While there are a lot of these kinds of options, don’t overlook the equally eco-friendly option, wearing used maternity clothes. Almost every town has at least one thrift store these days, and you will more than likely be able to find some great bargains.

But if you need help getting started her are some great resources for finding maternity clothes that will look good and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time;

Euphoria Maternity

Euphoria Maternity makes it simple to find great sustainable maternity outfits and clothing as well as other all natural products for use during pregnancy and even breast feeding through its “Shop Green” link. They also carry great organic cotton tops and yoga pants (very comfy during pregnancy) from a range of designers including Childish and Japanese Weekend. Their Moody Mama collection of babydoll dresses is especially flattering.

Better for Babies

Better for Babies carries a wide selection of green clothing for both the mommy to be and baby. Their maternity wear is simple but stylish and extremely easy to wear. All the clothes are made from organic cottons and wools. For baby there is a huge array of all natural cloth diapers, designed for use with their range of all organic cotton diaper covers.

Jessica Scott

Talented designer Jessica Scott makes her maternity clothed from all natural materials such as Lyocell, which is made of cellulose. One of her best selling and flattering designs which is called “Strapless in Seattle” is a incredibly versatile one piece that can be worn in a number of different ways; a strapless dress, a low slung skirt or an attractive “poncho” style shirt

MollyAnna

MollyAnna is a fun, irreverent designer whose company motto is “Bold, Sassy, and Prego”.

Her fun tee shirt and tank tops are all made from 100% organic cotton and feature such sassy sayings as “Epidural – Yes Please” and “Birth Control is for Sissies” and come in endless variety of colors. Her collection even features green tees for expectant dads too, as well as a collection of eco friendly diaper bags.

Baby Nut

Baby Nut is another online store that offers a great line up of maternity tops and light dresses made from eco friendly and sustainable materials such as organic cotton and hemp. They also have a great collection of all organic baby clothes called Happy Green Bee, which is bright, colorful and tons of fun.

E Mommie

E Mommie touts itself as the “#1 site for used maternity clothes” and proudly offer a wide variety of gently used, eco friendly recycled maternity styles. The stock changes frequently of course, but you can normally find a wide variety of dresses, tops,  jeans,  jackets and more in nice, flattering and up to date styles.

Do you  know of any great brands of green maternity clothes?  We’d love to hear from you!

Technorati Tags: Baby Nut, Better for Babies, childish, E Mommie, eco friendly, eco-friendly diaper bags, eco-friendly maternity clothes, Euphoria Maternity, green clothing, Happy Green Bee, Japanese Weekend, Jessica Scott, maternity clothes, MollyAnna, Moody Mama, organic maternity clothes, recycled maternity, sustainable maternity, thrift store

The footwear line was brought jointly by well-known social activist and bold entrepreneur cum writer Summer Rayne Oakes and the well-known shoe company Payless. Also known as the Eco-Model, Summer Rayne Oakes helped payless in creating such wonderful footwear. Payless is appreciated globally for its sustainable stylish collection of shoes and other fashion accessories. The brand new shoe line, launched by Payless on Oakes, will be available on 1,000 outlets of Payless stores in entire United States. If you are staying outside, you can avail these striking shoes by browsing the official site of Payless, which is www.payless.com. Zoe & Zac is an authentic collection of green fashion accessories, which includes great eco friendly shoes, linen, hemp, recycled rubber, jute and water-based glues.

Technorati Tags: budget friendly, earth friendly, eco friendly, hemp, linen, recycled, sustainable shoes, Zoe & Zac

A note from a reader:

“Well, summer is finally upon us!  My favorite time of year.  But I gotta tell you, last summer did not go well for me. Do you know why? Let me tell you, if you do not have fitting summer dresses under your belt to give befitting replies to the scorching summer heat, you are gone! That’s exactly what had happened with me in the last summer. I was having a pair of good brown-colored Miranda tops, exclusively kept for my vacation. But the whole experience proved to be so terrifying, you know and consequently, I became horribly frustrated wearing it. I developed so many rashes on my skin! I don’t know from where the dress was purchased by my dad! I feel pity for him! I can’t blame him. He was actually not aware of the eco friendly clothes that are now days available to take care the young girls, like me!

After experiencing the disastrous dress disturbance, I, along with my father, was then searching for an accommodative eco friendly cloth for me. And then we found this lovely light-orange coloured Miranda Top I am wearing now. It is so nice, so fitting to me, always gives so much of pleasure and comfort that you can’t imagine wearing an ordinary top. And, believe me, after experiencing the beauty of an eco friendly cloth, I will never go back to my old wardrobe full of eco alarming dresses. I suggest you also should not!

