Articles

The Eco-Fashion Choice

November 30, 2010

Considering the three R’s--reduce, reuse and recycle--may be difficult in an industry that is known to change styles with every season. Kamilah Grace Cole, the founder of K. Grace, has always had a love for fashion and the environment.  Putting her two passions together became a reality when she realized how much fabric is wasted and thrown away. Kamilah believes that your fashion should not be set by the trends but used as a statement of your values and style.

K. Grace only uses sustainable, eco-friendly materials in its designs, everything from organic cotton to recycled hemp, silk, modal and buttons made from coconut shells.

So what is the biggest challenge you face in having an eco-fashion line?

Kamilah: The biggest challenge is still finding the right mix of textiles and materials. It has to be something that I feel our customers would want to buy. Luckily, there are constantly more fabrics being introduced to the eco-friendly market.  So as the technology grows, the options will also grow. However, there are still not as many choices as regular fabric.

Compared to traditional materials, what are the differences in the fabrics that you use and their effect on the environment?

Kamilah: The simple difference in regular cotton vs. organic cotton is the number of chemicals used.  Regular cotton uses chemicals that could potentially damage the soil, threaten the health of the farmers that harvest the cotton, and requires more water during the process, which in turn produces more waste.  Organic cotton starts with a non-genetically modified seed and there are no pesticides used, therefore the end product is safer and gentler.  Hemp is considered a renewable source because it grows so quickly without pesticides and is a very durable and versatile fabric.

What is your personal favorite material to use in your designs?

Kamilah: My favorite is probably Hemp because it grows quickly and practically anywhere.  It can be used to create a range of products.  However, I believe the ultimate eco-friendly clothing item is something that you will wear over and over.  It's a classic dress or jacket that you keep wearing season after season.  If you don’t throw it away after one season of wear, you are creating less waste overall.  That's why I’ve created staple pieces in my line - I want to see someone wearing a K. Grace dress from 2010 in 10 years!

Do you have any tips to become eco-friendly within your style?

• When you buy something new, try to incorporate it into the clothing you already have in your closet
• Spend more money on the staple pieces that you really love and can wear over time rather than trendy items you’ll throw away at the end of the season. The Beach Dress is an example of a classic dress with a little bit of a twist.  You could wear it into the fall by adding tights and sweaters. Next spring you can also bring in new colors with jewelry and belts to make it feel fresh and new.
• Shop within your own closet – mix and match the things you already own into different combinations.
• Do your research. Support companies committed to making the world a better place.

The cost of organic cotton and other sustainable materials are typically more expensive. However, it comes with peace of mind in knowing that you are supporting fair wages, healthier farmers, cleaner water, air and a commitment to making the world a better place.  As consumers, we all have choices, if we CHOOSE sustainable products more regularly, more will become available.