It's Easy Being Green
{Image courtesy of TreeHugger}The other day I was walking downtown and there was a man shouting out, "Learn more about green fashion!" and handing out leaflets. I took one. And it wasn't about "green fashion" at all. It was thinly veiled animal rights activism with really disturbing pictures of dead sheep on the front. My friend, Cristy, got really mad and called the guy a liar. He just smiled.
Don't worry, I would never do such a thing to you. My interest was sparked, though, so I did a little research of my own.
The first thing that came to mind when I started thinking about green fashion was recycling old clothes. Donating your little-worn items to a thrift store or consignment store is obviously an easy, green way to go. I also like passing on old favorites to people I know will love them and wear them as much as I have. You can even get some friends together for a closet swap, with everyone bringing a pile of old, but fashionable, good-conditioned clothes that are ready for a new home.
Another one of my favorite ideas is cutting up a few different favorite items and combining them to make something new. Maybe you love the design on a certain T-shirt, but it's too threadbare to wear in public anymore. Cut off the design and sew it into a new T-shirt, or even onto a collared shirt or a hoodie for something old and something new. Do you have a cardigan that just doesn't get you as excited as it used to? Sew some lace around the hems, or spruce it up with a couple handmade rossettes. And, voila! You have something new without buying something new.
If you are buying something new, but still want to limit your fashion impact, there are plenty of ways to do that, too. Stick with organic fabrics, like cotton, and companies, like Fair Indigo that provide fair trade merchandise. You can even get vegan shoes designed by Natalie Portman!
Still skeptical? Take a little trip over to TreeHugger for 7 Reasons Why You Should Care About Sustainable Fashion.
I bet you feel like a better person already.
Labels: Gifts That Give, More For Less, Strike a Deal
0 Comments:
I just recently cut up some tops/skirts things ive horded for the last couple of years (pre baby clothes that I have no hope in hell of squeezing myself into) and made my daughter dresses from them
she looks brillant in them and I can still enjoy them also :)
GO GREEN!
Great Article...love all you ideas, we also carry a GREEN line on Etsy called Recycle Momma. Stopped by and Wishing you a great new Year..
Pretty much all fibers come from the plant or animal families. The only way not to affect life for clothes would be to get stuff made of plastic ... and there you are contributing to global warming ... which kills polar bears.
IMHO, real green isn't about vilifying anyone type of clothing, but to get the best use of the resources put into production.
I would add to your list of green things: When you buy new, buy quality. Flimsy stuff become rags after a few uses. If you buy a quality item and it lasts a long time, then you are green. If you buy quality, and don't like it or out grow it, the item will become a treasure for someone at a consignment shop.
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