As said in my last post, I am on the prowl for organic cotton options. I haven’t had much luck (please send suggestions), but my search has lead me to a plethora of other great eco-fashion finds.

Here’s one made from recycled plastic. Yes, I’m favoring Patagonia again, but lets be honest . . . Patagonia rocks! Patagonia was the first major retail company to switch all its cotton clothing over to organic, the first to make fleece from recycled soda-pop bottles, and the first to pledge 1% of its annual sales to grassroots environmental organizations. Best of all, Patagonia started a trend that has big-name brands such as the Gap, Levi’s, and Nike incorporating organic materials into their products and taking steps to minimize environmental harm. The multinational company does much of its manufacturing overseas—an eco-minus for US consumers—but this fantastic Women’s Wind Tracker Top was produced locally in United States.

It’s a pretty good looking jacket and claims to be “light and stretchy enough for any heart-pumping endurance action” . . . sounds exciting! Windproof fabric covers the fronts of arms and the torso for full fast-forward protection; while quick-drying fleece stretch panels provide flexibility and cozy warmth on the upper torso, back, lower sleeves and under the arms, at collar and yoke on the vest. Details include a front two-way, reverse-coil zipper for adjustability; a large-capacity, zippered rear pocket with right and left-hand vertical zip access (this is beginning to sounds like a car commercial), and seams that are offset at the sides and underarms to eliminate chafing . . . I hate chafage!

My favorite part of this jacket is that it has thumb loops. Thumb loops are a fantastic evolutionary advancement in the apparel industry. They prevent gusts of wind, cold air, and foraging animals from getting under your sleeve. Stylish, eco, and innovative: I say genius!

Posted on July 4th, 2007 by Olivia Zaleski