Many consumers choose green clothing

Eco-friendly is the buzzword "du jour" in the fashion industry. More and more designers and manufacturers are turning to green fabrics and production policies to produce clothing for the mainstream.

So what is "green" clothing? Generally green items are produced with organic fibers of naturally sustainable materials. They also could be made from recycled items -- even plastic. Green clothing can be produced under the auspices of fair trade policies and without the use of dangerous chemicals or dyes.

According to Fashion and Earth, an eco-friendly clothing retailer, Organic and eco textiles cover a wide range of natural and recycled fibers. Certified Organic textiles are grown in controlled settings with no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers and are certified by an international governing body such. The term 'eco textiles' refers to a select group of textiles that have a reduced carbon, energy and pollution impact when compared to the standard methods used to produce textiles and manufacture clothing. Generally, sustainable textiles are produced from crops that do not require pesticides or chemicals to be grown, use less water and energy to be produced and processed, and create less waste during production, processing and at the end of their useful lives (known collectively as their 'environmental footprint'). Sustainable textiles can also refer to manmade fabrics produced from renewablesources such as bamboo or wood.

People are looking for easy ways to improve the environment. Choosing green clothing is one of the easier ways to make voices heard.

Many consumers will purchase green clothing if it is easily accessible and on par with traditionally produced clothing items. It's rare that the average shopper will intentionally seek out eco-friendly clothing. Therefore, stores are stepping up their efforts to make green clothes as accessible and affordable as other items.

Oftentimes, shoppers can find tags and labels that tout the green properties of a particular piece of clothing. Some of the verbiage that can be found on labels includes green, organic, fair trade, renewable and sustainable.

What's more, the feel and look of green clothing is improving as much as its availability is increasing. It used to be that organic fibers were duller and more coarse than traditionally produced fabrics. Today, however, manufacturers of organic cotton, hemp and bamboo produce clothing that is just as attractive and comfortable as other fabrics.

While many organic items tend to be more expensive than traditionally produced clothing, some big-name retailers are offering items at prices that are equal or nearly equal to other clothing. This eliminates price point as a factor in choosing green over traditional clothing.

Choosing eco-friendly clothing is still largely a personal choice among consumers. But the improved feel, fit, look, price, and availability of green items is contributing to the increasing popularity of these items.