Local company sells eco-friendly clothes

November 17, 2008 by Renata Follmann 

Materials used include organic cotton, hemp and bamboo

The fashion industry has finally surrendered to the world’s need for an eco-friendly line of clothes. The good news is that along with helping to save the earth, “green” clothes are fashionable.

Local clothing purveyor Tiffany Parks, owner of Wear The Earth, has broken the stereotype that many people have about sustainable materials. Contrary to popular belief, the eco-friendly clothing line she resells is very soft and delicate. UNLV student Patricia Peliciotti said she has heard about this type of clothing, but never really thought it could appeal to her.

“I imagined something sort of rustic and very plain,” Peliciotti said.

Parks’ collection consists mainly of women’s apparel, but there are some items for contemporary men.

“My target is someone who is going to college and will put an environmental top with a pair of jeans and look cute and fashionable,” Parks said.

Teri Wyum, a longtime friend of Parks and an avid costumer, said before she saw the first piece of clothing she did not have very high expectations. After she bought her first piece, she said she couldn’t get enough of it.

“It is a goal of mine to be able to convert my entire wardrobe [with eco-friendly clothes],” Wyum said.

Eco-friendly clothes can be made largely from bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, soy and lyocell.

There are some requirements for a piece of clothing to be considered truly “green.”

“It was a long process to find the right inventory. We needed to make sure they were legitimate,” Parks said.

She also said she constantly advises her costumers to be aware of imitations and fakes.

Eco-friendly clothes have to be made from a sustainable fabric and they cannot come from sweat-shops.

Organic cotton, for example, has very little impact on the environment. It is not bleached, dyed or chemically treated. For it to be labeled as organic, it also has to be pesticide-free for at least three years.        

Hemp is one of the strongest fibers. It enables sustainability and prevents erosion on farmed land. It is also very resistant to insects, so pesticides are not needed. Fertilizers are not needed as well because the plant grows very vigorously by itself.

Bamboo is another natural, renewable source. It is best known for its silky, cashmere-like feel and its antimicrobial qualities.

“The minute you put that one thing on, you realize that you don’t want to take it off, ever. It’s like wearing pajamas all the time,” Parks said.

Despite all the good aspects, the price for green fashions is not so friendly.

“There’s a reason why it’s a little bit more expensive. It’s going to last a lot longer because it’s organic,” Parks said.

Parks did an experiment at home with a sustainable T-shirt and a regular T-shirt. The results were amazing. The regular T-shirt shrank, got stains and lost its appeal. The organic shirt looked new and kept its form a lot longer.

Wyum also said her own eco-friendly clothes do not pill nor stretch.

Wyum’s favorite “green” piece is her black dress. She said that besides the quality, being versatile is its best feature. The dress has a strap on the side, allowing her to adjust it depending on the occasion. This creates the illusion she is wearing something completely different each time.

“You end up getting your money back,” Wyum said.

Besides, it is also a worthy cause to help Mother Earth.

“That’s the way to the future,” Parks said.

For her, eco-friendly clothes still have a long way to go, but the movement definitely has a good start.

Even “Project Runaway” season five winner Leanne used sustainable material in her final collection, showing that high fashion can be eco-friendly.

Wyum said college students are her hope, saying that this is the group that is most aware of the problems the world is encountering and they are the consumers of the future.

Good for students and other customers, her winter collection features everything from scarves to sweaters and long-sleeved shirts. Earth-friendly pants and long skirts are also a must-have for winter.

For more information, visit the Web site weartheearth.com. Visitors can also subscribe to the Web site’s newsletter that features green tips and ways to help our earth.

“My new mission in life is to make people aware,” Parks said.

ON THE WEB:

Wear the Earth: www.weartheearth.com