Saturday January 19, 2013, 10:14 am

It’s Suddenly in Fashion to Make Chic Clothes That Don’t Hurt the Earth
From waterless dyeing technologies to aggressive campaigns, these 10 companies and individuals are making clean waves.
By Amy DuFault
January 14, 2013
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AirDye
CRAiLAR
Manufacture New York
Elizabeth Cline
Eileen Fisher
Source4Style
Patagonia
Alabama Chanin
Permacouture Institute
Greenpeace

The World Bank estimates that 17 to 20 percent of industrial water pollution comes from textile dyeing and treatment. They’ve also identified 72 toxic chemicals in our water that solely originated from textile dyeing, 30 of which cannot be removed. This represents an appalling environmental challenge for designers and manufacturers.

Oh, and that’s just the dyeing, not the waste.

Two thousand thirteen is already shaping up to be a major game-changing year for sustainable and environmentally sound fashion movers and shakers like these 10 featured companies and individuals. Innovative, fearless and ready to tackle the dirty fashion industry one step at a time, these people are also proving fashion and sustainability can be achieved.

While some big names have entered the environmental ring, like H&M’s Conscious Collection, Walmart and the Levi’s waterless denim line, new concerns have evolved. We have to question if companies are using greenwashing as a smokescreen for other ethical atrocities, like the recent garment factory fire in Bangladesh that killed over 117 people.

Sustainability, whatever your definition might be, can’t solely be about the environment. As many are learning the hard way, it has to be holistic.

From waterless technology to zero-waste fashion, and millennials toting a new fashion manufacturing flag, these people are teaching the industry to be cleaner and to use less.

(The Earth lets out a huge sigh of relief.)
Photo: Jamie Grill/Getty Images
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Protect Our Families: Pass the Safe Chemical Act

Saturday January 19, 2013, 1:40 pm
Another step in the right direction.

Saturday January 19, 2013, 1:41 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Michael because you have done so within the last week.

Saturday January 19, 2013, 5:58 pm
Yeah baby, GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The 10 Commandments of Mother Earth

Saturday January 19, 2013, 5:59 pm
You cannot currently send a star to Terry because you have done so within the last week.

Sunday January 20, 2013, 2:31 am
thanks for sharing

Sunday January 20, 2013, 8:30 am
noted and shared

Sunday January 20, 2013, 9:33 am
finally...

Sunday January 20, 2013, 11:25 am
A forward move. Yea. Thanks for sharing.

Sunday January 20, 2013, 4:04 pm
You are welcome Patricia and Christeen. Unfortunately cannot send stars to any but a y m right now I'm told.

Sunday January 20, 2013, 4:58 pm
I was also thinking Stella Mcartney I think you have her in the USA
Sadly so many European fashion houses are still into mutilating animals especially Italian and French

Sunday January 20, 2013, 6:39 pm
S/N, thank you

Sunday January 20, 2013, 6:49 pm
You're welcome Kate

Monday January 21, 2013, 9:41 am
Great, hope this becomes a trend worldwide!