As one of the fastest growing plants on earth and with no reliance on chemicals or fertilisers to grow, it is one of the greener grasses; it even helps to purify air quality and remove nasty toxins from contaminated soil.

That’s some hard-working grass. But as Eco Salon recently reported, as a fabric it’s not quite so sustainable as we’d all originally thought (and hoped).

‘Sustainable fashion’ may be on the up, but the label is often applied to products that use harsh chemicals to transform bamboo into fabric (known as rayon), which are damaging to both workers and the environment. The use of the harmful chemicals means the bamboo quickly loses its green credentials.

All is not lost, however; though more expensive, a far more environmentally friendly way to make use of bamboo is to mechanically turn it into fibre. This process means crushing the plant into a pulp mixture (it may sound violent, but it’s kinder) and then spinning the separated threads into fibre. Companies can also recover and recycle some chemicals by using a closed-loop system, therefore avoiding any unethical effects.

So before bamboo gets a bad name, check out the products below which say no to polluting chemicals and instead use a planet-friendly way of turning bamboo into beauty.

Which bamboo products are actually green?

Eco-Fashion
Eco-fashion brand Wear Chemistry is making its mark in sustainable fashion with a bamboo clothing range. Their t-shirts are made from 70% bamboo viscose and 30% organic cotton, and they process their bamboo into fabric in a responsible and sustainable way, thanks to the closed-loop system mentioned above.

And it doesn’t stop there; they even use recycled paper for their deliveries and 100% biodegradable plastic for their pop-up shop carrier bags. It’s already loved by the likes of Dave Berry and Angellica Bell, and is certified to be in accordance with the Global Organic Textile Standard. Fashion with a conscience; we like it.

Eco Utensils
If you’re trying to keep your home as green as possible, Bambu Boutique should be your next shopping destination. Their range of cooking utensils and kitchenware is ethically produced in China and Vietnam and they even have the Co-Op America Seal of Approval for their fairness towards workers and the environment. From cute children’s utensils to colourful baskets, their products make a great addition to any eco-conscious kitchen.

Eco Bedding
The innovatively-named Luxury Bamboo Linen company ethically makes, well, luxurious bamboo bed linen, so you can even be responsible while you’re sleeping.

The bamboo used is from non-polluted plantations in China, and is turned into fabric using the kinder process of mushing it into a pulp, before combing out the threads and spinning into yarn, then colouring with azo-free environmental protecting dyes. The bed linen is then created with 60% bamboo and 40% cotton, keeping hold of the plant’s natural anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic and moisture-wicking properties – perfect for sticky summer nights.

But while sweatshops and throwaway fashion are by no means a thing of the past, a new generation of eco-conscious designers are making their mark to prove that style doesn’t have to cost the earth. The upcycling trend is already hitting the high street and red carpet, and now thanks to Norwich University College of the Arts it’s made its way onto the (students’) catwalk.

Last month, the budding designers studying the BA (Hons) in Fashion at the university showcased their creativity and craftsmanship, and made Slow Fashion seem like the next big thing in the event, which was sponsored by John Lewis and The Gallery Haircutters.

Teaming up with Cancer Research UK, the students used clothes donated from the charity and created new, cutting edge pieces to prove that fashion with a conscience doesn’t have to be dull.

Having been given a brief to change perceptions of second-hand clothing, the designers had their work cut out for them but succeeded by turning men’s shirts into dresses and old skirts into modern, stylish items that wouldn’t look out of place on the high street.

Sustainable fashion is said to be on the up, with more and more brands taking note of the greener attitudes of consumers. From the methods of manufacture to the materials used in designs, the industry is becoming more aware of its responsibility to the public to be more ethical, but the eco-trend isn’t quite taking over the mainstream just yet. If you’re looking to make less of a carbon footprint with your high heels, why not check out our guide to ethical fashion initiatives for inspiration?

Source: Norwich Evening News (check out their photo gallery for all the pics)

If you’re in the mood for a challenge, the Environmental Justice Foundation is holding two Great Fashion Cycle charity rides between those fashion capitals we like to call London and Paris this summer.

The sponsored cycling trips are in support of the Pick Your Cotton Carefully Campaign which aims to highlight the terrible working conditions of cotton pickers (especially children) in developing countries who are forced to work — and also to promote organic fairtrade cotton, which is grown without the deadly pesticides.

The press release promises that you will burn 500 calories an hour and there’s much talk of champagne at the Eiffel Tower finish line, all of which are helping me to blank out thoughts of numb bum and jelly legs.

