Go Green! Top 10 Eco-Friendly Terms To Look For On Your Next Shopping Trip.

jandofabrics

We are living in a time when the rich resources our loving Mother Earth has provided us with are now, as a result of abuse and misuse by man, in need of sustaining to ensure their provision not only for her living inhabitants now, but for future generations to come. It is because of this, that a growing awareness in and ‘go-green’ consciousness of creative ways to assist in this precious recycling of resources has developed. From Number 1 PET or PETE soda and water bottle plastics recycled into polar fleece, to the use of natural fibers, dyes and chemical free cleaning processes on our textile goods, being eco-friendly has become as necessary as it has trendy!

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: Natural vs Synthetic Dyeing on Fabric

In the world of eco-friendly dyeing, use of natural dyes and is not always enough to ensure its benefits over harsher, chemical based dyeing techniques. From the dye source, to the final step of color retention, much can occur in the manufacturing process that environmentally conscious consumers need to be aware of before purchasing what is considered to be a ‘safe’ fabric.

Indigo- The Natural Insect Repellent

Tired of burning insect repelling coils, polluting the air with toxic bug sprays and lotioning up with toxic chemical based pesticides throughout the year, especially in the summer and rainy seasons? If so, why not trade in your N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide and 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid1-methylpropyl ester) based insect repellent solutions for something a little more natural, a bit more eco and human friendly, and a lot easier to read. With the threat of Lymes Disease and other bacterial viruses that mosquitos can carry, protecting your family and environment has never been more necessary.

Cow Urine: The Raw & Organic Fire Retardant.

I once read on old folk story about a group of holy sages in India who spent their lives creating havans and doing spiritual work for their Creator. Because of this sacred purifying fire ritual, they wore protective garb made from textiles dyed in cows urine to make the fabric fire retardant and fire repellent. In order to create a urine with these properties, the sages practiced a protocol of keeping the cows hungry for a few days and feeding them only fresh mango leaves. Afterwards, the first urine collected was used to dye the selected fabric. Now, I’ve heard of fire retardant applications and even used fire retardant spray myself, but cow urine as a fire retardant, now that is news to me!