ecoSkin, is an LA-based high fashion label by designer Sandy Skinner. Skinner was in the fashion industry for many years and jumped at the chance to make a difference in the world with her profession. Her debut collection was aimed at “fashion-forward sophisticated women who want to look great but care about the world and the environment they live in”.

Skinner opted for a custom made fabric comprised of bamboo, tencel and spandex. The bamboo may be imported from China but its spun into yarn locally in order for Skinner to ensure high production standards and fair trade practices. The garments are dyed following the “sage guidelines for dying domestically”.

Today we live in a world where we are becoming more aware of our own wellness and longevity is thus increasing. Organic clothing is not only a healthier choice for little babies, but it also insures safety and health to our environment.

Organic clothes are manufactured from toxic-free materials. They are free from petrochemicals, flame retardants, heavy metals, and some other toxins that may be dangerous to the baby. Skin allergic reactions, asthma, poisoning, and cancer could be the health problems that are connected to conventionally grown plants such as cotton. Organic treatment to cotton plants including the use of manure fertilizers and crop rotation.

Areas within the near vicinity of conventionally sprayed production facilities get the worst of the environmental impacts but the residues of some of these chemicals may be rubbing off on your baby. Thinner baby’s skin absorbs toxins more easily and they are at a greater risk for pesticide-related health problems than adults.

Children in the U.S. receive up to 35 percent of their estimated lifetime dose of some carcinogenic pesticides by age five through food, contaminated drinking water, household use, and pesticide drift.

Conventionally produced cotton material lasts 10-20 washes before it starts to break down, but organic cotton material lasts for 100 washes or more before it begins to wear down. Conventionally produced cotton is put through the wringer during its production through scouring, bleaching, dying, softening, formaldehyde spray, and flame and soil retardants before it is even shipped to be cut for patterns.

via Scientific American

Try some of these alternatives for organic cotton for your little ones.

Cloud 9 Fabrics

Loop Fabrics

Birch Fabrics

Photo via Feather Baby

or search here for organic cotton children’s clothing options.

]]> http://hautenature.com/how-important-is-organic-fabric-clothing-and-linens-for-baby/feed/ 1 http://hautenature.com/eco-couture-elena-garcia/ http://hautenature.com/eco-couture-elena-garcia/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 04:48:25 +0000 admin http://hautenature.com/?p=6095 continue]]>

Elena Garcia uses traditional techniques, and luxurious, eco-friendly textiles to create beautiful, timeless pieces for women of all ages. All of her clothing is pesticide free, fair trade, local, ethical, sustainable. For the line, she sources locally whenever possible, and uses only fabrics that are rapidly renewable and pesticide-free.

Brooklyn clothing designer Samantha Pleet is a world traveler, and her adventurous nature shines through in her designs. The Pratt alum infuses her line with a little make believe, a tad of darkness and a little whimsy for an exciting and beautiful collection of strong silhouettes .

Pleet shows that fantasy can sometimes be real and very wearable. Her line uses sustainable fabrics: organic wool, silk, and recycled Ultrasuede.

Katharine Hamnett is a front runner in the fashion industry, trying to shed more light on the impact of clothing and textile industry on the environment. She now gives talks on how conventional cotton growing is responsible for 10,000 deaths annually and 1,000,000 long-term pesticide poisonings. This coupled with all of the other effects such as desertification, and long-term water contamination should catch every persons attention. Cotton requires very large amounts of pesticides and water to grow, in a sharp contrast hemp, bamboo do not. In addition, cotton farming is now subject to genetic engineering as cotton plants are gene-spliced with a soil bacteria which enables the plant to emit its own pesticide. Genetically modified cotton crops already account for approximately 60% of all US crops. Unfortunately organic cotton is still relatively difficult for designers to get hold of, these alternative fibers must become central to the fashion industry.There are simple ways in which each person can make a difference–the first is obviously to become aware of and consciously switch to purchasing ecological fibers and fabrics.

100% organic Loomstate is another great link, for the jean staple of your closet.

The fashion and textile industry in the US alone is worth an estimated $300 billion. Add to that the rest of the consuming world and thats an awful lot of energy, fabric, dye and sweatshop workers. Much of that ends up in landfill within just a few years. Buy quality sustainable fabrics–or RE+WORK & RE+INVENT your clothing. Its creative.