Eco Product - Eco-Friendly Apparel

It has been a while since we last discussed the use of renewable materials in the promotional apparel industry. The continuing innovations in fabrication technology have since elevated eco-friendly apparel options to a whole new level, so we thought it's time to do an update on what is available out there. Did you know fibers can now be derived not just from bamboo, but also from seaweed, coconuts, soybean and corn?

According to Jason Neve of Boardroom Custom Clothing, new eco-friendly fibers are introduced to the market every year and this may only be the tip of the iceburg. So, keep an eye out for more exciting sustainable fibers and let us know if you find anything new. Meanwhile, we'll present the five most exciting eco-friendly fibers that we have discovered so far:

Soybean -
One of the most exciting developments in the ecologically friendly apparel industry is manufacturers figuring out how to use byproducts and waste from the food industry to create apparel quality fibers. Fabrics made from soybean derived fibers are very soft and silky and are currently used mostly for making underwear. With tasty names like Tofu Tees and Edamame Wraps these creations are definitely something you'll want to look out for when they break out of the niche market.

Coconut -
Creating consumer goods from coconut fibers (coir) is not a new industry development. Coconut fibers have found use in many different applications for years, from rope manufacture to creating doormats and brushes, but was considered too coarse to be used in the apparel industry. However, a Colorado company named Cocona have developed a process for incorporating other coconut byproducts into apparel production -- specifically, infusing the activated carbon from coconut shells into other fibers, such as cotton and polyester. The resulting creation has many qualities ideal for use in performance apparel: enhanced evaporative cooling, odor management and UV protection. Unlike some the treatments currently used in performance apparel, Cocona claims that these special properties will not wash off.

Corn -
Ingeo is a polymer fiber that is derived from renewable resources like corn instead of oil. The manufacturing process ferments plant sugars from the raw material to create a polymer called polyactide, which can be used in other applications besides making eco-friendly apparel. Like other corn-derived eco-friendly products, the fiber also have the benefit of being biodegradable under certain conditions.

Seaweed -
Developed by smartfiber AG, SeaCell is manufactured by combining Lyocell (a 100% wood pulp derived fiber) with seaweed. According to the company, seaweed was chosen as the active substance for the protective anti-inflammatory properties of its trace elements. SeaCell currently comes in two versions: 'pure' seaweed and a 'active' variation with added silver treatment that provides extra antimicrobial properties.

Bamboo -
The first sustainable-material that we ever blogged about, bamboo remains a popular choice in eco-friendly apparel. Apparel made from bamboo are naturally anti-bacterial, biodegradable and extremely soft. For the hot summer months, bamboo apparel are especially appealing since they don't stick easily to the skin.