Go Green with your Clothing, Part 1
With all the buzz about going green and being eco-friendly, I decided to see how living green could be applied to the fashion industry. I quickly learned there is a lot more to the topic than I originally thought and that the post I was planning would be best split into multiple parts.
Going green or being eco-friendly are terms that relate to products and/ or lifestyles that are environmentally friendly. This can mean consuming less natural resources, using sustainable resources, using organic products, recycling, creating less waste, and much more. The more septs in the production process that are eco-friendly, the greener the end product.
In fashion, the most effective way to be eco-friendly is to simply buy less clothing, shoes, and accessories. The next most effective is to purchase used items from garage sales or thrift stores, reducing the amount of new products that need to be manufactured, keeping goods from ending up in landfills, and often making a charitable contribution at the same time. Another good option is to Freecycle which is a great way to get (and give!) free stuff locally. With the average American throwing out 68 pounds of clothing and textiles a year, it is easy to see how these options can make a huge difference.
Now, I am not denying these are great options, but in my fashionista heart of hearts, I love clothes, I love shoes, and I certainly love my handbags. Most of all I love shopping, the thrill of the hunt, and capturing that elusive great deal. For shoppers like me, there is still a glimmer of hope. Team Treehugger gives the following tips for building a green wardrobe on Planet Green.
You’ve heard it before, but shop with a plan! Pretend that a new item of clothing is like a new kitten, it needs a home where it will be loved and appreciated. Don’t just through it in the closet full of other clutter. It needs to be valued and most importantly, worn. Ask yourself: Will I wear this in two years? Can I wear something like this at work? How will it go with my other items and accessories? Will I still want to wear this rhinestone-studded bustier after I get it home? If not, then don’t make the impulse buy! I know, it sounds boring, because we love the impulse buy, but if it doesn’t fit into your long term fashion plan than skip it.
Love your duds! No matter what you’ve chosen to buy, treat them right. Have a comfortable leisure outfit you can change into when you get home from work. Don’t lounge around the couch, cook or check the tire pressure in your nice work clothes. You’ll be amazed at how long they will last if you take care of them. Learn how to sew a button on a jacket or how to coax a kind friend to do it for you. Have a local seamstress help out with major repairs or alterations.
Don’t go dry. Though the industry has improved much since 1992, there is still a high likelihood that your trusty corner cleaner uses perc (tetrachloroethylene), a known carcinogen. See if there is a local green cleaner employing wet cleaning or liquid CO2 techniques. Many articles whose tags ask for the dry clean treatment can actually be hand washed, especially silk, wool and linen.
Vintage and used clothing are great alternatives. Try a second hand shop and you’ll be suprised what good items you can find. They say ones trash is anothers treasure and it’s true! From Oscar-worthy vintage dresses to Freecycled denim, you can most likely find something that fits just right and for a lot less money. Often, you’re helping out charities at the same time. Everyone wins.
The more you wash your clothes, the worst it is for the environment. If you don’t have to wash it, don’t! Make a thin salt paste to soak fabrics in if they need a little extra TLC. Choose phosphate-free and biodegradable detergents if you can. If you’re looking for a new washing machine, of course, look for the Energy Star label. Every little bit helps.
Organic clothing can make a difference. Although cotton fabric is marketed as fresh, clean and natural- conventional varieties are not. A third of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used to create the cotton for only one T-shirt. That’s a lot of direct, unhealthy exposure for wildlife and farmers- not to mention the pollution. Yuck! Thankfully, organic cotton is becoming eaasier to find all the time. Many large stores are getting involved, but we still need to be vigilant about what organic means- to make sure your organic t shirt may have started out that way, processing chemicals and metal-laden dyes may have changed it completely.
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