2008 Woodie Awards
College fashion: going 'green' with eco-friendly threads
Sarah Kloepping
Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: Arts & Lifestyle
Saving the world doesn't have to mean designating weekends to planting trees or picking up garbage on the side of the road. Helping the environment is now as simple as putting on a pair of socks, literally.
Organic clothing is a rapidly growing trend among all age groups, including students at UW-Whitewater. As more style options become available, retailers are jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon, according to www.indianalivinggreen.com.
Along with stores like The Gap and H&M, Wal-Mart also offers a selection of organic merchandise at reasonable prices.
Bill Kiser, assistant manager of the Wal-Mart in Whitewater, said they have had organic clothing in stock for about six months in all of the departments, but the selection isn't extensive.
"I don't think we've had a big run of [organic clothing] yet," he said. "We're more in back-to-school mode right now."
Walmart.com offers an assortment of eco-friendly T-shirts, socks and cotton pants for men, women and children. All of the items cost less than $15.
Wal-Mart is currently the world's largest buyer of organic cotton. They can afford to sell organic clothing at the same prices as clothing made with conventional fibers because they buy such large quantities at reasonable prices, according to www.indianalivinggreen.com.
Kiser said each organic article of clothing at Wal-Mart is labeled, and certain criteria must be meet prior to receiving the environmentally-safe classification.
The United States Department of Agriculture prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms, irradiation and sewage sludge in organic production. The use of production and processing materials in accordance with the national list of allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances is required, and three years from last use of prohibited substance must pass before a farm can be considered organic.
UW-Whitewater students are also getting into the 'save the planet' spirit.
Nada Pope started eating organic food and being more environmentally conscious after watching the movie "An Inconvenient Truth."
"One of my best friends is also very environmentally friendly and only eats and uses organic products, so I guess she rubbed off on me," she said.
Pope said she doesn't know much about organic clothing, but she does own a few eco-friendly shirts.
"The thing that is hard about trying to go "all-natural" is the expenses, since it costs a lot more to buy organic food and products," Pope said.
The reason for the high clothing prices is because raw material supply is limited, according to the Organic Trade Association. Between 2004 and 2005, the demand for raw materials by clothing manufacturers increased 93 percent, but organic cotton production did not increase as dramatically.
Organic clothing is a rapidly growing trend among all age groups, including students at UW-Whitewater. As more style options become available, retailers are jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon, according to www.indianalivinggreen.com.
Along with stores like The Gap and H&M, Wal-Mart also offers a selection of organic merchandise at reasonable prices.
Bill Kiser, assistant manager of the Wal-Mart in Whitewater, said they have had organic clothing in stock for about six months in all of the departments, but the selection isn't extensive.
"I don't think we've had a big run of [organic clothing] yet," he said. "We're more in back-to-school mode right now."
Walmart.com offers an assortment of eco-friendly T-shirts, socks and cotton pants for men, women and children. All of the items cost less than $15.
Wal-Mart is currently the world's largest buyer of organic cotton. They can afford to sell organic clothing at the same prices as clothing made with conventional fibers because they buy such large quantities at reasonable prices, according to www.indianalivinggreen.com.
Kiser said each organic article of clothing at Wal-Mart is labeled, and certain criteria must be meet prior to receiving the environmentally-safe classification.
The United States Department of Agriculture prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms, irradiation and sewage sludge in organic production. The use of production and processing materials in accordance with the national list of allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances is required, and three years from last use of prohibited substance must pass before a farm can be considered organic.
UW-Whitewater students are also getting into the 'save the planet' spirit.
Nada Pope started eating organic food and being more environmentally conscious after watching the movie "An Inconvenient Truth."
"One of my best friends is also very environmentally friendly and only eats and uses organic products, so I guess she rubbed off on me," she said.
Pope said she doesn't know much about organic clothing, but she does own a few eco-friendly shirts.
"The thing that is hard about trying to go "all-natural" is the expenses, since it costs a lot more to buy organic food and products," Pope said.
The reason for the high clothing prices is because raw material supply is limited, according to the Organic Trade Association. Between 2004 and 2005, the demand for raw materials by clothing manufacturers increased 93 percent, but organic cotton production did not increase as dramatically.
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