Responsible Production & Consumption

Your Guide To Eco-Friendly Fashion

Apr 16, 2013 1:15 PM ET
Campaign: JustGreen Lifestyle Blogs

Your Guide To Eco-Friendly Fashion

“Eco-friendly fashion.” Before you get itchy just thinking about the look, feel and fit of a burlap bag, consider this: Organic/sustainable/eco-friendly clothing is beautiful, elegant, comfortable, and now it’s all the rage!  In fact, we’d venture to say that in the fashion world, “green” is the new black.

You may be wondering how you can take up the sustainable fashion trend and positively impact global warming/climate change and the environment.  Before rushing out to spend time and money on a closet-full of new, organic clothes, be sure to take into account the following tips to “green” your wardrobe:

  1. Be Aware: As with all things “organic,” be aware of what’s the real deal, and what is simply a clever marketing ploy. Many times, labels such as “natural” or “eco-friendly” are simply that – labels, and nothing more. Do some research online, and search through user reviews on reputable sites to find out if the brands you’re purchasing are, indeed, organic.
  1. Where You Shop Matters: Shopping local, visiting a nearby thrift store or perusing neighborhood consignment stores are all great ways to reduce your carbon footprint while livening up your spring wardrobe. Staying close to home results in fewer carbon emissions, and you’ll be supporting your local economy, too!
  1. Bring Re-Usable Bags:  Following the supermarkets’ lead, many retailers now provide re-usable, cloth, shopping bags for convenience and for helping offset carbon emissions.  Keep these bags handy for your next shopping trip. Some of them are downright trendy!
  1. Shop Online: Recent studies show that online shopping may result in up to 35% less energy consumption than traditional shopping! Shopping online means less time in the car (and fewer carbon emissions), and you’re only heading to one destination – the Internet – instead of all over town to complete your outfit. You’ll save time, money, and most importantly – the planet!
  1. Look Out for Sustainable Materials: When shopping, keep an eye out for eco-friendly materials on clothing labels. These materials are considered sustainable, and therefore help contribute towards a greener, cleaner planet! Additionally, many of these materials look – and feel – just like their traditional counterparts.
    1. Bamboo
    2. Eco-friendly fleece
    3. Hemp
    4. Organic cotton
    5. Organic wool
    6. Linen (made from flax)
    7. Recycled polyester
  1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The tried and true saying goes for your clothes, too! Turn that pair of jeans with the hole in the knee into a pair of cut-off shorts, or even a cute handbag. Use old clothes for cleaning rags (more eco-friendly than paper towels), donate them to thrift stores for others to enjoy, or keep them around for projects with recycled fabrics. If you have children in the same age range, spruce up old clothes to use as hand-me-downs!

With Earth Day just around the corner, make the commitment to shop local, shop green, and shop organic! Tell us: how do you keep your wardrobe green? Let us know in the comments!

Earth Day is April 22nd! Resolve to live a more carbon neutral lifestyle this year. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/ecofriendly-fleece-fabric-2296.html

http://www.greenchoices.org/green-living/clothes/more-sustainable-fabrics