Places are limited, so make sure you register as soon as you can. Here are the details:

Dates: 6th – 10th July and 14th – 18th September

Cost: £99 registration fee and minimum sponsorship of £1,350.

Includes: 3* hotel accommodation, the ferry from Dover to Calais, the Eurostar back home, mechanical bag carrying support, medical care, and most of your meals (check website for further details).

The Great Fashion Cycle London to Paris 2011 from Environmental Justice Foundation on Vimeo.

If you want to see more, we covered the 2010 London-Paris Great Fashion Cycle.

Fast fashion means we’re constantly encouraged to update our look and change our wardrobe on a seasonal, or even monthly, basis. Which becomes a little soulless after a while. And hugely expensive.

So I was intrigued when I heard about a blogger who had taken on the challenge to only buy second-hand clothing for a year. Preloved Reloved is a blog by Kim, a West London-resident. She’s taken on the challenge of only buying second-hand clothing, mainly from charity shops, eBay and vintage markets, for the next year to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

There are certain items of clothing Kim can’t buy second hand, for obvious reasons.

These include (in her own words):

1. Underwear/hosiery (ick).
2. Swimwear
3. Sportswear and sports shoes
4. Gifts!? Should I be allowed new clothes for my birthday!?
5. Jeans. I can never find jeans to fit anyway so may not need to buy any.

Kim’s challenge got me thinking about my own shopping habits, and how there’s really very little need to always buy new clothing all the time. Particularly as vintage clothing is still, and probably always will be, fashionable.

Second-hand Clothes Online

It’s certainly more sustainable. With auction sites like eBay and swishing sites like Big Wardrobe, Swishing.org and Posh Swaps remaining popular, there are plenty of opportunities to pick up a bargain.

Other sites to pick up second-hand clothing include ClothesAgency, Oxfam, MyVintage and VivaStreet. You can even pick up free clothing from your local Freecycle scheme.

Image: [Orin Zebest]

The ¾ Bib Shorts for ladies is cleverly designed to make cycling as enjoyable as possible. It’s got a cutaway back to prevent overheating, a padded, um…bottom area, to make cycling comfortable and reflective tabs on the knees to keep you visible while cycling in the dark.

Which, in the UK, is about 70% of the time. Probably.

Now, I can’t say I’ve ever considered a jumpsuit as cycling attire. Generally, jumpsuits are a logistically nightmare to get in and out of. A peek at the link suggests this one is no different. Particularly as it’s made of ‘strong, fleece-backed’ material.

But actually, I can see the benefits. Aside from the features mentioned above, having an all-in-one means you don’t have to worry about your trousers rolling down and showing rather more than you wanted to motorists/cyclists behind you. It looks quite warm too, which is a strong advantage with the current weather conditions.

Still a pain to remove when nature calls though.

At £160, it’s not cheap. But strictly speaking, the ¾ Bib Shorts function as a pair of trousers and a top. Suddenly, £160 for a cycling outfit doesn’t sound so obscene.

What do you think? Would you wear a cycling jumpsuit?

What’s probably surprising about some of the inhabitants, is their modern approach to tailoring.

Cad & The Dandy have combined their classic service and methods, with an eco-friendly approach to their materials. Founders, James Sleater & Ian Meiers, have created a suit which is created entirely from natural materials.

Hemp, organic cotton and soy all feature in the suits, but while they might have a more eco-friendly approach to their produce, they’re still focussed on stylish, high quality results.

James Sleater commented “We’re providing bespoke fashion with a conscience. We want our clients to walk out wearing our range not only looking fantastic but feeling great too.”

It’s not just suit trousers and jackets either. The pair have utilised bamboo for their range of socks, and have created “eco-cuff links” to finish the look off. The cuff links are made from recycled and sustainably harvested materials.

The eco-range will be extended to include the ‘jodtrousers’ modelled by Chris Eubank above.

Which all goes to prove that being traditional does not mean that adopting an eco-friendly, sustainable approach is out of reach.

Recommended Reading:

Cushe CLIMATE shoes: carbon footprint friendly. A new range of offset shoes from surfers’ favourite, Cushe.

Designer wool clothing from Makepiece. Beautiful handmade woollen clothing from up-and-coming designer label, Makepiece.

Hire your own fashion designer. It’s cheaper than you think to get your own clothes made.

This means that each shoe’s carbon footprint is as small as possible.

Cushe, a shoe brand best known to the extreme sports community, has introduced a footwear line called C.L.I.M.A.T.E, that ‘Contains Low Impact Materials and Thinking Environmentally’ (hang on, something doesn’t quite work there, but let’s not dwell).

