| Myth #1 - Eco Friendly Clothing is Too Expensive | | | | conjunction with the following. The World Health |
| Eco friendly clothing has come a long way in the | | | | Organization estimates that at least 3 million |
| past few years, and today's consumers have | | | | people are poisoned by pesticides every year and |
| many options when it comes to selecting pieces | | | | 20-40,000 more are killed. The Environmental |
| to fit their style and budget. There are quite a | | | | Protection Agency considers 7 of the top 15 |
| few earth friendly brands out there that are | | | | pesticides used on cotton in the U.S. as "possible," |
| moderately priced. A couple of great choices that | | | | "likely," "probable," or "known" to cause cancer in |
| won't break the bank are Toggery by Kate | | | | humans. Buying organically produced apparel helps |
| D'Arcy and Mata Traders. Toggery offers an | | | | because it supports an industry that protects our |
| impressive selection of tanks, tops, dresses, | | | | planet and its people from these destructive |
| leggings, scarves and more for as little as $29. | | | | chemicals. |
| Mata Traders specializes in fair trade fashion, and | | | | Sustainable clothing is another type of eco friendly |
| incorporates fabrics such as organic cotton and | | | | clothing that is made with an emphasis on using |
| recycled silk. Their unique, boho chic designs start | | | | resources that are easily renewable. Clothing |
| in the $30-$40 range. | | | | made with hemp fabric is a great example. Hemp |
| Myth #2 - Eco Friendly Clothing is Unattractive | | | | grows at a rapid rate, requires no pesticides, and |
| A common misconception that persists, despite all | | | | actually enriches the soil instead of depleting it. |
| the advances of the eco fashion industry, is that | | | | Shoppers also help when buying clothing that has |
| these clothes are just not stylish. Drab, boring, | | | | been fairly traded. Fair trade means that the |
| ill-fitting, loose, box-like, frumpy, these are a few | | | | workers who produced the product were paid an |
| of the unfortunate associations some people | | | | adequate wage and worked under humane |
| continue to make with eco friendly clothing. At | | | | conditions. All too often, especially in countries |
| one time, perhaps this was true, but fast forward | | | | outside of the U.S., workers are not fairly |
| to the second decade of the twenty-first | | | | compensated and live in extremely impoverished |
| century, and eco fashion gets and A+ for trend | | | | conditions. When consumers buy fair trade, they |
| setting style. Eco boutiques across the globe are | | | | are giving their business to companies that |
| now offering a fabulous selection of beautiful | | | | support workers' human rights. |
| colors, unique patterns, creative designs, and | | | | Myth #4 - The Quality of Eco Friendly Clothing is |
| form-fitting stylish pieces. | | | | the same as Conventional Clothing |
| Myth #3 - Buying Eco Friendly Clothing Will Not | | | | On the contrary, the quality of eco friendly |
| Help our Planet | | | | clothing is superior. For example, organic cotton |
| So, eco apparel looks great, and is often | | | | clothing is stronger than clothing made with |
| reasonably priced, but will it really make a | | | | conventional cotton because it has not been |
| difference in the fight against pollution, poverty | | | | treated with pesticides or harsh chemicals, such |
| and other major issues that plague our planet? | | | | as bleach. When clothing is chemically treated, it |
| Absolutely! Be patient, though, it may take some | | | | leads to a weakening of the fabric. For these |
| time. Buying your first pair of organic jeans is not | | | | same reasons, organically grown cotton fabric is |
| going to instantly reverse global warming. | | | | softer to the touch and allows for greater |
| However, every eco friendly purchase consumers | | | | breathability. |
| make is like a vote in favor of the green | | | | Hemp is another favorite when it comes to |
| movement, and helps support companies that are | | | | outstanding quality. Hemp is several times |
| engaging in eco friendly and socially responsible | | | | stronger and more durable than cotton, and |
| business practices. | | | | grows very quickly without the use of pesticides |
| Different types of eco friendly clothing can help in | | | | or fertilizers. |
| different ways. Purchasing organic cotton clothing, | | | | Myth #5 - Eco Friendly Clothing is Hard to Find |
| for instance, helps our planet because it supports | | | | Eco friendly clothing can be found in many places, |
| a way of producing cotton that does not pollute | | | | consumers just need to know where to look. Big |
| the world with harmful pesticides, insecticides, and | | | | cities offer the most choices, with eco boutiques |
| synthetic chemicals. | | | | popping up in trendy shopping districts all across |
| Conventionally grown cotton covers only 2.5% of | | | | the United States, as well as in Europe, Australia, |
| the Earth's cultivated land, yet uses 25% of the | | | | and Asia. Finding eco friendly clothing online is also |
| world's insecticides and more than 10% of the | | | | a great way to shop. Online shopping offers |
| world's pesticides (Organic Trade Association). | | | | consumers a huge selection and the ability to |
| That is a sobering statistic, especially in | | | | easily compare prices, and find the best deals. |