Organic Cotton

In honor of Earth Day, we’ve sleuthed out eight amazing eco-friendly finds that make being green undeniably chic. From an animal-free colorblocked wedge to organic silk trousers, to Stella McCartney’s must-have fruit print purse, these covetable pieces will have you more than ready to start shopping for a good cause! On Allison: Blazer from H&M Conscious Collection

It's almost Earth Day, so chances are you've been hearing the word "eco" so much that it almost loses its meaning. But when you shop consciously, it's about more than just reading a label. Knowing how your fitness wear is made and where it comes from can be just as important as sourcing your meal at a restaurant.

The good news is that finding an eco-friendly fabric can also enhance your workout; it will be irritant-free, naturally breathable, and hypoallergenic, which can be just as important as knowing it's helping save the environment as well. Don't know the facts on popular sustainable fabrics? Here are a few exercise-friendly fabrics to look out for.

Bamboo
Eco-Friendly: Not only is bamboo a renewable resource, but it contains a substance that makes it antimicrobial — perfect for sweaty fitness clothes! Growing it can be less impactful on the environment, since fertilizers and pesticides aren't needed to help it grow exponentially or replenish itself once harvested.
Eco-Enemy? There's the growing problem of irresponsible, forest-clearing bamboo farming, but a larger issue lies in bamboo's conversion into that soft, moisture-wicking material that we love to wear. Depending on the manufacturer, making bamboo fabric may involve a chemical cooking process known as hydrolysis-alkalization using lye and carbon disulfide; these chemicals can lead to headache, fatigue, and nerve damage in those who are overexposed to them. Also, bamboo must be bleached several times throughout the manufacturing process.
What You Can Do. Make sure you know where the brand sources its fabric and if the manufacturer uses chemical processing to make the fabric (REI, for example, makes sure to not label chemically processed bamboo products as eco-friendly). Keep in mind that the more earth-friendly mechanical processing (extracting fibers manually from crushed bamboo treated with biological enzymes) is also more expensive, but worth it.

Check out the pros and cons of more eco-friendly fabrics after the break.

I'm a huge fan of textile artist Amy Butler and her exuberant fabric patterns. My home reflects my enthusiasm, from the easy panel curtains I've sewn from her fabric line to the craft and lifestyle books that she's authored that populate my bookshelves.

Even so, sometimes a room can benefit from the introduction of a more subtle pattern. That's why I was pleased to have the opportunity to try out Amy Butler's new line of coverlets ($40 to $180). While they still use patterns in their designs, it's a lot more subtle, with a repeating thread motif sewn into the fabric of the pillows and blankets.


See what I thought of the coverlet!

Since the divets in a waffle are great for collecting syrup, it stands to reason that a towel designed with a waffle pattern will also be great at sopping up — well, not syrup, unless you live in a Willy Wonka house. Good old water is all this waffle design needs to contend with, and I'm happy to say that the Christy Organic Waffle Towel ($105 for three bath towels) does just that.

Granted, these towels are a bit of a splurge, but I can attest that they're well worth it. The waffle design of the towel wicks away water more efficiently than any towel I've ever owned, and the organic cotton is a great reassurance that I'm keeping my house as eco as possible. I have to admit that I've been neglecting some of my other towels in favor of the waffle towels, and if finances permitted, I'd be tempted to replace more of my bath towels with the Christy's waffle towels.

You can check out Christy's newly designed website for its latest line, as well as news on retail locations and helpful hints for caring for your linens. Have you tried a waffle towel? What are your thoughts about the design?