Sustainability Inspires Creativity with Fascinating Fabrics Part Two

FROM THE LAND AND THE SEA

In part one, we looked at some of the creative sustainable fabrics from foods we eat--like corn, tofu, bananas, coffee, and milk, as well as fabrics made from the "clothing" of animals like chicken and salmon. Now we'll take a look at some of the more surprising fabrics that come from the land and the sea, and some that offer a way to recycle materials to keep them from polluting the land and sea.

From the land, we have cloths made from tree bark and stinging nettles. Whereas Tencel fabrics are made from wood pulp, Barkcloth comes from the outer covering of a Mutaba tree in Uganda. The textures that can be made from it range from leather-like to fluffy and fleecy. It all depends on how it's prepared. It's completely organic and is a cultural treasure that's been recognized by UNESCO.

Also from land are stinging nettles--a fast-growing weed that is known to be a bit uncomfortable against the skin, which makes it a surprising choice for fabric. But they use only the stems, not the itchy, prickly thorns and leaves, and the plants grow easily without pesticides and only minimal fertilizer and water, which makes it a very eco-friendly crop. The fibers themselves are stronger than cotton and finer than hemp and are naturally fire retardant!

From the sea, we have seacell, and bathing suits made from old fishing nets. Seacell is made from seaweed combined with 100% wood pulp Lyocell. Because of its porous, open structure, it lets your skin breathe, while at the same time, your skin absorbs vitamins and minerals from the seaweed. Good deal, huh? So far, Seacell is mostly being used in bras and underwear, but bedding and travel blankets are starting to use it as well.

We're not sure why a company that recycles old fishing nets calls itself Eco-Panda, but they've created a swimsuit collection made from recycled nylon. The company holds the exclusive rights to this recycled nylon in the United States and claims that they use 27 percent less petroleum resources and contribute 28 percent less greenhouse gases than if they used conventional fabrics. Eco-Panda's collection combines the recycled nylon with Xtra Life Lycra, which results in garments that last three times longer than your average two-piece. See the video above, if you dare.

Other clever recycling efforts that keep trash off the land and out of the sea include the use of plastic bottles and cigarette butts in clothing. Used plastic bottles isn't all that unusual anymore, but the amount of plastic piling up in garbage dumps and floating in the world's oceans continues to be a major problem. So we salute the further use of PET in everything from sharply pressed suits to billowy graduation gowns previously thought to be single-use items are reincarnated as polyester garb that is soft, durable, and waterproof.

But cigarette butts-that's creative. Chilean designer Alexandra Guerrero surprised everyone with her idea to blend wool with discarded cigarette butts to create a series of clothing. Cleaned, shredded, and spun into yarn, the item that helps trash people's lungs and litter the environment find new life as dresses, vests, ponchos, and hats.

Originally written for Garments Without Guilt in August 2009 by Malayna Dawn.