Fall color forecast: green

Not too long ago, eco-minded attire consisted of shapeless pieces of clothing in uninspired shades of clay, putty and oatmeal. To the fashion conscious, earth-friendly clothes held all the appeal of a gunnysack (and not in the sense of Jessica McClintock’s Gunne Sax collection).

Hat trick: Reversible wool cap ($55-$150) by Oosss Designs.

Luckily, as “going green” snowballs into full-on trend mode—touted by celebrities and featured in glossy magazines—eco-wear has taken on new dimensions. No longer just the stuff of burlap-like flax and hemp, green clothing now comes in silky bamboo, lush soy and versatile organic cotton enhanced with body-hugging lycra. Rich organic dyes boost the color spectrum (think jewel tones rather than shades of beige) and designer detailing make these good-for-the-earth pieces equally good for the wardrobe.

Xpress checks out what local eco-fashion retailers have to offer.

Models: Melissa Terrezza and Reggie Tidwell. Photography by Jonathan Welch.

Hemp: not just for hippies. Black hemp and cotton cargo pants ($37) and emerald-green wool “nebulous” sweater with button placket ($68), both by Of the Earth from the Oko Box. Set courtesy of The Shady Grove, 65 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville (236-1713).

Easy being green: Cotton and bamboo three-quarter sleeve “star” dress with crochet detail at shoulders by Of the Earth ($92.50) and organic alpaca cable-knit purse by Indigenous ($57) from the Oko Box.

Sweet dreams: Bamboo bralette ($20) and bikini ($12) by Elita and plush organic cotton and cashmere robe by Subtle Luxury ($156) from Terra Diva. Set courtesy of Terra Diva.

Natural mystic: Turquoise bamboo, cotton and lycra tunic ($45), cropped pants ($52) and skirt belt ($29), worn with a long-sleeved black bamboo tee ($26) from My Pumpkin Doodle.

Still life with bamboo: White unisex bamboo sweater ($32) from My Pumpkin Doodle. Black and white hat by Oosss Designs ($55-$150). All hats feature at least 50 percent local wool and are one of a kind, custom fit and made to order.

The big chill: Hooded bamboo tunic with pockets by Subtle Luxury ($116) from Terra Diva. Set courtesy of Terra Diva.

Love these clothes? Here’s where to get ‘em:
• Shop the Oko Box online at theokobox.com.
• Visit My Pumpkin Doodle’s e-store at mypumpkindoodle.com.
• Stop by Terra Diva at 80 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville (225-4884 or www.terradivainc.com).
• Contact Oosss Designs at Jacobscmatt@gmail.com or www.myspace.com/oosssdesigns.