Are You Looking for Eco-Friendly Fabrics?

The production of textiles is one of the most environmentally devastating manufacturing processes. When it comes to the full life cycle from fiber-to-fabric-to-consumer, there are numerous factors that can lead to unfavorable consequences. On Tuesday, January 18, 2011, I presented a webinar for the Custom Home Furnishings Academy and Drapery and Design Professional Magazine.  Sustainable Fabrics: It's More than a Buzz Word, .

provided a comprehensive overview of sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics.

The webinar being only an hour long, there was not enough time to include this video as part of the presentation.  It is definitely A MUST SEE however, so I urge you all to watch it.  Please keep in mind while watching, that this is an illustration and documentation of what the textile and home furnishings industry is working to eliminate worldwide.  Tremendous strides have been made but as you will see, if this is still happening ANYWHERE then we still have a long way to go. This video, Toxic Textiles, is a little over 25 minutes long. It is as alarming as it is educating, unfortunately.

Give yourself some time to process what you just watched. The video is heavy and, at least for me, had me thinking long and hard about my own efforts toward protecting our planet and the people in it.

There are a many groups and organizations that are working toward change.  It won't be easy and it won't be quick, but then, environmentalism is something groups have been advocating for for many, many years.  I take heart in knowing however, that with every resurgence of effort the determination seems to get stronger.

During the presentation, I talked quite a bit about the needs of people facing chemical sensitivity issues.  If you would like to know more about this from someone who is dealing this every day, please visit the blog of Debra Lynn Dadd: http://debralynndadd.com/. Debra has chemical sensitivty and has dedicated her life to educating and

helping others. She is the author of three books, A Consumer Guide for the Chemically-Sensitve (self-published 1982), Nontoxic and Natural (Tarcher, 1984) and The Nontoxic Home (Tarcher 1986).  Her website is a wealth of information and includes listings of toxic chemicals in our everyday household products and the consequential effects on our health, as well as a listing of nontoxic products.

Here is a partial list of groups and resources to help you in your journey to understand more about the issues, impact and advances within the textile industry.  Please, if there is an amazing organization that I have not listed, please do leave a comment and share so that all my readers can benefit.

http://www.sustainablefurnishings.org/

http://organicexchange.org/

http://environment.about.com/
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/77266.aspx
http://www.theecologist.org/
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/
http://www.sustainableproducts.com/
http://www.textileexchange.org/
http://www.epa.gov/
http://www.greenguard.org/
http://www.global-standard.org/
http://www.greenamerica.org/
http://www.ejfoundation.org/
http://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/

http://labels.ecotextile.com/?id=labelguide2010 sample

http://www.ecotextile.com/

Thank you to all who attended the webinar! Please note that the recording of this webinar is available to subscribing members to the Drapery and Design Network.

It has taken me a bit to figure out the best way to embed this file, but alas, I have figured it out.  The slide below contains the embedded links for each company.  During the webinar the question came up regarding notions and supplies. Please note, that I have included two additional resources in the bottom center of the slide. 

Links slide

View more presentations from storibook.