After months of staying at home, I finally made the trip to Manhattan and you couldn’t believe my excitement! (Quarantine makes you celebrate the little things in life) I took a walk from Koreatown to Union Square, passing by my favorite stores and dressed in my new sustainable viscose dress. Yes, dress is sustainable, and it’s viscose. Spoiler: it’s not from Reformation!
As you probably already know, I shop for both style, comfort, and curiosity 😉 It’s part of what being a textile scientist does to you. Last month, I purchased two items from Banana Republic’s new ECOVEROâ„¢ collection. The material is sustainable alternative to traditional viscose. After wearing both a few times, I am excited to share my honest review, as well as the science behind what makes it ‘sustainable’.
You may have observed over the years that fashion companies far and wide are making the move towards more sustainable materials. We’ve seen this shift in both fast-fashion and luxury brands. Recently, Banana Republic started using a material called ECOVEROâ„¢ in their clothing. This material is manufactured by Lenzing. The company also produces a similar material Tencelâ„¢, which you may have heard of before.
WHY IS SUSTAINABLE VISCOSE AN EXCITING BREAKTHROUGH?
My common gripe with viscose is how expensive the material is (largely due to production costs). To make matters worse, the material commonly falls prey to greenwashing claims that exaggerate how ‘sustainable’ it really is. The material originates from natural sources, but the production process has not always been kind to the environment.
Since viscose is normally made from wood sources, endangered forests are also being logged at alarming rates to make our clothes. When I saw Banana Republic offer ECOVEROâ„¢, I was excited to give it a try and break down the science. Next time you see this fabric on your tag, you’ll know all about it 🙂
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT BANANA REPUBLIC’S SUSTAINABLE VISCOSE PRODUCTS
Banana Republic offers this fabric in a ton of floral and patterned prints. I also loved the variety of necklines too. Feminine, but not overdone. I ended up buying two styles (their square-neck midi dress – above, and their cropped tank top – left). These pieces reminded me of Reformation pieces I had been eyeing. But only at a fraction of the price!
What makes ECOVEROâ„¢ sustainable?
ECOVEROâ„¢ uses certified renewable wood sources: One of the reasons viscose can be damaging to the environment is that it uses wood pulp. Many times, this resource is stripped from forests at high rates that contribute to deforestation. On the other hand, Lenzing purchases pulp from responsibly managed forests.
ECOVEROâ„¢ reduces emissions: The material generates 50% lower emissions and water impact than normal viscose. Great news! Pulp production releases many oxygen-consuming compounds that are toxic to marine life. I am glad Lenzing uses a technology that helps reduce this impact.
ECOVEROâ„¢ meets the EU Ecolabel requirements. This certification program ensures that the textile fits the following criteria:
- Limits use of substances harmful to health and environment
- Reduces air and water pollution
- Resists color change to perspiration, washing, dry/wet crocking, and light
A Few Cute Styles I’ve been Eyeing
I’ve had my fix of ECOVERO products for now, but that won’t stop me from sharing a few styles that I thought were cute. Unfortunately, the square-neck midi dress I bought is out of stock. However, I am linking a similar dress below (same print, different silhouette).
SHOP MY POST: More ECOVEROâ„¢ Looks
*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Featured: Banana Republic Print Wrap Mini Dress, ECOVERO Cropped Tank, ECOVERO Peplum Top, High-Rise ECOVERO Shorts
*These styles below are not made from ECOVEROâ„¢. However, if you liked the black floral print, I am sharing a few other cute options that look super similar. (Seriously, the print looks almost identical to my sustainable viscose dress from Banana Republic! And most sizes are still in stock)
Featured: A&F Cowl Neck Body Suit, Cowl Neck Midi Slip Dress, Satin Midaxi Skirt,
I don’t always ‘buy to try’ because this mentality does not necessarily curb waste. However, I have been making an effort in the past three years to consume more sustainably. Part of that is putting in more effort to research the material behind the clothes I purchase. Another best practice I use is reading the ‘Social Responsibility’ page of a brand or retailer.
Leave me a comment below if you end up giving ECOVEROâ„¢ a try. And if you know of any other environmentally friendly materials or brands that are interesting, please share with me! I would love to learn more.
