutions.

Even the event's organizer acknowledged that trends are changing for the better, even in her personal decisions. She once owned over 100 pairs of shoes but now she is an advocate for green fashion. She has worked tirelessly to organize the designers, buyers and attendees during this eco friendly, week-long fashion event.

Trendy Shoes

A new trend in eco fashion is stylish, earthy friendly shoes and boots for men and women. Large stores like Dillards and Nordstrom, as well as online boutiques, carry eco-friendly designer shoes such as Naya and others in a wide variety of styles and sizes.

Naya shoes are colored with vegetable dyes and glued with water-based cements. Natural cork is also used in the footwear, and their shoe boxes are made with recycled paper pulp and soy-based ink.

Freedom of Expression in Green Fashion Design

Designers more than ever are boldly offering earth friendly designs in their lines. Take Korto Momolu, who says her designs come from their sense of environmental responsibility as well as creativity. Although they do not have a "take it or leave it" attitude by any means, they do not shy away from putting their natural clothing on runways and in stores.

Korto Momolu became well known as a featured designer on Project Runway. She incorporates her African roots into her versatile clothing. She is also the designer of an entirely eco friendly line of jewelry.

Green Jeans

Pepe Jeans has recently introduced a new line of organic denims. Although Pepe is an extremely popular line of premium jeans in India, the introduction of the organic jeans is their effort to incorporate casual and denim wear for men and women into their line. The denims are manufactured using an ozone technology that greatly reduces the amount of water, energy and toxic chemicals used in the process. They are made from organically grown cotton.

More familiar in the U.S., Levi's is also upping their green offerings, with their recent introduction of WaterLess jeans. According to the company, the average pair of jeans uses 42 liters of water in the finishing process, while the WaterLess collection reduces water use by an average of 28%, and up to 96%. This move is expected to save 16 million liters of water for the spring 2011 lines.

The future of green fashion is bright, as consumers are increasingly asking for it, and designers are putting their talents to work, making fashions that are more sustainable as well as more beautiful.

This article was written by the staff of www.GreatGreenIdea.com, a site dedicated to teaching about great green ideas and healthy green living. The goal of the site is to help the public on the quest for "Guilt Free Green Living."

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