Eco-Fashion takes hold in Mexico

As environmental movements gather steam across the globe, consumers are being asked to re-think just about every aspect of daily life…. right down to the clothes they wear.

CGTN’s Alasdair Baverstock reports from Mexico City, one of the most polluted urban areas in the world, on the rise of eco-fashion.

There’s a growing fashion trend – where ‘green’ is the new black.

It’s called eco-fashion, with clothing and accessories made entirely from environmentally-friendly materials.

This year, fashion giant H&M launched its first eco-conscious clothing line, with many other designers promoting the movement as well.

In Mexico City, Mariana Navarro lives eco-fashion. She’s the founder of Maralgui – a company that makes designer bags from fortified, water-resistant paper.

“The most important thing that you have to analyze before you buy something is that it doesn’t make our world worse”, she told CGTN in an exclusive interview.

“I decided to make this brand that not only makes you look good with your style,” she said, “but lets you contribute to our ecosystem and environment by not making it worse.”

The company first developed a popular following at eco flea markets and moved online.

The material content is key to an item of clothing or accessory qualifying as eco-friendly, and natural fibers like cotton and linen are popular… But the manufacturing process is important, too – with companies embracing fair trade and an environment that doesn’t exploit workers.

“Society is far more conscious of sustainable and eco-friendly products these days,” Chuen Uac, an active proponent of environmentally-conscious clothing said.

“There is more concern about the environment and their health, as they become conscious of the damage that more synthetic products do. It’s magnificent that this consciousness is entering fashion, because it helps us towards a better quality of life.”

As eco-conscious fashion appears more frequently on the streets of Mexico City, the hope is that its message will resonate far beyond couture culture.