WE ALL LOOK GOOD IN GREEN

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Written by Eva Anastasiu - Thursday, 12 November 2009

How do you boil down the essence of ethical and eco fashion in one article for people who’ve never even heard of the concept? In most mainstream media articles we’ve come across, the answer has unfortunately been “poorly”. Not so in a recent article in Montreal paper The Gazette.

Journalist Suzanne Wexler talked to members of environmental organizations, eco fashion shop owners, designer and also asked ecofashionworld.com for its take on the subject.

We were more than happy to oblige and even happier to read the final article, which touches upon the many issues of this complex puzzle while finishing with a list of easy to follow recommendations for anyone who wishes to green their wardrobe. Oh, we’ve mentioned them all before, but here they are again, timely reminders of the little things that we can all do on a daily basis:

Buy less. Reduce your consumption.
Read labels. What is it made from? Where was it made? Is it fair trade? There are several sustainable-fashion certifications, such as SA 8000 (overseen by the Social Accountability International organization) and GOTS (the Global Organic Textile Standard). If you're unsure what one means and whether the product is legit, ask an eco-shop owner or look up the brand at www.ecofashionworld.com.
Look for garments made from a more sustainable fabric like hemp, soy, bamboo, organic cotton or blends, cork, wood, Tencel or Lyocell (both made from wood pulp) and eco-charcoal (made from ground-up coconut shells).
Look for items made from recycled material, or up-cycled fabric that avoided the waste stream altogether.
Try to avoid regular cotton, which accounts for 25 per cent of the insecticides and more than 10 per cent of the pesticides used around the world.
Buy clothes that are going to last. Look for sturdy seams and stitching and durable fabrics. Also, try to imagine yourself wearing the item to at least three different occasions, so you're sure it's a keeper.
Try to avoid dry cleaning your clothes. "Toxic chemicals like perchloroethylene, a carcinogen and respiratory irritant, evaporate from clothing into your home," said Coulter. "If you must use conventional dry cleaning, remove the plastic bag and hang clothes outside to speed up the evaporation of solvents."
Wash items in cold water and use the dryer as little as possible.
Buy or consign your clothes at a friperie to avoid waste.
Start asking shopkeepers and business owners about how items are made.
Donate unwanted items to charity.