“Green” seems to be all the rage these days. But how much do we really understand about what it takes to “green” a part of our life? In a season during which we tend to acquire, let’s begin by taking a look at our wardrobes… believe it or not there is an easy way to start greening your style!
Eco-friendly fashions have been associated with expensive organic threads and nouveaux natural materials such as bamboo and tencel. There is however, a much more simplistic approach one can adopt to incorporate a degree of sustainability into their closets. In general, this is the best piece of advice I can offer to get you started… start from where you are – leverage your current fashion assets before hastily purchasing new garments that are thought to be considered “green.” Reducing your carbon footprint is as easy as minimizing consumerism.
Here are our top 5 favorite tips for greening your style and easing fashion consumerism:
1. Recycle your style
Being green means utilizing resources already on-hand! If it is in your closet and it works, keep it on the menu! This re-use philosophy saves on new materials, labor, costs, water, energy and shipping.
2. Share (pre-owned) style
Since we are already in the recycle frame of mind, when necessary, seek new purchases from a second-hand dealer, buy vintage or have your own recycle fashion party with friends. There are many great resources for this, both on-line and in your communities. Share your clothes with others; this keeps the re-cycle going!
3. Support Fair Trade and/or Local
Support garments that are made in the U.S. and even more locally. Shopping on a local level saves on shipping and energy. And since local isn’t always possible, always look for Fair Trade Certification.
4. Invest in your vestments
Purchase quality clothing that will last a minimum of 8-10 years. Good quality natural materials will last much longer than their cheaper counterparts. Purchasing quality can be an investment, but it is worth spending a bit more to assure your garments will last. This alleviates the need to replace them as often.
5. Create new styles
To pacify the inner fashion designer in each of us, re-think the way you wear a current garment. Materials can be “restructured” relatively easy to give you a new way of sporting an old pair of jeans for example. It is very easy to tailor a longer skirt to be an updated mini or create a cute pair of spring capris from those old khakis that haven’t seen the light of day in 6 years!
Greening your style is as easy as learning to leverage your current fashion assets – your own closet! Start from where you are…keep what works, share what you no longer want with others and rethink the way you use some of your older pieces. There’s an easier way to green your wardrobe and it really begins with reducing your carbon footprint.
by Donnalynn Civello, Resident Nutrition + Wellness Expert