In 1976, German naturalist Heinz Hess asked a simple question, “how do you balance the desire for fashion with a commitment to nature?” He went on to become a true pioneer of sustainable and socially-conscious clothing by founding the clothing company hessnatur. These days the brand is continuing the legacy of making high-quality organic, fair trade and humanely produced clothing.

Hessnatur operates under a simple principle: human beings should live in harmony with each other and with nature. They pride themselves on having a transparent "textile chain" which means you can trace everything from the way the fibers are grown, to how the fabrics are woven, dyed, sewn and packaged.

The hessnatur website provides a specific list of what their clothing is made of:

• Pure, natural fibers – organic whenever possible. Made from renewable resources: Vegetable (cotton, linen, hemp, ramie); Animal (wool, specialty wools such as angora, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, yak; silk).

• No PVC or Teflon®, anywhere.

• Natural materials for buttons, like ivory palm nut, wood, horn, or mother-of-pearl

• Trims and linings are made from natural fibers, usually 100% organic cotton or 100% natural silk

• Any metals used for zippers, buckles and buttons are nickel- and chrome-free.  Other materials are only used for these accessories in the rare cases when natural materials or metals are not functional enough.

• Our only exceptions: we sometimes use up to 8% of spandex (elastic) for the stretch in some lingerie and socks. All the spandex we use is covered in cotton so no synthetic touches your skin.

• Cotton grown without any synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or defoliants and grown from seeds that have not been genetically modified

• Cotton grown in crop rotation on land that has been farmed chemical-free for at least 3 years, leaving healthy, nutrient-rich soil

• Organic wool comes from free-roaming sheep, raised on sustainably managed farms. Sheep are not given any unnatural feed or hormones, and are not treated with pesticides or antibiotics, except in cases of extreme illness.

In my opinion, what sets hessnatur apart from even the most well-meaning eco-fashion brands is their strong commitment to the health and well-being of the people involved with their clothing production. In 2002, hessnatur's Clean Clothes Campaign set the standard for humane labor conditions by developing an innovative system for control and inspection that ensures humane labor practices. In 2005, hessnatur was the first German company to be certified by the FairWear organization. They were also the first certified B Corporation in the European Union, a distinction is awarded to corporations that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

And to top it all off, hessnatur clothing looks great and feels amazing to wear. Mark and I have been sporting items from their Spring/Summer 2010 line (photos of our favorites coming soon) and we love how soft and breathable the fabric is. Be sure to check out the Hessnatur blog and stay up to date with their latest news via Twitter and Facebook.

-Dorothée

Full Disclosure: Hessnatur is one of the fabulous eco-fashion brands that have partnered with us for our Southwest Tour.