Eco-Threads: Sustainable Fashion Brands Demystified

Fashion is nothing if not about trends, and fashion brands are embracing the latest fad: sustainability. From John Varvatos’ “Think Green” tees and hemp sweater to YSL’s chic designs made from leftover fabrics, designers have been implementing sustainable, eco-friendly ideals into their garments and accessories as the demand for ethically and environmentally conscious attire increases.

If the CFDA’s recent Fashion’s Night Out is any indicator, the fashion industry is rethinking and re-strategizing, as lackluster sales and the demise of major fashion houses provided continual financial blows. Clearly, embracing the green trend could prove beneficial for fashion, from its top-tier couture pieces all the way down to mass-marketed, mass-produced items.

Before designers run out and buy all the world’s bamboo and organic cotton supplies for their fledgling line, however, Treehugger.com has done a nice job of compiling a list of the issues that face sustainability in fashion, from costly manufacturing to “greenwashing,” the act of branding a product or service environmentally friendly when it clearly isn’t.Continue reading...