Eco-friendly bag. Image by starlitafternoon via Flickr

There is a new movement in the fashion world and it’s all about eco-chic. Designers are taking an interest in environmental issues and creating eco-friendly clothes and accessories that help the environment. Not only are designers doing this, but boutiques and department stores are as well.

Some may think “green” clothes and accessories are not fashionable because many people think “hippie” when they think about “green” — but that’s not the case. From high fashion to everyday street clothes, one can look very chic and classy while still being environmentally friendly.

Jennifer Lezan of Chicago Fashion Trends Examiner, an online media company featuring the work of citizen journalists, said green clothing comes in a variety of versatile fabrics: raw, unprocessed cottons, fabrics made of soy, hemp, recycled fabrics, refurbished garments and naturally hand-dyed fabrics.

Lezan referred to a report from the Texas Organic Exchange, which stated that “organic cotton cultivation has zoomed to 152 percent during 2007-2008.”

“This shows the increasing awareness of organic clothing among the consumers,” Lezan said, adding that the positives of this trend are that these organic clothes are “good for the climate and world, and good for your body!”

Heather Kenny, a wardrobe adviser, personal shopper and style expert in Chicago, agreed.

“It builds awareness and may perhaps in the future make a significant impact on the environment,” she said. Kenny thought the only negative aspect of this trend was that these clothes “are generally still pretty expensive.”

Stella McCartney, Ralph Lauren, Lara Miller, Nike, Timberland, and Stewart and Brown are just a few familiar names creating eco-friendly lines. All around the Chicagoland area, there are stores that feature “green” clothing, such as Pivot Boutique, She Boutique, Alo Clothing and Frei, which is a local Chicago brand.

Natalie Ruttan-Stack, a fashion design apparel technician at Columbia College Chicago, talked about an April 2007 Cosmopolitan Hong Kong magazine that featured a 25-page eco-awareness section to help educate readers on the importance of green living.

In a 2005 consumer report from the U.K.-based Future Foundation, Ruttan-Sack said 35 percent of consumers have actually felt guilty about unethical purchases. “The world’s taste for organic products is not just limited to food,” she said.

“Green” fashion is definitely on its way to becoming a well-known phenomenon and will continue to become more chic for the fashionistas in the world who want to live a more “green” lifestyle. Cameron Diaz, Mary Kate Olsen and “Twilight’s” Kristen Stewart are just a few of the celebrities that are making the news in their eco-chic clothes and accessories.

Organic cotton accounted for just $85 million of retail sales in the United States in 2003, (the most recent statistic date available) according to the Organic Trade Association. This was a very small fraction of the American clothing market that year, only about 0.05 percent.

Kathleen Haines-Finley, a faculty member at the International Academy of Design and Technology said, “There is an increase for these garments due to global warming awarness, which boosts the demand for organic products.”

Haines-Finley is also the membership chairman of the Chicago Fashion Group International, a global, nonprofit organization of the business of fashion and design and helps its members become more effective in their careers.

“The pros of this growing trend are that we are not overloading landfills with products that are not biodegradable and the elimination of chemicals in the fabrics will help environmental health,” Haines-Finley said.

Five of Chicago’s master floral designers brought their floral flair to the show. Each one’s designs were featured for three days on the main aisle of the first floor near the make-up and accessories sections. Evergreens, perennials, roses, shrubs, trees and tropical flowers are just a few of the different flowers that were on display, according to the Macy’s Spring Flower Show brochure.

The first floor was packed with a variety of assorted flowers, gigantic butterflies hanging from the ceiling, water fountains and trees. There were 20 displays of over 100 exotic trees, such as green cascade full moon maple trees and weeping willows and colorful flowers. There was a long blue carpet with birds and flowers on it that stretched across the first floor.

The most extraordinary display was the “Flight of Fancy Garden” that featured a massive hot air balloon that was being hung from the ceiling. It was surrounded by countless flowers with diverse colors such as pink, yellow, orange and purple along with shrubs and small butterflies hanging all around the display.

Meghan Curry, 20, a Chicago college student, was wandering around with a camera capturing the hot air balloon. “I heard about the show and thought ‘Ooh, I should check it out’ and I have enjoyed it,” Curry said.

In addition to the gardens, there were culinary demonstrations and food tasting in the kitchen department, wedding events in which brides could talk to designers about what florals to have at their weddings, entertainment, and many sales going on promoting old and new designers. The events included a magician, family activities, musical performances, a new fragrance by Chloé, a Martha Stewart expert offering several home tips and advice, and many other special events scheduled for different days.

After enjoying a stroll around the gardens and taking advantage of the fashion sales, visiting The Walnut Room restaurant on the seventh floor was a must. It was a fun way to unwind and munch on some special cuisine prepared by the chef specifically for the flower show. Some of the special items on the menu were a farmer’s market salad, asparagus frites and a crab cake BLT. A large golden-yellow birdcage with imitation birds in it surrounded by elegant flowers was located in the middle of the restaurant.

Pam Zerega, 65, a homemaker, said, “I have an appointment across the street but I have time before it so I came here.” Zerega said she was shocked by the “strong smell of flowers on the first floor.”

The first floor was packed with people viewing the flowers and shopping. Many families were there enjoying the gardens and scrumptious food available and many girlfriends were out together taking advantage of the sales of clothes and purses while enjoying the scent of the many flowers in the air.

Alora Leonard, 22, a Chicago college student, walked around the first floor with a camera in her hand. “I heard there were many flowers here so I am here for the displays,” she said.

The 2010 Macy’s Spring Flower show ended April 11, but visit macys.com and be sure to keep an eye out for the 2011 show.