Eco Fashion has exploded over the past year or so and with the emergence of lots of fantastic designers using ethical products and manufacturing methods it really is easy to shop with the clear conscience. Knowing the clothes you are buying are not harming the planet, animals, the people who make them and the countries they are manufactured in really does mean you can shop guilt free!

Following are the many ways the clothes you are buying can be eco friendly;

Fair Trade

This is the definition of fair trade taken from the Fair Trade Foundation:

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Recycled

Over a million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year and end up in landfill. Every time it rains the water drains through the fabrics and the chemicals used to dye them collect at the bottom. This liquid can be up to 200 times as toxic as raw sewage. Some designers are using recycled fabrics to make new clothing. Amoosi is one of these, their clothes and accessories really demonstrate how far ethical fashion has come, they are gorgeous! Check out their site at www.amoosi.co.uk

Designers are also getting creative with using all sorts of recycled products to make jewellery and other accessories. Check out products made out of discarded fire hoses at www.fire-hose.co.uk/ and innovative jewellery made from records, floppy disks, seeds and rubber bands at puredesigncompany.co.uk

Organic and Alternative Fibres

Conventional cotton farmed with � of the world�s chemical pesticides and fertilizers, where as chemicals are not used to grow organic cotton so it is guaranteed 100% natural. Man made fibres are also produced using nasty chemicals so the use of alternative fibres, such as hemp, bamboo, sillk, flax and nettle, helps reduce the fashion industries reliance�s on chemicals which end up in landfill.

Traditional Skills and locally sourced products

If we buy clothing from overseas there is often an impact for our local clothing industries and crafts people. There is also an environmental cost of bringing clothes over from abroad in terms of the costs of shipping and transportation.

Ethical fashion looks to use locally produced clothing and also people who still use unique traditional skills. Do to costs sadly these artistic skills are often over shadowed and lost by cheap factory production. Eco fashion aims to support traditional skills, such as embroidery, hand weaving, block printing and knitting, to keep them alive.

Designers also use cooperatives from other countries such as Africa to provide them with locally produced products. An example of this is Julia Smith who supports a community project in Africa which supplies her with beautifully produced tie die fabric for the linings of her clothes.

Vintage, second hand and clothing swaps

The rise in popularity for vintage and second hand clothing shops is fantastic for stopping clothing just being discarded. Think before you throw anything out, someone else might love what you don�t! If an item is tired can it be altered and turned into a new piece, for example a dress into a skirt. Clothing swap parties are always fun to have. Get together a group of friends and all promise to bring a set amount of items, then have fun swapping!

Contact Create Yourself for further details on organising a clothing swap party with Louise on hand to offer style tips and direction.

Charitable Projects

Some ethical fashion companies donate some of their profits to charitable and/or environmental projects.

Where to find Ethical Fashion?

Ethical Fashion is still fairly hiden away on the high street but it is easily found on line. Here are a few of the main players in the on line market place:

http://www.devidoll.com - Online Eco Fashion designer boutique. They are the only place that sells AOKI jeans which Grazia have claimed to be the best bum fit!

http://www.adili.com - Another online eco fashion store selling all the best ethical collections, such as People Tree, Del Forte Denim, Howies, Stewart and Brown and Ciel.

http://www.bboheme.com - self described �fashion with compassion� boutique. Vegan shoes and accessories.

http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com - one stop shop for everything ethical, not just fashion.

http://www.thenaturalstore.co.uk - � A world where each and every item - from unique artisans and designers, cottage industries or well-known brands - is either; Crafted, Fair Trade, Local, Natural, Organic, Recycled, Reclaimed, Vegan, Vegetarian or Vintage.� Great place for some fabulous ethical jewellery amongst everything else they offer.