Of all the pesticides used in the US, 25% of them are applied to cotton. Some of these chemicals can harm you. A lot of synthetic material available on the market, like polyester, is petroleum based and it takes a third of a pound of fertilisers and pesticides to grow cotton for two t-shirt!
Aside from the obvious side-effects of the use of chemicals in the clothing industry, there’s also the ethical aspect to fashion. Most fashion statements are transient – they’re fleeting follies that come and go, leaving a litany of "can’t wears" in the average wardrobe. Suddenly the standard advice to "buy classic" makes a lot of sense – if you’re buying clothes that will last and won’t go out of fashion then you’ve got what today is called "eco-savvy".
Steps
Buying clothing as a conscious consumer is not the type of material used in the production. It’s about how the crops used to make the clothing were grown and whether the production was ethical or Fair Trade. It’s about shopping clever and asking questions to reduce the load going in to landfill and the waste generated in the production of clothing.
1. Be fussy. Some would call this being discerning. Buy something only if you absolutely love it. In this way, you cut down on spontaneous shopping and shopping for the sake of it. Finally, ask yourself whether or not you need to buy the garment that you’ve randomly plucked off the rack on your way to the food section? Are you buying because you can, or because you need another t-shirt?
· Plan to keep your clothing for a while, and wear what you have. Buying less guarantees you use fewer resources.
2. Buy organic and hemp. Cotton, despite the years of promotion as a neat and natural fabric, uses no less than a third of a pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the production of two t-shirt. Organic cotton and other fashion options are now available. Try the local variety stores first. Read the labels. Organic clothing can range from is 5% organic to 100%. Look for local designers and look for hemp, organic cotton and other eco-choices.
3. Buy vintage. The new term for used clothing is trendy right now, in places like the UK, Australia, US etc. where charity shops are a amazing source of cheap, recycled clothing. Whilst such stores are not sizable in some countries, there is the odd charity shop worth a visit. Alternatively, get together with a group of friends and each bring 5 garments for a sizable "swap" session. And look for consignment stores . These often have great designer bargains that let clothes have a new lease of life for a fraction of the original cost.
4. Recycle. In lieu of throwing away, recycle your elderly clothes. Some recycling organisations have a section for elderly clothes, and if they don’t, then get your clothes back in to circulation by donating them to a community, or resell them from your garage, sell them on the community exchange method or freecycle them. Or remodel them in to the latest fashion look! (See How to Make a Whole New Wardrobe by Recycling Your Clothes)
5. Tweak it. Is there anything in your wardrobe worth salvaging? Get creative, transform elderly clothes and find new life for them. Now called "a re-purposed garment" the trend to convert elderly clothing in to new is fast replacing the need to buy new every season. Here are some ideas:
*How to Turn an Oversized T Shirt In to a *Hot Mini Dress
*How to Make a Child Romper from a T Shirt
6. Look after it. Six times you’ve bought a quality organic item, look after it. Wash it carefully—turn it inside out when it’s drying in the hot sun, use the lowest temperature when washing, and use biodegradable detergents. Sun-dry your garments and try not to dry-clean. If you do have things to dry neat, look around for a dry cleaner in your area who uses newer, green methods. If you’re concerned about going green and need to go the extra mile, wash your clothes in a pedal-powered washing spin dryer machine!
*How to Make a Denim Skirt From Recycled Jeans
7. Buy Fair Trade. Any clothing that bears the label "Fair Trade" is produced ethically, using ecologically sound and sustainable practices. And everyone involved gets a fair wage. Fair Trade doesn’t apply to bananas and coffee; it plays a important part in the clothing and textile industry. Although there isn’t a lot of fair trade clothing available yet in some countries, there is often jewelery and locally produced accessories made by local communities that is worth the investment, so look out for these. In the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, increasingly ethically produced clothing is now available. For those living in countries with Fair Trade labelling in operation, prefer this type of clothing where you can.
0 comments:
Post a Comment