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Environmentally conscious and worried about what to wear? You are in luck as eco-fashion is currently the trend in vogue and likely to become a way of life. Eco-fashion is about making clothing that considers the environment, the working conditions of the people in the fashion industry and the health of the consumers wearing them. The processes used to make the items must be environmentally friendly and use organic materials or recycled products.

Eco-fashion has come a long way from the tie-dyed tee shirts and skirts of the 1960's. Moreover, it is more than just 100% cotton tee shirts and blue jeans. Eco-fashion is moving into the mainstream as well as designer boutiques since consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious.

So just what should you be looking for on the label? Fabrics range from organic cotton, soy, hemp, organic silk, bamboo, wools, and a recycled fabric called PET or POP, which is made from recycled soda bottles.

Organic cotton is farmed without the benefit of any chemical herbicides, pesticides, or insecticides. The soil is certified free of any chemical manipulation or enhancement thereby ensuring the purity of the cotton. Once the cotton is made into fabric, it is not treated with any chlorine bleaches or synthetic dyes. Any coloration of the fabric also must be environmentally friendly and organically produced.

Soy is not just for eating any more. The new "vegetable cashmere," soy fabric is gaining in popularity. New Wide Enterprises have come up with a soy based fabric they call Soyacel. This fabric apparently feels soft, is light and breathable much like wool but it wears more like cotton. It is still a little pricey since it has not yet made it into the mainstream.

Hemp is one of the oldest materials known to man. Few people know that the Declaration of Independence was printed on hemp paper! Hemp should easily be considered the wonder fabric of our time. It is sturdy, yet lightweight; stronger and longer lasting than cotton fabric. Another wonder of this material is it provides better UV protection than any other fabric.

Farming of hemp is very environmentally friendly as it needs little water, is naturally resistant to pests (in other words, needs no pesticides) and grows devoid of fertilizers. Production of hemp uses the seeds for oil and food supplements and fiber is made from the stalks. Unfortunately, hemp is a close relative to the plant, which is considered to be an illegal drug, marijuana, and the United States is slow to

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