Eco-Friendly Clothing

More Stories:
* Campuses Go Green
* Organic Cosmetics
* Spring Cleaning Organically

Going green and organic emphasizes a holistic perspective on consumerism, so nothing is overlooked – even clothes. As the fashion world is starting to turn its attention to going green, eco-clothing is slowly starting to pop up in Atlanta.

Chic, eco-friendly, organically produced clothing is everywhere in California and New York City. It’s a little harder to find here in Atlanta, but it is possible. The only completely organic lifestyle store in Atlanta is Eco-Bella, whose Virginia-Highland boutique is filled with organic clothing for little tots and active wear for adults, as well as linens, paints, toys and other home items.

Antje Kingma, creator and co-owner of the store, grew up in Germany and has a European affection for organics. She is passionate about the soft French-made camisoles and smooth baby onesies produced from organic cotton, and is quick to note the distinction between 100 percent conventional cotton, which she said ends up being about one-quarter chemicals, and 100 percent organically grown cotton, which is the only way to be entirely free of synthetic insecticides and pesticides.

According to research by the Organic Trade Association (www.ota.com), 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and 10 percent of the world’s pesticides are used to grow conventional cotton. Although hemp, bamboo, linen and other eco-materials are gaining ground, organic cotton, free of chemicals, has the biggest impact on the clothing industry.

"People trust organics for a number of reasons – the health aspects, the environmental aspects and the social aspects, because fair trade is often a part of [being organic]," Kingma said. "And none of these do I use lightly – I am fully comfortable saying that organics benefit all of these."

This month, on Earth Day, Saturday, April 21 Eco-Bella will celebrate its one-year anniversary. Currently, it offers baby and children lines and, for adults, Peau Ethique and The Cotton People. Kingma says that buying organic clothing can get expensive, but she emphasizes quality over quantity.

An Atlanta native is the designer behind one of the finest new eco-brands. Linda Loudermilk is the daughter of the founder of Atlanta-based Aaron Rents, Charles Loudermilk, and her eponymous company, with its stylish, runway-worthy looks is based in Los Angeles, but the line is sometimes available in Atlanta at G.Gilbert on Howell Mill and Mooncake on Virginia Avenue.

Fit for any fashion guru, Loudermilk’s duds are inspired by nature and made from sustainable materials, but don’t look anything like the frayed hemp sacks you might be envisioning. Her luxury-eco line, as she calls it, defies the idea that high fashion can’t be eco-friendly. Her designs stem from her knack for fashion and a passion for nature.

"Each season I tell a different story of nature, and... how you can help us preserve and respect Mother Nature," Loudermilk said. "My inspiration comes from the brute strength of nature and its creative force."

Edun, one of the most well-known socially conscious clothing lines, by U2’s Bono and wife, Ali Hewson, with New York clothing designer Rogan Gregory, is sometimes offered in Atlanta at Anthropologie at Lenox Square and Blue Genes on Around Lenox Drive.

American Apparel, with three Atlanta locations, is a classic Los Angeles brand that upholds fair labor standards and has recently released an organic line of T-shirts, tanks and tracksuits. The hip denim line Loomstate, with sustainable practices and 100 percent organic cotton, is available at Bill Hallman, in Virginia-Highland and Little Five Points.

Also available to organic-style shoppers in Atlanta are some larger retailers that have turned their attention to going organic. Patagonia, with its Atlanta store in Buckhead on East Andrews Drive, was one of the first companies to devote its entire cotton line to organic. Levi Strauss, the original creator of the denim jeans, has released a line of organic jeans, available at department stores, including Macy’s and Nordstrom.