Beyond Organic Cotton

"NEW YORK - Fashion trends come and go, but Shalom Harlow is optimistic the industry's latest interest in all things "green" isn't a passing phase.

The Canadian-born model was among those showcasing environmentally friendly couture at Earth Pledge's opener for New York Fashion Week.

"The establishment has to catch up," Harlow said after checking out the 2008 fall/winter collection for John Patrick ORGANIC. "It's really about time fashion started looking at its cause and effect on the planet. There's no need to compromise anymore ... you can be fashionable and responsible."

With heightened concern about toxicity from PBDEs (flame retardants) and other chemicals in clothing and products, organic and renewable materials, like bamboo, are gaining ground as alternatives to conventional fibres produced with pesticides, herbicides and defoliates."

Read the article