When Quiksilver Woman hit UK shops in Fall 2008 I couldn’t have been more excited! Not just because QSW seems to encapsulate that edgy yet feminine look I love, but also because here in front of me Quiksilver were offering eco-friendly clothing that I actually wanted to wear.

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Eco-friendly clothing is synonymous with flappy dresses made from frumpy fabrics, naff hippy t-shirts and ill fitting hemp trousers. But not any more! In fact, environmentally conscious fashion has had a major overhaul in recent years and it’s getting much easier to find stylish alternatives to mainstream fashion, even on the high street.

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The first thing that struck me about the QSW eco-friendly range were the organic t-shirts, which are so soft you won’t want to take them off, and you’ll never have to use fabric softener – which is also better for the environment!  We all think of cotton as being one of the most natural things around, but for the average cotton t-shirt only 73% of it is actually cotton, the rest is made up of chemicals and resins used to make the fabric. These chemicals are not only bad for your health but the health of the cotton farmer and local wildlife, too.

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In addition, hemp isn’t as bad as I made it out to be either, and bamboo is my new favourite fabric. Both of these take far less water to grow than cotton, which is much better for the planet and bamboo is so smooth against your skin it feels like silk. Don’t believe me? Try it out - you won’t be disappointed!

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My favourite piece so far would be the Sweet Thing Dress  from the Autumn/Winter 2009 collection - I love anything checked! I like to layer it with one of the lovely organic tees, black tights and little black ankle boots. I top it all off with a chunky cream neck warmer that I knitted for a cosy but stylish winter look – it’s very cold and snowy in Scotland right now! For spring 2010 look out for the Russell muscle tee and the Millbank long skirt.

Sweet Thing Dress from Quiksilver Women's Fall Winter 2009 Collection

People often complain that you have to pay more for eco-friendly clothing, which is sometimes true, but can we really afford to put a price on the environment and the health of workers and wildlife? After all, would you rather have one really great, good quality organic t-shirt that you can wash and wear over and over again or for the same price buy 4 cheap conventional ones that loose their shape after a couple of washes and end up forgotten about at the back of a drawer? I know what I’d choose…

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Quiksilver may not be completely organic yet, but they are changing little by little and making it easier for you to do so too, without having to sacrifice style!

Russell Muscle Tee from Quiksilver Women's Spring 2010 Collection

Millbank Skirt from Quiksilver Women's Spring 2010 Collection