Does Your Wardrobe Need More Green Glam?
And before you all go… *yawn* OMG not scratchy, bulky hippy-hemp-threads revisited, a deeper peek will reveal that eco-chic is not as banal, nor as barbaric, as it once was, especially when you consider baby seals...
In fact, eco-chic means buying beautiful clothes from boho to sleek styles,all in some way eco-conscious, either by being organic, recycled, or manufactured in a way that protects workers and the environment.
Further, according to a recent survey by American Express, 33% of us now regard ourselves as conscience consumers. Buying the right thing is the latest way to do the right
An added bonus this month during Sao Paulo Fashion Week, the biggest fashion event in Latin America, when a group of local designers dared to jump on the eco-bandwagon, displaying several glamorous gowns made from recycled materials, known as e-fabrics. Not new in Europe, e-fabrics are made possible by the miracle of new technology and a strict adherence to Fair Trade Practices in third world countries.
eco-chic
Eco-boutiques are the European rage and you can even eco-accessoriseon or off-line for great handbags, shoes, hats and jewellery to match your new eco-wardrobe.
Vy and Elle Ecobag
With all the alternatives available these days, it still amazes me how so many tonnes of "out of style" clothes end up in landfill, along with plastic bags ... even though both still have a lot of life left in them.
Ballantines 'Green Glam'
1. Make Clothes Last Longer.
Dry clothes in the shade so that colours last and light hand wash when possible, with Castile soap. Avoid wear and tear in the washing machine.
2. Buy Gender-Neutral Clothes.
3. Hold a Swap Meet Party.
You may be tired of your clothes (or suit), but your neighbour, work colleagues, or friend might die to get their hands on your ‘labels.’ Invite a group of friends over for a coffee or a wine …and a swap-meet. Ask each to bring three to five items they're ready to rotate out of their wardrobe for something different. Lots of fun trying things on and parading, and each person could leave with at least five new designs that they've swapped for their own old clothes.
4. Donate Before You Dispose.
Join the Clothing Bin Cult and make a point to stop at your nearest Vinnies or Salvo’s recycle bin on the way to or from work, you’ll love yourself for it and feel good all week. Dress For Success provides women looking for greater economic independence with business attire to wear to job interviews through great 2nd hand deals on e-bay.
One World Running ships donated running shoes, soccer gear and baseball equipment to athletes in developing countries, certainly worth the postage to get them there.
5. Recycle.
Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe grinds up and recycles discarded shoe material to build playground mats., basketball courts and running tracks.
In the US, Project Rejeaneration lets you recycle jeans you buy at Del Forte Denim. (Gosh I hope it catches on in Australia with local brands).
Traditional styles like blazers, jackets and sweaters endure and are worth spending more money on. Buy just a few trendy items per season and “recycle” them at op-shops (thrift shops), or pre-used consignment stores once they're truly passé for you.
7. Shop Second-hand First.
Learn to read labels and shop for eco-friendly, better still, recycled clothes. Try looking on-line, and hire out the movie ‘Pretty in Pink’ and get sewing.
“One of my daughters favourite ‘boutiques’ is a pre-loved consignment store where she rarely pays more than $15 for an outfit. She never goes shopping there unless she takes something from her closet to trade in: It's her favourite way of recycling.
-Mother’s testimonial from Eco Magazine.
Wipe 2nd hand shoes with a mix of two drops bleach, a few drops of clary sage and water prepared as above. Then leave shoes out as above, for one cycle of day and night (preferably a full moon), but half to full will do (that’s waxing, not waning). This should dispel any negativity or curses attached to the items from previous owners.
8. Make a Deal With Yourself to Only Buy clothes made from organic, low-impact or recycled materials.
Organic Cotton, hemp, bamboo and recycled plastic fibres are the “green” eco-rage and can really help you express your style, conscious free.
Need I ask you to seriously consider avoiding natural furs?
9. Read the label.
EcoClean also offers the bonus of not fading colours, or wearing out fabrics as fast as traditional Perchloroethylene-based dry cleaning does.
Arranging your wardrobe into coloured sections can be very helpful in combining clothes and seeing ‘how much you have’ so you don’t over shop. Try to aim at a smart-casual dress code that best reflects your style, which can double for the office, the home … and be easily ‘accessorised’ for elegant evening pizzazz.
Flick Wit
Great tips, I do most of them to varying degrees - but could do more. I really like shopping at secondhand or recycled clothing shops. I have found some absolute treasures, and it means you can be rather unique, not wearing the latest from the national chains.
Michaelie
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Don;t you just hate those endless racks of mass produced rip-offs... red, blue, green and yellow... all in a row and all like everyone else wears, *gag* yuk!
I'd rather be seen in a potato sack if it means originality... no guesses here that I just adored 'Pretty in Pink.'
Yep, those pre-loved fashions are always a surprise, just like swap meets.. they are so much fun, I think dressing up should always be fun!
Happy op-hopping...
Lilla ...
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Like Michaelie, I do most of these in various degrees. I think I told you that I have not bought any clothes in July 4 2007 and plan to not make another purchase until July 4 2008. I came to the realization that clothing seems to be another consumable that ends up in world landfills. I love this eco chic post!\
mIS
Movies and Life
It had never occurred to me that clothes can end up as landfill. I'm shocked. I'm not the biggest clothes buyer, but this has made me think even more.
