An informed consumer is a true friend of the environment. But with the quantity of information floating about both online and through word-of-mouth, those wanting to make wise alternatives can very easily be overwhelmed and misled.

Thankfully, a brand new guide is out there to help! Calling itself the “ultimate eco-fiber reference guide for textiles professionals, design students, fashion and interior designers, product manufactures, and home sewers who want more environmentally responsible fabric options,”A Guide to Green Fabrics by Kristene Smith is a comprehensive tour guide to eco-friendly fabrics. I personally appreciate that this really is genuinely a book for everyone whether or not you are a member of a knitting circle or an aspiring fashion designer. We can all make a difference with our fabric choice.

As Smith states, “The textiles and apparel industry, with its massive economic engine, touches every life. From clothes and bedding to car interiors and medical supplies, textiles are indeed woven into our collective fabric of life.” The production of textiles affects every person from the farmers who grow the crop to the factory worker that readies the fabric for the consumer who buys it. Smith acknowledges that a lot of consumers lack an overall understanding of how textiles impact the environment so “textile producers must take the lead in promoting these new innovations to attract like-minded consumers and their resources, and to educate customers on the benefits of going green.” Read the rest of this entry »