FASHION Magazine

What’s a hydrosol? Commonly called floral waters, hydrosols are becoming increasingly popular in all-natural and organic beauty products. Less concentrated and more mellow than essential oils, hydrosols still possess the healing and aromatic applications of aromatherapy and are often used in place of water in natural products. By boiling plant materials (petals, roots, leaves, you name it) with water, oils and essences are released into the steam as it rises and collects in a separate container. Once cooled, the oil that remains is essential oil, and the steam that settles becomes a hydrosol. 

Ever wonder why your super strong deodorant gives off a kind of sweat-mixed-with-fragrance smell on stressful or hot days? It’s not your sweat that smells: it’s the bacteria that’s mixing with it. Add to that the strong fragrance of a deodorant—which does little more than attempt to mask the smell—and you may find that by the end of the day your shirt is soaking and you’re keeping your arms as close to your sides as possible to avoid blasting co-workers with your own Eau de Ew.

However, given that there’s a pretty common misconception about how effective natural deodorants are, it’s hard to convince naysayers to give non-chemical options a try. If you think that you could never replace your drugstore antiperspirant or deodorant because you simply sweat too much, you’re in for a surprise.

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The low down: The one good thing about Toronto organichic boutique Thieves having closed its storefront earlier this year, is that now it’s even more eco-positive. No lights, no space, just a cleanly easy e-shop where you can buy your Earth Day outfit, should you desire such a thing (and if you pay $12 for express shipping, it may even arrive in time).

The price range: $120–$520

Just in time for Earth Day this Sunday, The CFDA and Vogue have co-headed a new green initiative campaign, Clean by Design, in partnership with the National Resources Defense Council.

The campaign, which has already caught the attention and support of many renowned fashion faces including Tory Burch, Zac Posen and Diane von Furstenberg screened a video yesterday which made clear “how toxic fashion’s impact on nature can be,” unearthing the elephant in the room environmental damage that lies just beneath the industry’s surface.

The facts, we have to admit, are surprising. According to WWD, a key focus of the NRDC is the troubling conditions of factories (we’re looking at you, Alexander Wang!) and the dye-polluted rivers in China, revealing that over 200 tons of water is needed to produce just one ton of fabric. This is a pretty outrageous figure taking the current global crisis for clean drinking water into account.

So, what’s the solution? Most clothing is made in China, which makes it difficult for brands to govern what occurs in their own factories. But Linda Greer, the director of NRDC’s health and environment program thinks this problem is inexcusable: “[…] the standard of operation of many, if not most, factories was far below global standards and desperately needed to improve […] it’s really time to get moving and not just figure that ‘It’s halfway around the world and nobody will ever know.’”

This global issue has been put into higher gear in the last few years. Brands such as Stella McCartney, H&M (have you seen their drool-worthy Conscious collection?) and events like Vancouver’s Eco Fashion Week have certainly increased interest for sustainable fashion to both designers and consumers. It has become necessary, and dare I say expected, that organizations like the CFDA and the like join the green movement.

To celebrate Earth Day a Guelph company is making shopping green a lot easier.  On April 22, online health and beauty shop Well.ca launched their Green & Natural store.

With Earth Day right around the corner, plan on strapping on your gladiator sandals to support a good cause: clean water. The third annual I Walk For Water (iwalkforwater.ca)—a charitable initiative promoting awareness about and support for the women living in Africa without easy access to clean water–takes place on Earth Day, April 22, 2009. […]

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