As we get ready to watch the ball drop to celebrate the ending of 2014 and new beginnings in 2015, I can’t help but touch on the term “Eco-Friendly Fashion” as our last fashion post of the year. This is a newer term that became widely popular this year, and it has definitely left a lot of people with questions that need to be answered. Is it a trend? Is it a lifestyle? H&M is doing it, so I should, too, right?
So, first things first…
What exactly is Eco-Friendly Fashion?
In the broadest sense, Eco-friendly Fashion refers to clothing being produced without harm to the environment. So yes, it is a lifestyle and a mindset to adopt while shopping and certainly NOT a fleeting trend. Shopping for Eco-friendly means going beyond just looking for beautiful clothing that looks great on your body – it’s taking things a step further and doing your research on how the clothing is being produced and where the fabrics are coming from.
When shopping, you will begin to take note of the words “vegan” and “organic” as they apply to your fabrics, not just food. You will most certainly start to look for items produced with the “fair trade” stamp of approval, signaling that your clothing has been produced with established fair trade standards, such as the company is abiding by fair wages being paid to the workers, some of whom are in developing countries. Buying products (not just clothing) that have a fair trade sticker on them helps support this cause.
Does everything in my wardrobe need to be Eco-friendly?
Starting out, no – as Eco-friendly purchases can be more of an investment due to the high cost. Overall, it does take more money for companies to source the proper materials and production methods that abide by these standards, so the clothing does come out to be more expensive. My suggestion is to start small. Whenever you notice that you need to buy a new pair of jeans, go with an up and coming Eco-friendly designer or opt for a pair of Levi’s (a company that has been abiding by Eco-friendly standards from the begininning), and slowly replace your wardrobe as you need to. There is no need to do it all at once, especially since abandoning good clothing is wasteful, which is NOT green.
Where do I find Eco-friendly fashion?
Again, you don’t need to run out and fill your wardrobe with Stella McCartney to the brim, as she is one of the most well known high end designers who practices an Eco-friendly mentality, but you can find it everywhere once you start noticing! Start by attending local clothing swaps, as upcycling clothing is a HUGE part of living an Eco-friendly lifestyle. Then move on to all those amazing vintage clothing stores for some new wardrobe additions. Beyond that, there are amazing designers popping up everyday that sell clothing with an Eco-friendly mindset that you will become addicted to instantly, such as The White T-Shirt Company, Coclico, and Cloth Clothing.
All in all, this is just a little taste of living an Eco-friendly life. Want to live a more Eco-friendly lifestyle in all facets of your life (beauty, cleaning products, nutrition, etc)? Join us in January as we launch our “It’s Fashionable to Be Healthy” campaign for week long chit chat about getting healthy and living a better life in 2015!
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Fashionably Yours,
Allison
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