After a six month hiatus it's time for a drive-by posting...
We're quite excited because we are hoping to start manufacturing our own clothing range. We'll start very small scale and want to get our clothes made in the UK in order to keep a close eye on things. We already have a designer/pattern cutter on board so we're currently looking around for fabrics that fit our ethos of sustainability and fair trade.
It's so tempting to use some of the new textiles that are made from bamboo and soy but we're resisting. Bamboo may sound squeaky-clean green but dig deeper and there are some inconvenient truths. The soy process (from what we've read) sounds better but since most soy is now genetically modified we're not interested in using fibre from that source either, unless we can guarantee GM-free raw ingredients.
We're looking at other innovative textiles, including those made from nettles, but our first collection is likely to be made from organic cotton, linen and hemp. We've already sourced a really pretty little organic cotton gingham (available from our online shop) that is not only hand-woven but also dyed with exclusively herbal dyes; no insect dyes are used - we do our best to steer clear of those.
We've also had some certified organic/fair trade cotton printed with a design by Lu Summers, a good friend of Eco Eco...
This will make very pretty blouses and summer dresses. We should be getting some more fabrics printed in our own designs soon - we're keen on spots so it's likely there will be some pretty spotty patterns involved, and perhaps a butch spot for the chaps.
We're always interested to receive suggestions for sustainable and fairly traded fabrics so feel free to comment.
6 comments:
Any chance of a range of eco clothes, particularly skirts and trousers, for the more curvy woman?
I find it really difficult to get clothes to fit my hourglass shape and would really love some well-fitting trousers that don't make me look like a sack of potatoes tied round the middle...
M
Our designer is curvy herself, and I have a big bum, so I guess the answer should be 'yes'! Our clothes range in our Derbyshire shop is quite extensive, if you can get along there, and many of the items suit those of us with less than perfect figures. We have some of the garments available on our website so it's always worth checking there too.
We haven't quite decided exactly what we'll be creating yet - stay tuned - and thanks for your feedback.
Hi Alison,
That sounds fantastic - thank you! I'll definitely visit your site and keep an eye on your blog.
I live in Cumbria, so a trip to Derbyshire would have to be planned, but I've got at least one trip there in the pipeline for this year, so I'll make sure I call in then too.
Thanks again!
M
Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on a marketing claim that may have ensnared many environmentally conscious buyers: "bamboo."
While clothing and other textiles may have started off, at some point, as the rapidly regenerative bamboo, the FTC says companies can't label rayon as bamboo, even if it's made from bamboo. Why? Because, according to the FTC: "Rayon is a man-made fiber created from the cellulose found in plants and trees and processed with harsh chemicals that release hazardous air pollution. Any plant or tree – including bamboo – could be used as the cellulose source, but the fiber that is created is rayon."
The FTC this week sent warning letters to 78 retailers about misguided use of "bamboo" marketing. Among the warned retailers: Amazon.com, Barney’s New York, Bed Bath & Beyond, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Bloomingdale’s, Costco Wholesale, Garnet Hill, Gold Toe, Hanes, Isotoner, JCPenney, Jockey, Kmart, Kohl’s, Land’s End, Macy’s, Maidenform, Nordstrom, Overstock.com, QVC, REI, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sears, Shop NBC, Spiegel, Sports Authority, Target, The Gap, The Great Indoors, Tommy Bahama, Toys R’ Us, Wal-Mart, and Zappos.com. Last year, the FTC sued several retailers for advertising rayon as bamboo.
"We need to make sure companies use proper labeling and advertising in their efforts to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers," David C. Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a prepared statement. "Rayon is rayon, even if bamboo has been used somewhere along the line in the manufacturing process."
If retailers and manufacturers fail to comply, the penalty can be severe: $16,000 per violation.
The FTC's consumer tips include this information about "bamboo" rayon:
Rayon made from bamboo uses "toxic chemicals in a process that releases pollutants into the air.
"Extracting bamboo fibers is expensive and time-consuming, and textiles made just from bamboo fiber don’t feel silky smooth."
"There’s also no evidence that rayon made from bamboo retains the antimicrobial properties of the bamboo plant."
"No traits of the original plant are left in the finished product."
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/bamboo-ftc-47020402#ixzz0ejTKYLqw
rajesh koul
M - look forward to seeing you at our shop.
Rajesh: Thanks for the detailed comment which proves our point. All the best.
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