The Miranda Top I purchased that day was not the only piece available in the store; but it was definitely a unique piece. Besides, the dress was available under different varied shades and textures. Each one of them was so demanding! I also purchased another piece for my sister. She too joined me in celebrating bringing eco friendly clothes in our household. The salesperson asked only $32.00 for my exquisite Miranda Top manufactured by Ideo, using 100% organic cotton fabric. I don’t think, I will ever get such an economically eco-friendly dress material for me! The dress is machine washable and needs no special care in order to maintain it’s eco friendly nature – what else you want! The top is not only an earth-friendly piece – it is stylish too! When I go out wearing the figure-flattering wrap style Miranda Top, I too look natural!

Thanks for bringing us all the great info about organic cotton and other eco-friendly clothing!!”

Technorati Tags: earth friendly, eco friendly, Ideo, Miranda top, organic cotton

Rachel, who has acted in many movies, became a star after her role in the movie Notebook which was an adaptation of Nicholas Spark’s novel of the same name. She then started using her celebrity status to support environmental issues. She has even launched an environmental website called greenissexy.org. This website, a joint creation of three friends including Rachel, gives you numerous environment friendly tips to use in your daily life to help reduce your carbon footprint.

Bamboo underwear she says is, “a very sexy thing to do”, in addition she says, “They sound quite painful but they’re actually quite soft. I’ve also got soy underwear!”

Bamboo has many different environmental benefits as it is a renewable source and produces more oxygen compared to most trees on our planet. Now, environmentalists and fashion designers have come together to produce bamboo underwear. They are not what you might imagine them to be. Like Rachel says, there are quite soft. In fact, they are as comfortable as any other underwear you’d ever wear. Another benefit of bamboo underwear is that it dries at a faster rate compared to regular cloth underwear. They also allow your body to breathe better, this helps in dealing with odor problems as well and above everything else they are chemical free.

Rachel and her friends have been doing a fantastic job with their website for the past two years. On the eve of the websites second anniversary she said, “We’re coming on our two-year anniversary of GreenIsSexy.org and the environmental community has really opened up online. That’s the amazing thing about the Internet – for all the problems and concerns, the relationships you can develop with people who are on the same wavelength and deeply care about the same things is immediate and it’s vast.”

Technorati Tags: bamboo, eco friendly, environmental, lingerie, organic, rachel mcadams, underwear

While there are a lot of these kinds of options, don’t overlook the equally eco-friendly option, wearing used maternity clothes. Almost every town has at least one thrift store these days, and you will more than likely be able to find some great bargains.

But if you need help getting started her are some great resources for finding maternity clothes that will look good and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time;

Euphoria Maternity

Euphoria Maternity makes it simple to find great sustainable maternity outfits and clothing as well as other all natural products for use during pregnancy and even breast feeding through its “Shop Green” link. They also carry great organic cotton tops and yoga pants (very comfy during pregnancy) from a range of designers including Childish and Japanese Weekend. Their Moody Mama collection of babydoll dresses is especially flattering.

Better for Babies

Better for Babies carries a wide selection of green clothing for both the mommy to be and baby. Their maternity wear is simple but stylish and extremely easy to wear. All the clothes are made from organic cottons and wools. For baby there is a huge array of all natural cloth diapers, designed for use with their range of all organic cotton diaper covers.

Jessica Scott

Talented designer Jessica Scott makes her maternity clothed from all natural materials such as Lyocell, which is made of cellulose. One of her best selling and flattering designs which is called “Strapless in Seattle” is a incredibly versatile one piece that can be worn in a number of different ways; a strapless dress, a low slung skirt or an attractive “poncho” style shirt

MollyAnna

MollyAnna is a fun, irreverent designer whose company motto is “Bold, Sassy, and Prego”.

Her fun tee shirt and tank tops are all made from 100% organic cotton and feature such sassy sayings as “Epidural – Yes Please” and “Birth Control is for Sissies” and come in endless variety of colors. Her collection even features green tees for expectant dads too, as well as a collection of eco friendly diaper bags.

Baby Nut

Baby Nut is another online store that offers a great line up of maternity tops and light dresses made from eco friendly and sustainable materials such as organic cotton and hemp. They also have a great collection of all organic baby clothes called Happy Green Bee, which is bright, colorful and tons of fun.

E Mommie

E Mommie touts itself as the “#1 site for used maternity clothes” and proudly offer a wide variety of gently used, eco friendly recycled maternity styles. The stock changes frequently of course, but you can normally find a wide variety of dresses, tops , jeans, jackets and more in nice, flattering and up to date styles.

