聯合翻譯有限公司/聯合翻譯社

Organic cotton and reusable bags are steps toward the greening of the fashion industry, but some 29 top-tier designers have agreed to participate in the U.S. Natural Resources Defense Council's (NRDC) Clean by Design program, which will teach them how to integrate greener practices into many aspects of their businesses, from raw materials, fabric finishing and production, to packaging, recycling and shipping.

Taiwanese American designer Jason Wu is interested in tackling the dyeing process: "The information I want for myself from this is: What dyes should we use? What does 'naturally dyed' mean? Is it better for the environment? If it's using thousands of insects that are part of the ecosystem to create the dyes, is that better? I really don't know."

Many of the designers seem knowledgeable about the problems — and even potential solutions — said Linda Greer, a director for the NRDC, but they don't know how to get from here to there.

Shoppers have to be trained, too, so they'll want the new products and be willing, in all likelihood, to pay a little more. Nothing gets businesses to change their practices faster than consumer pressure, she added.

Consumers demanded environmentally friendly options in beauty and food products — and now those industries are farther ahead in green practices than fashion, noted Greer.

"We hope consumers and designers become synchronized in their messages. We want people to buy the next wave of green products because they're good, because they're chic and fashionable, and, oh yeah, because they're green," she stated.

The more brands involved — from the big to the small — the better it will be, Greer explained, because they are hoping to examine the making of a garment start to finish.

She ticks off potential jumping-off points: rail freight and ocean shipping containers instead of airplanes; fabrics that can be machine-washed in cold water instead of hot water (or instead of being dry cleaned).

These aren't quick and easy fixes and will require more of a commitment, including a financial one, to adopt, but once things start changing, Greer hopes the movement will be sustainable — after all, the industry's ability to think out of the box is what's needed most, because some solutions aren't developed yet.

The industry, while competitive, also knows how to come together for a cause, pointed out Tommy Hilfiger, noting the company's fundraising history for breast cancer and AIDS charities. The environment is next on the radar, he stated.

"It's part of being a good global citizen," Hilfiger concluded, "and fashion is a global business. If we can all get together, all of us, I think we have enough influence."