Sunday, January 18, 2009

"Green Fashion" = The New Black: Sustainable Fabric and Earth Friendly Manufacturing = "Wear Your Values" ...

Eugenia

About Del Forte Denim


Del Forte Denim is designed for the eco-chic woman who is transforming the face of fashion. Made in the USA with 100 percent organic cotton, Del Forte’s premium denim apparel is part of a growing trend which interprets luxury as a combination of distinctive design and ethical production.


The garments are sewn and finished in Los Angeles, a fashion-forward city that is a leader in anti-sweatshop legislation and enforcement, as well as being home to the most cutting-edge wash development facilities in the country.


Del Forte Denim has partnered with The Sustainable Cotton Project, which has been building bridges between farmers, manufacturers and consumers to pioneer markets for certified organically grown and sustainable cotton since 1994. A portion of Del Forte Denim’s proceeds will go to support The SCP.


We are committed to using green products and services whenever possible. Our office is stocked with eco-friendly supplies, all our printing is done on New Leaf paper using vegetable-based inks and we found a carbon neutral company to host delforte.com.


Penny Royal
About Tierra Del Forte

Tierra started her career in denim design in NYC in 1999. Visiting domestic and international garment factories opened her eyes to the destructive impact that the fashion industry has on the environment and on the people who make the clothing. In 2005, she returned to California with this new awareness and a desire to focus on eco-conscious style. To accomplish this goal, she started her line of premium organic denim, Del Forte Denim.

In her own words…
“I wanted to achieve my dream of creating my own premium denim line while protecting the environment and the farmers. One step that we can take to reduce the strain on the environment is to use fabric that is grown without chemical pesticides and herbicides. I am able to source beautiful, finely woven stretch denim made with 100 percent organically grown cotton. Organic is win-win for everyone. Customers love it, ecologically responsible mills get rewarded, organic farms profit and I get to feel good about the fabric I use.”

Willow


Sabine



Project Rejeaneration
Imagine the rebirth of denim. Jeans regenerated. Style that sustains its resources.
(the Janelle skirt shown above)


Project Rejeaneration takes our commitment to responsible design full circle. When you are ready to refresh your wardrobe, send your used Del Fortes back to us. We will use them to produce the second generation: Rejeaneration Denim.


Recycle your jeans & regenerate your style


Whether you're the kind of woman who wears her jeans for one year or for ten, when you are finished enjoying your Del Fortes, send them back to us. As a reward for recycling, we'll give you 10% off your next purchase of Del Forte denim. You can choose new Del Fortes or Rejeaneration Denim, or if you like we'll donate your 10% to the Sustainable Cotton Project.


Athena


All About Organic Cotton


What is organic cotton?Organically grown cotton has been produced without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. A field must be pesticide free for three years for the cotton to be certified organic, therefore, it is safe for consumers, the farmers and workers who grow it, and the natural environment.


Why is organic cotton important?


Non-organically (conventionally) grown cotton can cause irreparable damage to the natural environment and to farm workers, and may contaminate drinking water. Organic farming methods actually help regenerate soil that has been damaged by overuse of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.





Do conventional (non-organic) cotton farmers really use many chemicals?


Unfortunately, yes. It takes 2/3 of a pound of pesticides to make one pair of jeans, and 1/3 of a pound to make a single T-shirt. Conventional cotton accounts for 10% of global pesticide use. The EPA says that conventional agriculture is responsible for 70% of all problems in U.S. rivers and streams.

Can any of these chemicals cause cancer?


Yes. According to the EPA, five of the top nine pesticides used in cotton production in the US (cyanide, dicofol, naled, propargite, and trifluralin) are known cancer-causing chemicals. All five are classified as Category I and II, the most dangerous of chemicals, by the EPA.






Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP)


Located in California's Central Valley, the world's most productive agricultural region, the Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP) focuses on the production and use of cotton, one of the most widely grown and chemical-intensive crops in the world.


Since 1996, SCP has brought farmers, manufacturers, and consumers together. SCP's guiding philosophy of "cooperation for a change" fosters information-sharing among these groups to develop a Cleaner Cotton™ industry.


In 2003, SCP joined the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) to strengthen its operations and reach other farm and consumer audiences. CAFF and SCP provide growers with information about biological farming techniques and educate the public about the importance of reducing chemical use in fiber and food production and supporting local farmers.


Because of cotton's versatility, it is used for many food and fiber products, making it one of the most widely traded commodities on earth. Yet the simple act of growing and harvesting one pound of cotton fiber to make a T-shirt takes a toll on the earth’s air, water, and soil, and has significant impacts on the health of people in cotton growing areas.


Cotton cultivation uses approximately 11% of the world’s pesticides, though it is grown on just 2.4% of the world’s arable land12. Some of these chemicals are classified as toxic or carcinogenic by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In developing countries, where regulations are less stringent, the negative impacts are more severe.

SCP’s programs encourage the production and demand for California grown Cleaner Cotton™.





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