Every time I hear information like this, I feel like screaming at the big companies around the world who shove consumerism down our throats. I guess it's up to us to remember that we have a choice of what to do and that we can make a difference.
Thanks for the info,
Tracy
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
*LOL* that sounds absolutely ((fantastic)) ! Certainly something I get into ... I mean how many bodies do we have, right?
I'm not a big shopper for anything really having accumulated more than enough over half a lifetime ... however, when I do venture out for a new piece (usually because the old one has faded and worn to something that even the salvation army would reject), I tend to get 'classic labels' in one-off lines that don't date or wear out quickly, often factory seconds or op shops (2nd hand). (Reminds me of ZZtops song about love being like faded jeans *chuckle* love that song.
...
Nyehoo, I also have an eye for the totally individual and unique. I absolutely hate looking like a row of knock-offs ... seemingly cheap at first glance, but not cheap at all when you look at the environmental impact caused by the manufacture and the rate cheapo clothes end in landfills.
However, when I am forced to buy, said (walmart-type) cheapo cotton top or skirt, I usually end up designing something in fabric paints, or event better ... I love to tie-bleach them to make something original out of the mundane. Here's one I just finished last night... it was chocolate brown cheesecloth until I wrapped it up and plonked it in a small container of bleachy-hot-water for a few hours..it was wet when I hung it last night, and I was excited this morning to see how it looked, dry.
I am really ((happy)) with the pattern on this one, I 'designed' it with a pair of brown pants in mind, to go under a brown summer jacket if needs be.
What will you go out and buy first when the time is up, I'd love to know?
Lovely to see you again,
Lilla ...
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
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You are not wrong. I just watched Blood Diamond last night for the first time (finally got to sneak in an MA without the kids around)... and again the strong message that it all resides with the consumer. Mind you, as far as diamonds go, how would you get a legitimate certification that your diamonds are not conflict diamonds, with all that corruption. I knew it was bad, but not that bad. Happy to say I do not possess a diamond and have never craved for one either. I think I mentioned before that my engagement present was a very sexy black electric guitar and amp.
However, with clothes it still up to the consumer in all ways. I mean would you buy a baby seal fur coat knowing it was bashed to death the way they still are? Not many would now thanks to those pesky journalists poking their noses into where it doesn't belong *chuckle* (I say that with humour because I am university trained journalist with a degree, okay).... and have poked my nose in a few places it wasn't welcome too... *lol* gotta keep the pot stirring...
Nyehoo, Tracy, if you read the previous comment to Mis, you will see that my take on new clothing is probably based on this kind of information ... especially where cotton from China is concerned, because of the incredible levels of carcinogenic Formaldehyde they are dumping into the vats to create cheap crease-free cotton nowadays ... and because I love, nay, absolutely adore the one-off quality of designer labels... unfortunately I cannot always afford them new, so have to settle for 2nd hand or factory seconds. ...but they last and last.
There is this one pair of black pants I bought new for $100, made from this amazing Italian polyester weave magic. Never needs ironing, hangs like a million dollars, feels like silk against my skin, lightweight in the tropics, yet really warm in the winter. Absolutely Brilliant! But that's it, my one pair of good (going out, dress-up) black pants ...I have had them for two years, and they will probably last another 10 to boot. I only ever hand wash most of my clothes.
I like to add natural fragrance to them too, by washing them in really nice soaps, like the Ayurveda soap, or the mixed herb 'meditation' range now available in the more earthy spiritual / tribal shops. I haven't tried the Nag Champa soap, but I bet it leaves a nice lingering 'freshness.' Old classics like English Leather are good, but they are so full of chemicals too and I usually end up with a headache from them.
As I said, I love the feeling of old favourites and the really comfortable ones, usually have to be pried off my back to the Vinnies bin, or (more likely) end up in the rag bag or patchwork bag, to be cut into a shape and sewn into another bedspread, or throw rug project. Not much waste around our place where clothes are concerned.
I am glad you found the information useful and can adjust your wardrobe to match your new wisdom... an endless source of fun, I think, especially when I haven’t seen a certain combination before and I suddenly notice that 'this goes with that' beautifully
Raining here in Qld again, and how.... give Fergus a big ear scratch from me.
Lilla ...
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Loved your "creation" . I am also a total tie dye queen. When I taught school , I taught my children to tie dye so my wardrobe is full of them! HAHAHA
I am not sure what will the first thing I will buy. I am thinking that maybe I will see how long I can go w/o buying....
Have a wonderful week friend
Mis
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
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Esoteric Bookshop
ALWAYS the best tip of all
Nice to see your smile again, hope the weekend was special.
Lilla ...
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
A woman after my own heart ... absolutely... and for me the worst clothing shopping, undoubtedly bra shopping. However, just generally, I am always so amazed at how the things that look really great on the hanger look like illfitting hand-me-downs on me ... and the clothes that look like crap on the rack, usually end up looking stunning!?! *laughs* the probelms with an hour-glass figure and not being flat like a board I guess. ... and to boot, you just know that the one I do like? well, it's gonna be the dearest in the store, without fail... thank God for layby and since I got older, less need to go clothes shopping.
*LOL* yes now books... aah *swoon* always in good moderation. Was it you who said that Heaven was a bookshop with big sofa's and a coffee machine?
Lilla ...