Designers, models and other representatives of the industry are jumping on the environmentally friendly bandwagon. All of the couture lines have raised the profile of the ecological crisis. Most designers have made a push to make fashionable garments and accessories out of recycled material.

So what exactly does it mean to have "green" or organic clothing? Eco-friendly clothes are produced using all-natural materials like soy, organic cotton, and bamboo. Organic cotton isn't exposed to any pesticides while growing, while the typical cotton is saturated in it. In fact, more pesticides are used on cotton than any other crop. Did you know that 1/3 of a pound of chemical material goes into one T-shirt? Organic clothes are also manufactured using fair-trade materials, which are materials produced under fair working conditions and decent wages for laborers.

Sustainable clothing is very comfortable and materials like organic cotton feel so much better against the skin than prickly polyester does. Cutting edge designers like Portland's Ryan Christensen are using eco-friendly fabrics for clothing that doesn't exploit the planet. Christensen is the founder of Sameunderneath, a company that produces eclectic pieces like trendy, sleek garments that are made from bamboo.

The environmentally conscious shopper has more and more choices. There are even luxury lines available. Nau is a new designer that has an extended line of clothing. The company is run by executives that previously worked for several name brand companies, such as Nike or Adidas. The line uses fabrics made from natural fabrics like cotton and recycled materials, including soda bottles. There are also items made from a new synthetic material that is derived from corn.

This is a very exciting industry to be a part of and no one can deny that there is so much more yet to come. Designers don't have all the necessary materials needed to keep up with their less sustainable counterparts, but there is plenty of inspiration and new ideas to keep up the current level of excitement.

People are starting to take note of where all the products that they buy are coming from and as consumers become more choosy, so will designers. Being eco-conscious and style-conscious will soon go hand and hand.