The growing popularity and increased availability of eco-friendly clothing in both the retail environment and the advertising specialty industry led us to take a new look at what is being offered. Garments created for the advertising specialty industry, in contrast to retail, need to be available across all sizes and in sufficient inventory to accommodate large events. Colors and styling must accommodate popular trends while remaining consistent from year to year, and suitable for decoration.
Eco-friendly fabrics in general are those that have been made using environmentally safe, renewable, and sustainable processes. Eco-friendly fibers are the raw materials used to manufacturer textiles with no or minimum use of chemically-based pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, that employ best practice land management, and that adhere to fair trade practices. The eco-friendly garments most widely available for promotional purposes include those made from organic cotton, soybeans, hemp, bamboo, flax and recycled polyester. Following is a review of the benefits and characteristics of each of those fabrics to keep in mind when considering eco-friendly garments for your next program or event.
Organic Cotton: Production is governed by federal standards for compliance throughout the entire process from soil management, seed preparation, cultivation, harvest and manufacturing. The end product is not as pure white as traditional cotton. Pricing has been decreasing as a result of increasing availability throughout the overall market. Clothing made from Organic Cotton is soft, comfortable, and performs well in business casual and casual settings. Benefits include fewer chemicals being placed into the environment, good choice for those with sensitive skin, does not induce allergic reactions, ideal for children’s and baby clothing, no irradiation or genetic engineering involved, and avoids use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers which contaminate ground water, plant and animal life in streams and rivers, and drinking water.
Soy: Clothing containing soy fibers feel like cotton, offer moisture wicking abilities and UV protection, are naturally anti-microbial, and are quicker to dry than traditional cotton. They have a pleasing hand (or feel), and respond well to repeated washings while maintaining a very soft texture. Soy fibers are typically used in fabrics blends of organic cotton, bamboo and spandex.
Hemp: This fiber is best known for its durability, softness and breath ability while being naturally resistant to mold, mildew and ultraviolet rays. Hemp is resistant to insects, making pesticides unnecessary for cultivation, grows vigorously without the use of herbicides or chemical fertilizers, is a renewable and sustainable resource which prevents erosion of farmland. Hemp farming can produce three times more fiber per acre than cotton and the most per acre of any fiber source, and is one of strongest fibers found in nature with eight times the strength of cotton. The fabric resembles linen in both hand and appearance, withstands water better than many textiles, but wrinkles easily.
Bamboo: The pulp or cellulose from the plant is refined to produce a synthetic viscose similar to polyester. It has the feel of silk, is softer than cotton while having a much longer service life, is naturally anti-microbial, odor and bacteria resistant, lightweight, comfortable for warm-weather wear, dries quickly and is more absorbent than cotton. Bamboo grows prolifically and can be cultivated very quickly. Fabrics made from a blend of cotton/bamboo/spandex perform can be found in many business casual styles and are perfect candidates for athletic and performance wear. Fabrics made from 100% bamboo rayon offer a silky and soft hand which drape nicely, and work well for professional and business dress.
Flax: Fibers extracted from the stem of the flax plant have been used to make linen for centuries. The resulting fabric is soft, lustrous, flexible, and stronger than cotton but less elastic. As with cotton, organic production methods are becoming more widely used.
Recycled Polyester: The most common variety is that of recycled PET filaments made from plastic water and soda bottles. Recycling offers the benefit of decreasing landfill and less reliance on petroleum based products. The garments perform much the same as that of non-recycled polyester offering tremendous durability, colorfastness, moisture wicking and quick drying. Popular styles can be found in athletic and performance wear, fleece, and cotton/poly blends for business casual.
We expect to see more of these fabrics in the future, and we expect prices to decrease as technology improves the availability and feasibility of choosing eco-friendly clothing. At present, retail versions of eco-friendly clothing are actually more costly than those being offered within the advertising specialty industry for a pleasant change. Eco-friendly clothing made from natural fibers and recycled material are now comfortable and stylish, and many offer increased performance benefits. We anticipate new eco-friendly fabrics to become more available, such as those made from corn (Ingeo), wood pulp (Tencel), milk silk, stinging nettles and spider webs. And, we expect to see increased use of traditional natural fibers such as jute and ramie along with organic production methods.
Sources:
Kimbrough, Tonia Cook; Natural, Organic or Recycled—What’s Your Pleasure?; Wearables Magazine, April/May 2009, page. 30.
Johnsen, Connie from ASI Supplier, S & S Activewear.
Matyja, Mary from ASI Supplier, Heritage Sportswear.
Pollock , Julian; Eco-Fibres—Are They Here to Stay?; Fabrics.net.
Hemp, Ramie, Jute; Fabrics.net
Rollender, Nicole, Matt George, Joe Haley and Joan Chaykin; Eco Apparel Diaries; Wearables Magazine, April/May 2009, pages 44-51.
Textile Fabric Consultants, Inc.; Fabric Properties and Distinctions; Fabrics.net.
Websites: Earth Creations.net, Natural-Environment.com, and Wikipedia
Author: Connie King
Published: June 2009