Eco Fashion World

“Individuals act as stewards of their wardrobes and acquire sustainable fashion goods and services, which are increasingly long-lasting, second-hand, or produced in a way that is more sustainable, including but not limited to certification to credible sustainability standards.”  -from the NICE Consumer Framework for Achieving Sustainable Fashion Consumption Through Collaboration

You probably already buy organic food and produce when possible. Causes like Green Peace, World Wildlife Fund, and National Public Radio are on your radar. You may even meditate or have some sort of yoga practice because taking care of your body and soul is important to you even if you don’t always do the practice. Have you considered, though, applying the same sort of thoughtfulness to your wardrobe.

 
NICE Consumers don’t have to be fanatics or activists (however, go on with your bad self if you are), or even know how many gallons of water it takes to produce a typical pair of jeans (2900 gallons, in case you were wondering). They just have to care. You can have just as big an impact on the planet by what you put on your body as what you put in your body. Of course, it seems more daunting because the truth is the textile and apparel industries have not embraced clean production and sustainability to nearly the extent that agriculture has. Also, there are not the agreed upon standards and certifications that are trusted and easily recognizable in the fashion trades like there are in the food industry. Still, it can be easier to have a sustainable wardrobe than you think.

Start by assessing what’s in your closet. How many pairs of pants do you really need? Are there items in your closet that suddenly look woefully dated even though you bought them just last year when certain celebrities were wearing them, but no one is wearing them now? Maybe you washed an item a few times and it already looks worn. One shift you can make without having to do any research or even read a label is to start buying more classics, including items that may cost a bit more but are made better and will last longer. This doesn’t mean changing your style necessarily. You can be just as fashion-forward and on-trend without resorting to buying a lot of cheap clothing comprised of chemically-laden materials produced by children toiling away in harsh conditions. Maybe instead of six cute tops, for the same money you get a couple sturdy beautiful classic tops and one really “wow” top you may style in several ways.

With just a bit of research, you can discover which of the brands you already know and love (like H&M, Nordstrom, or Marks and Spencer) who are doing something towards sustainability. Then you can do a bit more research and find designers and brands that are really going for the gold when it comes to ethical and sustainable fashion. Search through the EFW guide members list or simply do a Google search using keywords like “eco fashion, sustainable fashion, ethical fashion”. There are hundreds of eco-friendly retailers with online shops like Stewart+Brown, Earnest Sewn, and Amour Avert to name a few available for your perusal

Probably the easiest and cheapest way to have a fabulous wardrobe that you can afford, while having a positive impact on the environment, is to shop second-hand stores. Every minute on average, thousands of pounds worth of garments and accessories go into landfills around the world. You can short-circuit that phenomenon by donating to and shopping at second-hand stores. With vintage styles being so red-hot right now, you can be street-style ready with one trip to a local thrift shop like Value Village, Goodwill or Oxfam. If your tastes tend toward the genteel then start asking friends where they take their clothes for consignment.

The point is that while brands and government agencies must do their part to clean up the fashion industry, consumers have a role too. Being as thoughtful about your fashion consumption as you are about your food consumption can make a difference in the world we leave those who come after us, and that makes you a NICE Consumer.

From her home-base in northern California, Oceana travels the world to be in the sustainable fashion conversation. She considered it a great privilege to attend the 2012 Copenhagen Fashion Summit for the unveiling of the UN Global Compact Code of Conduct for ethics and sustainability in the fashion industry. You can follow her on her blog at Oceana's Canvas, on Twitter at  OceanasCanvas, Facebook at Oceana's Canvas - Ethical Style. 

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