what is a nature / eco - friendly fabric?

Some of these materials are familiar (i.e. cotton, wool, silk, linen), but are identified as eco-friendly when they are preceded by the words "organic" or "recycled." What separates eco-friendly from non-organic ones are factors like dye, combinations with other fabrics, or how they're processed. Other organic materials that we hear of are not commonly used, like hemp and bamboo.
But enough with the technicalities: At the risk of sounding clich�, is green really the new black?
Designers seem to think so. For high-end lines, it goes way beyond witty slogans on paper-thin tees. Countless designers create ready-to-wear and haute couture items that are glamorously green.
On January 31, 2008, at New York's fashion week, designers for Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Jill Sander, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Donna Karan, Narciso Rodriguez and Versace all created eco-friendly looks for their exclusive runway shows. Many were displayed in the Barney's window, making high-fashion green garments visible to the public.
With all this rapidly growing hype, the more accessible (and affordable) fashion industry has quickly followed suit. For example, the "Pink" division of Victoria's Secret sells light organic cotton t-shirts and linen tote bags. The surfer-inspired store PacSun also has organic cotton shirts from participating brands, including Quiksilver, Roxy, Hurley, and Billabong (which has a separate campaign for the environment called "Design for Humanity," in which limited edition products are sold to fund environmental and humanitarian projects).

PacSun recognizes a big issue with organic clothes: people don't always want to be a walking billboard for the environmental crisis; most of their shirts don't advertise going green. Thanks to this logic, consumers can help the planet without visibly paying homage to Al Gore.
But green clothing doesn't always mean organic fabrics. Urban Outfitters has an awesome line called "Urban Renewal," which takes deadstock, vintage clothes and materials and redesigns them; they update each original garment with different trims, dyes, and washes. Ironically, in terms of Rowan's location, their work is based nearby in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Rowan students can shop for some organic outfits at many places off campus, including Urban Outfitters on Walnut Street in Philadelphia, Victoria's Secret, PacSun, and the Gap at the Deptford Mall.
So next time your inner shopaholic calls you to the sale racks, think about how you can make your money worthwhile. Be fierce, fabulous, and friendly to our planet.