You no longer have to sacrifice style to do right by the planet. Eco-fashion has made great strides, and green no longer means granola with all of the new sustainable clothing options.

Did you know that the average prom dress is made with synthetic fibers that use incredibly toxic dyes and processing? Now, there is a better way. Choose a dress that is made of sustainable materials – think pesticide-free fibers, rapidly renewing raw materials, truly natural dyes, and chemical free production. Not only will you look fantastic, but you can feel good about what you are wearing too! That is what we call brains and beauty. Hear what some of the chicest eco-trendsetters are saying and check out our green guide for a list of resources too. We know you’ll find that perfect dress that proves green is worthy of the tiara.

Today, the spotlight is on sustainability. What better time to make the move to eco-friendly fashion. Eco-designers today consider everything from environmental impact to social responsibility in creating a line: humane factory working conditions, fair treatment of employees, sustainable and planet- friendly sourcing and processing, waste minimization, recycling and philanthropy.

With so many eco fabrics to choose from, we wonder why everyone doesn’t go green in an instant. On the hot list right now are organic cotton, bamboo, tencel (lyocell), organic soy, organic silk, and modal. All have a feel, style and performance which rival their icky-sweaty-un-biodegradable polyester counterparts.

If cotton is your fabric of choice, make sure it’s organic. Conventional cotton fiber harvesting and manufacturing is full of toxic pesticides and chemicals which harm the planet, soil, groundwater, factory workers and ultimately you, when they get near your skin. (Did you know that 60% of what we put on our bodies is absorbed by the skin? And that cotton crops for clothing manufacture represent 25% of the world’s annual pesticide use? Eww!) So think smart when thinking about style. Because sustainability is stylish and here to stay.

ECO FASHION DICTIONARY

(excerpted from shopenvi.com)

WHAT DEFINES ECO FASHION?

Eco-fashion is all about choosing clothing manufactured in an environmentally sound way—whether it’s through sustainable materials or biofriendly production— without sacrificing our ideals of style, comfort, and aesthetics. We give you the oppportunity to feel good and look good: fashion-conscious clothing for an eco-conscious lifestyle.

LOCALLY SOURCED

Sometimes local is just as good, if not better, than organic. Our local products support independent artists and use less fuel to get to our store.

FAIRLY TRADED

Fair trade means providing a living wage to artisans and producers in developing countries for their work and/or their products.

ORGANIC

Just like organic food, organic fabrics are grown without the use of harmful chemicals or pesticides. Better for the earth, better for you.

RECYCLED

What could be more eco-friendly that taking old things and making them new? Very cool.

SUSTAINABLE

Sustainable products are made from renewable resources or are better for the earth in some way.

ECO CONSCIOUS PRODUCTION

The processes used to make these products are eco-friendly. Think wind-powered factories and recycled waste-water.

ECO CONSCIOUS COMPANY

These companies have eco-minded missions. Some are striving to incorporate more eco-materials, others donate percentages of profits to eco-relates causes.

FABRICS

COTTON

Did you know that conventional cotton is actually grown with a ton of pesticides that contaminate and damage our air, soil, and water? It’s the tragic, not-so-apparent truth. Organic cotton, on the other hand, avoids use of toxic chemicals, replenishes and maintains soil fertility, and builds biologically diverse agriculture. Sound better?

BAMBOO

Bamboo is an unbelievably renewable and sustainable resource. The same grassy plants that are a panda’s favorite snack can be easily farmed for textile purposes. Great for layering, bamboo’s breathable, porous, naturally antibacterial fibers keep you cool. And dare we say, cute?

TENCEL

Tencel is an environmentally sustainable version of rayon that’s fully biodegradable. The fluid fabric drapes to flatter your natural curves, with a luxurious feel and rich colors. Due to its ability to dry quickly, Tencel not only feels fresh on your skin but also helps save energy in the long term.

SOY

Soy fabric is a new and exciting eco-friendly fabric made from a by-product of soybean oil production. It is a sustainable textile fiber made from renewable and biodegradable resources. It is part of an effort to move consumers away from petrochemical textile products and turn waste into useful products.

ORGANIC SILK

Organically produced silk is produced naturally using organic compost, resins and berries. The sericin (a natural protein bi-product) is removed by boiling the thread in lye, the main ingredient of traditional hand-made Indian soap. They make their own lye by running water through ashes collected from outdoor cooking and dying fires. The whole process supports small groups of women in India and China. IMO Control (Institute for Marketology) is a Swiss based group specialising in organic certification, who are the only people to have a silk producer certified in China.

MODAL

Modal, a type of viscose, is bio-based fiber created from natural cellulose. Supersoft, smooth, and shape-retentive, clothing made from modal has lustrous drape and fantastic breathability. it’s as sexy as silk with the comfort of cotton. And while modal naturally resists shrinking, fading, and pilling, we deem it irresistible.