The fashion industry is becoming greener every day, and the more we demand organic and earth friendly clothing, the better and healthier we will be and so will the earth.

Not so long ago, a good day’s shopping was represented by unbridled credit card abuse and armfuls of carrier bags, preferably glossy paper ones with smart rope handles.

Today, shopping for the sheer pleasure of it is no longer enough. We want more than something new and pretty to take home – we want to know we made the world a better place by buying it and that the bag we’re carrying didn’t damage the environment.

Consumers have become the new eco-warriors and the latest must-have accessory is a social conscience.

Eco-Chic Green Fashion Lingo100% Organic Cotton

To be considered 100 percent organic, cotton must be “certified by a third party (such as the USDA), following strict guidelines for growing the fiber, using no disallowed synthetic chemicals.

Bamboo

A textile made from the pulp of the fast growing bamboo plant that’s soft, highly water absorbent, and anti-bacterial.

Fair Trade

Fair trade companies look at more than just the bottom line. They look at development as a whole and create more of a partnershi with suppliers, which makes for a fairer exchange system where workers get paid fair wages and work under good conditions.

Hemp

A strong fabric swen from the fibers of the fast growing cannabis plant (a variety that contains virtually no THC, the active ingredient in marijuana).

Recycled/Upcycled

Material that’s been reprocessed at the end of its life into something new and useful.

Sustainable

Describes a product created by a process that can continue indefinately without causing environmental destruction or usurping resources.

Tips to help you recycle your clothes into new fashions:

Host a Clothing Swap

What better excuse to get together with friends and family than to host a clothing swap and potluck party? Evite everyone you know to clean out their closets and bring a dish to share.

When the guests arrive, give them a ticket for each item that they bring. Then enjoy an afternoon of playing dress up. guests can use their tickets to bid on clothing items, which are raffled off. Donate the leftover clothing to a worthy organization.

Turn Old Clothes into New Favorites

Refashioning the clothes you already have is fun and easy; Crop pants

Yolanda was responsible for taking a spa basket filled with all the essential oils, scrubs, facials, perfumes and massaging tools we needed to provide the ultimate spa and makeover treatment. Ruqaan was responsible for all the drinks, food and entertainment, which included the latest Brad Pitt movie.

I provided spa soft bath towels/bath sheets, robes and bed sandals. We decided to hire an esthetician/beautician/masseur from a local salon to treat ourselves to some serious pampering after a long and stressful workweek.

The Ultimate Spa Party

The girls arrived at eight o’clock along with the Sandy the esthetician from the local spa club. We all gathered in my newly converted outdoor spa and lounge equipped with a massage table and coaches, dimly lit and filled with the aroma of fresh limed-tinged Mandura scented candles. Jugs of of freshly brewed lemon and jasmine iced- teas laid out all around the spa to keep us hydrated.

We experienced the ultimate home-spa extraordinaire. We all had facials (Mud Masque and steam treatment), manicures and pedicures as well as a hot oil massage and wax treatment while reminiscing over old times and flipping through the latest fashion magazines.

I surprised the girls by inviting them to join me in the bathtub for a ‘fruit and vegetable squash workout.’ The bathtub was filled with fruits known for their huge water content including grapes, melon (peeled), cucumbers and well-ripened bananas. We all went in and started squashing the fruits and vegetables with our feet to the tune of Missy Elliot’s ”ladies night” blasting in the background.

Things started getting wild when Ruqaan decided to lather Yolanda’s face and hair with some of the squashed fruits, that really had us cracking up. Naturally, Yolanda reacted by using the ice bucket to cover Ruqaan from head to toe with smashed fruits. The spa treatment left us feeling revitalized and rejuvenated. It really set the tone for the rest of our relaxing and fun-filled night.

Slumber Party

After taking a shower and downing several glasses of iced cold tea, we gathered around the makeshift picnic area with the barbecue grill all lit up. We had a delectable spread of scrumptious barbecued shrimp as well as organic blue chips with homemade hummus, spicy guacamole and cheddar dip, miniature pizzas and chicken skewers served with spicy roasted pepper sauce.

After a hearty dinner and sharing work place jokes and crushes, as well as discussing the latest sales. We huddled around the TV hugging our large mugs of hot chocolate on our inflatable mattresses to enjoy the movie of the night “…Seven Years in Tibet”