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Fascinated by Fabrics

Growing up in the polyester 70s and the rayon 80s and the oversized cotton plaids 90s, fabrics came in 3 flavors.  Occasionally, silk entered the mix, annoying in its need for drycleaning and inability to shun stains, or itchy wool that never seemed able to move with grace from the cold outdoors to heated interiors...

So I have to admit to a fascination with all these alternative fabrics cropping up these days.  From soy to bamboo to lyocell to organic version of your favorite cottons... clothes shopping has never been so varied.  Sure, they are eco, but beyond that - they are also beautiful, soft, textured and fabulous.
 
Check 'em out.

-Heather... off to put on my bamboo jammies...
Posted by: hstephenson on 04/03/2007
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Debra Jones  on April 03, 2007 at 06:21 AM 1
One of the things that I find hard to deal with when in comes to eco-friendly clothes is that they don't have them in large sizes or more conventional designs. At 54, most of the clothes looks way too young for me and definitely doesn't fit my plus size body. Would love to find things I could wear. I just signed up and I'm enjoying what I am finding in your tips.
Marisa  on April 03, 2007 at 08:55 AM 2
While these fabrics are very pretty, don't forget that soy production is one of the number one causes for rainforest destruction in the Amazon. Its hard to find out where each manufacturer's soy comes from so be weary. Soy may be better than beef to eat (because it takes less energy to make) and use less pesticides than normal cotton, but it may not necessarily be better than organic cotton and fabrics made out of recycled material.
Janelle  on April 03, 2007 at 09:54 AM 3
We're working on sourcing fabric for a t-shirt line we're producing. We've hired a consultant, and she told us the chemicals they use to process the soy is harsh. I agree, you're much better off with organic cotton than soy or bamboo.
Quinn's mama  on April 03, 2007 at 10:27 AM 4
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my bamboo jammies- they are simply the most comfy things ever! perfect for lounging and bedtime! just had to give a shout out to the bamboo jammies....
Bettina  on April 03, 2007 at 10:55 AM 5
Heads-up for all the veggies out there: Tofutsies yarn isn't vegetarian! It has dead animals in it! Namely, the skeletons of dead crabs and shrimps. Why, dear god/goddess, why? Also, another great reason to eat soy and not beef or any other animal is that eating soy does not kill an animal! :-D Cheers, Bettina
Miso Vegan  on April 03, 2007 at 10:55 AM 6
Hmmm - some mis-information out there. Soy for ANIMAL FEED is causing the destruction of the rain forest. Soy clothing is a by-product of the soymilk and tofu industry, not the animal feed industry. Wanna stop rain forest destruction? Stop eating meat. Bamboo fabric requires harsher chemicals than soy. Both use a closed-circle, though, that is, the chemicals are not dumped after each use, they're re-used indefinitely. Organic cotton uses a *ridiculous* amount of water and land and human resources. So even bamboo tops organic cotton. Here's a source the Bite missed, for soy, bamboo and hemp (blended with organic cotton for strength): www.htnaturals.com
psstwife  on April 03, 2007 at 11:12 AM 7
I just read this in a Wikipedia entry: In 1931, Ford hired the chemists Robert Boyer and Frank Calvert in a quest for artificial silk. They succeeded in making a textile fiber of spun soy protein fibers, hardened or tanned in a formaldehyde bath which was given the name Azlon by the Federal Trade Commission.... [Soybeans and Soybean Products, Vol.II, edited by K. H. Markley, 1951] Hardened in a formaldehyde bath? Doesn't sound very eco-friendly to me.
Miso Vegan  on April 03, 2007 at 12:06 PM 8
That's not how soy fabric is made today. Today's soy is *not* Azlon! The soy hulls (or bamboo fibers, it's true for both) are extruded with enzymes that break the fiber into a pulp, which can then be pulled into thread. The enzyme soup is a closed loop, that is, reused indefinitely. Soy is made from the cake that is the byproduct of food production. In other words, soy fabric closes the loop on soy, as the byproduct would otherwise be waste.
jackieo  on April 03, 2007 at 03:58 PM 9
I have been wondering about the chemicals used in growing/processing the new materials. It is still not clear. I'd like to see IdealBite shine address these questions.
Emily  on April 30, 2007 at 11:02 AM 10
Today we all must do our part to help sustain the environment. Who knew that what you wear could help! The creator of Beau Soleil has taken this eco-friendly craze to a new level with her chic dress line which has recently been picked up by Intermix and Shopbop. The website is www.shopbeausoleil.com so check it out! You will love it! All of her dresses are made from organic cottons, bamboo, etc, and exquisitely finished with vintage studs and recycled leather! FABULOUS!
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