A great gift idea for this holiday season is the gift of eco apparel. If you're a first time buyer of eco apparel follow this guide and you'll feel like a pro in no time!
1. Look for clothes and accessories that:
- are produced by a company that supports a charitable cause
- are produced responsibly (fair trade, no child labour)
- are made from sustainable materials (organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, recycled water bottles)
- are produced by companies that belong to 1% For The Planet
2. Getting started:
The simplest way to find out more about a company's mission and values is to go to its website. You'll often find information on social or environmental initiatives it supports.
3. The fabric
Bamboo
Bamboo is a plant that is said to be one of the fastest growing in the world, and is therefore a sustainable renewable resource. Because of this and the fact that it does not need any pesticides or fertilizers to grow it is considered to be very eco friendly. Some of the qualities of bamboo are; it is four times more absorbent than cotton, it is naturally antibacterial and it is able to wick away moisture from your body.
Bamboo is antibacterial because it carries a unique anti-bacteria and bacteriostasis called Kun. It is more absorbent and breathable because bamboo fiber contains a variety of micro holes which allow sweat to be absorbed rapidly.
Organically Grown Cotton
Organically grown cotton refers to cotton which is grown from seeds that are not treated or genetically modified. Organic cotton farms do not use herbicides to control weeds, or pesticides or insecticides to control insects or pests. This is significant because 25% of the world's insecticides and 10% of the world's pesticides are used to grow conventionally grown cotton.
Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal, when referring to clothing, is a naturally derived fiber that comes from coconut shells and bamboo plants. It carries many of the same qualities as bamboo, such as its ability to be antibacterial, wick away moisture and be extremely absorbent. It is ideal for work out wear and has all the benefits of dryfit apparel with none of the added chemicals.
Recycled Polyester
Recycled polyester is basically post consumer plastics, such as plastic pop bottles, which have been broken down and turned into PET. From here it is softened and pulled into long strands which are woven into fabric. Recycled polyester can be made into fleece products and water resistant clothing such as jackets, vests and pants.