Ethical footwear

Instead of arriving in a multitude of cardboard, paper and plastic packaging layers, the shoes come strapped together with a reusable rubber C.L.I.M.A.T.E band that can be used round your wrist to show your support for the cause.

The shoe itself can be folded into several different styles, making them just as suitable for a holiday on the beach as they are for a trip around town.

If you want to grab a pair, you can buy them from www.cushe.com from February, priced from £50. (Check out the video to see the shoes up close).

The only thing it seems they didn’t consider was the carbon footprint of the person buying the shoes, but that’s possibly taking the concept a bit too far.

Let’s hope all those snowboarders offset their flights.

Do you consider your carbon footprint when you buy your clothes?

For Slow Lifers, the Green Room and the ASOS Marketplace are the most notable.

ASOS and ethics

The Green Room is a hidden away section dedicated to “pioneer brands with a social and environmental ethos.” The range includes clothing, accessories and beauty products.

It’s a selection of products that ASOS has really put extra thought into, and several of the products are from ASOS Africa. This particular own brand is created by small community groups and artisans in Kenya and uses organic cotton jersey from Tanzania.

The ASOS Marketplace is a new venture for ASOS drawing inspiration from handmade marketplaces like Etsy and Folksy. It’s packed full of fledgling designers, many of who focus on recycled and ‘upcycled’ products.

Visitors are encouraged to take their current wardrobe misses, and ‘style them up’ to sell them on.

I can make shoes!

One particular shop, I can make shoes, took my interest thanks to the range of upcycled products and workshops available so you can upcycle your own shoes.

ASOS have turned their image around from cheap copies of celeb style to a fashion leader in the UK. Their ethical approach is encouraging, and an excellent example to the high street.

Recommended reading:

Hire your own fashion designer. Hiring your own fashion designer is not only affordable, it’s also a great way to slow down your consumption and get something truly unique that will last a lifetime.

We’ve found a slow Net-a-Porter. Why Fashion Conscience is the perfect choice for fashionistas who want sustainable designer clothing.

Has ASOS really gone green? Or do shops like this still have a long way to go?

The label’s first collection was created from the wool of their very own sheep. Since 2007, they’ve extended that to sustainable natural fibre farmed in the UK (wool, alpaca, angora and mohair) and low-impact wovens. Each design comes with a handmade Makepiece tag, imprinted with a sheep image, which comes with a wrap of yarn for easy fixing.

While Nicola is behind the designing, Beate is the farmer and business manager, who owns a group of Shetland sheep for the designs. Beate has strong opinions about buying clothing created abroad:

“‘If you think of what you’re wearing and you find it’s been round the world before you put it on for the first time, was manufactured out of cotton dripping with pesticides or sewn by people in shoddy conditions, it suddenly doesn’t feel half as glamorous.”

The Makepiece designs put quality over quantity, are created to last as long as possible, and are specifically designed to be versatile. The Inchfield scarves in particular can be worn in seven different ways.

The rest of the range includes shrugs, cardigans, tops, dresses and even bridal pieces. Everything really that you’ll need to keep warm for the next snow fall. And as they’re made from sustainable materials from local sources, you know your jumper or scarf has a low carbon footprint.

More Fashion on Jorg & Olif

Now, as if it isn’t too busy restoring and maintaining the jolly lovely stately homes that often crop up in TV shows like Downton Abbey and Pride & Prejudice, the National Trust is launching an outdoor clothing range, starting with a pair of suitably sturdy walking boots, for men, women and children.

Don’t you just love walking boots? They are the ultimate trusty footwear friend, aren’t they? A good pair of walking boots, well looked after, can last many years and tell a hundred stories of mountains that were conquered and the ones that got away.

The National Trust boots might not see you up Everest, but they are great for a weekend ramble. The best thing, though, is that they are made of recycled materials.

The Altitude IV WPi NT Enviro boots, produced in partnership with British brand Hi-Tec, are semi-recycled. The sole is made from 15 per cent recycled plastic bottles, the sock liner is 100 per cent recycled, and the steel shank is made from 90 per cent recycled steel. Even the packaging is recycled, and the tag is a teeny packet of seeds. The hope is to get to a higher level of recycling in the future.

The bad news? They are made in China. Considering Hi-Tec is a British company, it’s a shame they couldn’t have produced it within the UK.

The boots have the oak leaf symbol of the Trust stamped on the heel, and are currently available in National Trust shops and Millets stores. They will be joined by hooded tops, fleeces, trousers and anoraks in Autumn 2011.