Organic and Environmentally Friendly Fabrics

More than ever before caring for the environment is at the forefront of the news. People are asking themselves what they can do to be more environmentally friendly. The Robert Kaufman fabric company has an answer for quilters, dressmakers and crafters looking for more ecologically responsible fabrics. To that end they have introduced a varied line of organic fabrics. All of these fabrics are part of Kaufman’s greenSTYLE collection. Here are some examples:

Sea-Tiva Cotton/Seacell Fabrics

These exclusive organic textiles are produced using seaweed derived fibers together with cotton.

Sea-Tiva Seacell Fabric: Black

Panda Cotton/Bamboo Fabrics

Go Green Gina: Top Natural Fabric Dyes.

In the world of eco-friendly dyeing, there are several traditional and modern-day sources of coloring used to bring just the right energy and aura to a fabric. And whether you are a do-it-youself kinda crafter or are content with purchasing your material already naturally dyed, here is a list of some of the more common plant, animal, vegetable and/or mineral agents for those vibrant yellows, burnt oranges, indigo blues and deep reds that call out to us from across the fabric isles.  

Go Green Gina’s ‘Top 10 Eco-Friendly Fabric Terms’.

With all the talk of eco-friendly this, and go-green that, is it any wonder why being politically correct with our green living jargon is becoming seemingly more and more difficult? When it comes to the world of textile goods, this confusion doesn’t cease to exist, but hopefully with a little help from our Top 10 Eco-Friendly Textile Terms, it will make your next purchase of Earth friendly fabric just a little easier.

1. Biodegradable: fabric fibers that break down naturally with the assistance of microorganisms (ie cotton, linen, wool, silk)

2. Organic: free from harmful chemical pesticides and fertilizers; involving only natural animal and/or vegetable based ingredients.

J&O Celebrates Earth Day 2010!

 

State of Planet Earth 2010 Fast Facts:

 

  • We throw away enough trash every day to fill 63,000 garbage trucks.
  •  Over 80% of items in landfills can be recycled, but they’re not.
  •  U.S. vehicle emissions contribute 45% to global warming .
  • Vehicle exhaust contributes to 60% of carbon monoxide emissions in the U.S. and up to 95% in large cities .
  •  Every year 335,000 Americans die of lung cancer, which is a direct result of air pollution.
  •  Over 73 different kinds of pesticides have been found in the groundwater that we eventually use to drink

Let Your Fingers Speak to the Fashionista In You!

As long as I can remember, I have always had an infatuation with fabric. Napped materials like raw silk, linen, unbleached muslin, burlap and hemp appealed to me because of their slightly rough texture, just as much as fleece, velour, and gauze did because of their softness. As a little girl, my fingers became my eyes into the world of textile goods, feeling my way around garment racks and my mothers linen closet. It was always about how it felt, before it was about how it looked, behaved, or cost. Still today, much of how I experience the world is based on how a specific experience makes me feel.

Go Green Gina: Save the Planet, Recycle Clothing.

Have you ever been to a clothing swap? If you haven’t you are really missing out on not only some great fun, but some great finds.

I was invited to my first one from a girlfriend of mine who shops at a private design boutique called Simply Netfah. It is a specialty boutique that carries beautiful wholistic clothing and accessories for women and every spring they hold a gathering at their place where invited clients gather among good food and good company, to exchange old and unwanted articles of clothing from their closets for new ones. It is the boutique owner’s way of giving back to Mother Earth through the encouragement of clothing recycling and sustaining her community through barter exchange.

J&O Celebrates Earth Day!

Earth is home to many living creatures, including man himself. But how often do we as humans take for granted Mother Earth and all that she provides for us. We rarely give a second thought to the air we breath or the ground that we walk upon. It seems the very source of our survival, is the very source we tend to rape, pillage and pollute.

Go Green Gina: Celebrating Earth Day 2009!

Today J&O Fabrics and millions of other folks striving to become more environmentally conscious are celebrating the 39th Anniversary of Earth Day not only across America, but in countries like the UK, Philippines, Venezuela, Spain and Togo too. If you’ve never heard of Earth Day or the ideology behind going ‘green’, then you’re in for a treat. Today, and in the days and weeks to come, you will probably be bombarded with information and resources on how you can help create a healthier planet and give back to Mother Earth for all that she has done for you…without you even having to ask. From the air we breath, water we drink, and ground we walk upon, Mother Earth has been taking good care of us over the years, so why not show her how much she is appreciated by recycling our papers and cans, using less plastic and NON-biodegradable materials, and preserving our water usage. By just taking one step in favor of a less polluted and more sustainable environment, we can each play our part in saving our planet and ourselves!