Technorati Tags: Baby Nut, Better for Babies, childish, E Mommie, eco friendly, eco-friendly diaper bags, eco-friendly maternity clothes, Euphoria Maternity, green clothing, Happy Green Bee, Japanese Weekend, Jessica Scott, maternity clothes, MollyAnna, Moody Mama, organic maternity clothes, recycled maternity, sustainable maternity, thrift store

You probably already know that cotton is most widely used crop in the worldwide textiles industry. Among the largest producers of cotton are China, the United States, India, and Turkey. However, along with the increasing demand for this crop come many heavy environmental consequences. A huge portion of these eco problems arise from the farming and harvesting of cotton as well as the manufacturing of cotton fabrics. In line with these growing global concerns, a healthier and greener alternative to clothing is making waves today – organic cotton!

What is organic cotton, anyway? If you have heard about organic veggies and meats at your local grocery store, then the same environmental principle applies with organic cotton. It has been a reported trend that farms today are going “green” with their agricultural practices, and in a way, giving the environment a break from all the toxins it’s been taking in over the years. Organic cotton is farmed in the most ecological way, without the use of harmful pesticides, genetically modified varieties, or synthetic chemical fertilizers.

Why should people opt to go “green” and choose organic cotton? Because cotton is a very in-demand crop worldwide, there is a huge dependency for farmers to use newer irrigation methods, diesel fueled machinery, as well as unnatural chemicals, herbicides, and pesticides to keep their cotton crops growing. Even in the tilling method for cotton farming, a significant percentage of land is eroded into the water systems, as reported by the Journal of Environmental Quality. The loss of soils poses a huge problem for many ecosystems. In Australia, environmental reports also mention that the massive amounts of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers used in cotton farms contribute highly to greenhouse gases. With the farming of organic cotton, however, these issues are avoided.

Organic cotton farms do not use artificial irrigation systems, and their crops are rain-fed. This greatly aids the efforts to conserve water, as well as reduces the risk of chemical leaching from irrigation systems to rivers and lakes. Also, organic cotton is harvested by hand, thereby removing the need for heavy machinery that use petroleum and that emit tons of carbon dioxide.

Another plus side of organic cotton is the issue of health safety. Since these fibers are all-natural, they are the best choice for baby’s clothing. As a matter of fact, even the farmers who work with organic cotton are kept away from health risks, as they are not exposed to toxic chemicals and noxious gases in their work place. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating here: The cotton needed to make just one regular (non-organic) cotton t-shirt requires almost 5 ounces of carcinogenic pesticides! That’s what you’re putting on your kids’ backs each morning!

There are alternatives now. There are many shops that sell organic cotton shirts, pants, linens, and other products. Some people would admit that the emerging fashion trends of today are leaning towards the “green” side. This can be seen from major global brand names promoting organic cotton such as Nike, Nordstrom, Wal-Mart, Patagonia, Marks and Spencer and many more. Reports claim that the demand for organic cotton is expected to drastically increase over the next few years. One can only begin to imagine how good this will be for the “green” movement.

So you see, cotton can do more than just be a soft material that feels good when worn. All around the world, massive environmental efforts in terms of farming for cotton and other crops are underway. Organic cotton, and green clothing will not only make you look good, but will also make the earth feel good, too. When you make a move to support organic cotton, you also give the environment more room to breathe, today, and for many generations to come. That, probably, is the best thing about wearing “green”!

Technorati Tags: eco friendly, encironment, green, green clothing, greenhouse gases, Journal of Environmental Quality, natural fibers, Nike, Oprah, organic cotton, orgnanic clothing store, Patagonia, Wal-Mart

While organic clothing evolved from the movement of organically developed materials, sustainable clothing is more of an environmental consciousness that is slowly gaining momentum. Sustainable clothing also emphasizes upon the recycling of goods in our daily use. Essentials for a clothing material to be considered suited for ecological purposes, i.e. being sustainable:

• Clothing material is derived from renewable/recycled raw materials
• Efficient use of production resources such as energy, manpower and water with preference for using renewable inputs for manufacturing
• Creating absolutely safe clothing material with regards to consumer health and the environment

Some Of The Most Noteworthy Materials Used In Sustainable Clothing

1. Bamboo

Bamboo is best suited for clothing meant for the hotter temperatures. It can absorb the sweat and lets it evaporate within seconds. This creates a natural mechanism of dispelling heat and maintaining fabric breathability. New fabrics being created from bamboo are equally adept for keeping you warmer in colder conditions. Bamboo-created clothing is naturally anti-bacterial and odor free.

How is it sustainable?

• Bamboo grows without any artificial assistance, i.e. it is totally natural and sustainable as it doesn’t need pesticides and fertilizers
• Bamboo plant is not uprooted like other plants. This helps to maintain the soil’s stability.
• Bamboo yield in terms of per acre is nearly 10 times more than that for cotton
• More bamboo plantations will mean more neutralization of greenhouse gases

2. Lyocell

This is produced from the cellulose found in wood. This makes Lyocell one of the purest forms of sustainable clothing. The fabric adheres to all quality demands meant for medical or technical compatibility.

How is it sustainable?

• Its production is extremely eco-friendly and doesn’t use harmful dyes and chemicals and the Lyocell fiber is 100% bio-degradable
• The end product is strikingly similar to cotton and hence, this makes it a very useful substitute for current manufacturing demands
• Since, it is derived from wood, it can be regarded as the most replenishable and hence, the most sustainable form of clothing
• Cellulose extraction uses nearly negligible artificially-produced extraction agents

3. Hemp

It is famous for being the most durable among all natural fibers and is often called the miracle fiber. It is lightweight, long-lasting, highly-absorbent and much stronger than other fibers. It is best suited for outdoor wear being weather resistant.

How is it sustainable?

• Hemp crop does not need pesticides and uses a very little amount of water
• It is known for enriching the soil where it is grown since it has an exhaustive root system which also helps to prevent soil-erosion
• Extremely cost-effective to grow and has minimal agricultural requirements

4. Soy Fiber

Soy blended or pure soy fiber clothing has some excellent qualities like having a luster that is similar to silk and absorbs moisture like cotton. However, it offers the best of ventilation when compared with these two conventional fabrics.

How is it sustainable?

• Its manufacturing is an example of bioengineering and proteins are extracted from sources like soybean oil and soymilk
• This makes it a recycled product, since it is akin to creating something useful from a conventional manufacturing process
• It is highly sustainable since by-products like soybean dregs are further used as fodder or natural fertilizer

5. Organic Cotton

Organic cotton is a huge improvement over the traditionally-grown cotton. For starters, it is grown following strict regulations that prevent the use of chemicals that can enter the fiber. Even its harvesting is less automated to ensure that the soil isn’t being drained. Perhaps, the only natural resource it does drain to a certain extent is water.

How is it sustainable?

• Organic cotton is grown in a manner that actually replenishes the ecosystem rather than exhausting its nutrients
• It is grown without using conventional chemical/toxic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers
• Only certified or organic facilities are allowed to procure/manufacture organic clothing and they use only low-impact dyes or mineral-based shades that don’t affect the consumers or the environment

Technorati Tags: bamboo, eco fashion, eco friendly, hemp, lyocell, organic clothing, organic cotton, renewable, soy, sustainable clothing

So today, I’m going to bring you a few articles and stores that I found interesting and inspiring.  They offer what we don’t yet offer here at Greenclothes.org.  But even if we did, heck, it’s only fair that we share the love with our fellow greenies!  Enjoy!

• Creating a Non-toxic Nursery For Your Baby | Focus Organic.com – Newborns spend a large portion of their early life in their nursery, so keeping it as healthy as possible is an important task. Creating a non-toxic environment for your baby can help to reduce their exposure to chemicals. …
• Brown bag lunches your kids will eat!- The first edition of this post was so popular last year, and is still bringing me search traffic (hi Googlers! Welcome to MomCooks!) that I am reposting the recipes along with some new information. Ever since my oldest son started …
• organic, eco-friendly diaper cakes – weird title? yes, i know. i was clicking around etsy yesterday when i found this really strange, really cool product: organic diaper cakes created by etsy user babydaysdiapercakes. talk about an interesting find! …
• eco-friendly swimwear – summer is coming and it’s time to start thinking swim suits. if you’ve been getting in shape over the winter (or even if you haven’t!) a nice swimsuit can be a treat. head to the beach this summer in eco-conscious swimwear and you’ll …

Technorati Tags: eco friendly, eco friendly swimwear, green clothes, organic baby clothes, organic clothing stores, organic cotton

• Eco-Fashion Prom Contest Holds NYC Dress Swap Event // Archives … – Eco-Fashion Prom Contest Holds NYC Dress Swap Event. Filed under: events, events: nyc — parrish @ 2:05 pm. dress. Earlier this month we told you about Project Green Prom — a celebrity-judged online video contest where Prom-goers post …

• Eco Fashion Events | 39thandbroadway.com – This blog is devoted to fashion insiders who work in New York’s garment center and the fashion industry and need a place to gossip, vent and network.

• The Cost of Eco-Fashion | Green Grechen Eco-Friendly Fashion and … – this was originally published as a guest-post over at green+chic, but I wanted to share it with you here as well) The latest collections from.

• Cool, funky environmental friendly bags – envirosax.jpg. Here’s another environmental eco friendly reusable bags spreading the environmental message in real style! Based in Australia, Envirosax bags provide an exclusive range of eco friendly reusable shopping bags, …

Technorati Tags: eco fashion, eco friendly, environmental friendly, green clothes