Let's Talk About the Environment: FASHION – Win a Free Bag & T-Shirt

The problem with going green is that it requires too much of another "green" resource: money!

i agree with peter! green items are so expensive!

Not always, Peter. Shopping at Salvation Army or Goodwill for clothing is both Green and Frugal! You're reusing resources, supporting charity and not breaking the bank.

Peter does have a point. However, that aside, I've taken to my mother's clothing. Yes, it's old, yes, it's coming back, and knowing how to sew, I update it just a bit to the times, by altering it. New life to an old item that would have otherwise went to waste. Also, do you realize how many ways there are to alter a tshirt! Also, handkerchiefs are useful for a lot more. I've made pillows out of ones I found that I had that I bought just because they were tie dyed with smile faces, and Christmas ornaments out of a bunch of fancy ones I inherited. They made awesome angel ornaments and offered my family a bit of memory from a family member that was cherished and passed away.

We try to fix the clothing we have and buy used clothing.

1. Stay away from synthtic fibers.

2. Realize that you really do not need a different outfit for every occasion or day of the week. Be like the European: Have just 1-2 outfits per season, but made of the best quality natural fibers.

I actually use handkerchiefs for their intended purpose! I've saved a fortune on tissues, and haven't destroyed those trees.

I make some of my own clothing and buy a lot of it vintage/second hand. My best reuse, however, was my wedding dress! My mom still had her wedding dress which her grandmother had hand made for her. We changed the sleeves a bit and altered the size a little. I got a beautiful wedding dress which cost us about $10 in alterations and didn't waste anything!

The majority of our clothing is either "recycled" (previously loved and worn aka hand-me-downs) or purchased at Goodwill or Salvation Army. We donate items back to them or forward them along in our circle of family and friends. We take the time to mend, repair or replace items rather than buy something new. When clothing becomes too worn or otherwise un-wearable, we convert the material to other uses: rags, stuffing/filler, etc. And old jeans are salvaged into parts-n-pieces for repairing other jeans (it's nice to have "pre-faded" black or blue jeans that can be used for patches, etc.). When we do buy new clothes, it seems we only do so with a coupon or other sales incentive. In the NW we have many natural, sustainable options and many are affordable; and we have one of the best Saturday Markets here in Portland that is home to many green artists and clothing options. We simply haven't had the budget to think about new clothes or shoes.

I don't usually shop thrift stores for my clothing. Whenever I have gone to stores like this I find nothing for me or clothes in poor shape. I am also 5'10" and have hard time finding clothes that fit me well since I am also not a size 6. I also haven't shopped for myself in about 8 months which is the last time I got any new clothes. I have a hard enough time find clothes for me in the stores. I do try to buy a few things for my son at garage sales and my husband will occasionally find something for himself at a garage sale but I don't have that kind of luck.

I'm not someone who likes shopping so I normally alter or sew my own clothes. Less costly and they tend to fit better as well.

We try to find more organic options for the new purchases that we make. So far we have purchased organic undershirts & t-shirts from Target.
We also search for organic options for cleaning, laundry, washing dishes, shampoo etc....

Good one Peter.
I just bought my cloth bags to use at the grocery store. Trying to get into the habit of taking them every time I go. We don't buy bottled water. Starting small but every thing we do is something.

Assessories make the outfit. Garage sales, thrift shops, GoodWill have belts, scarves, jewelry and hats that don't discriminate if you're a size zero or 52Wide. My teenaged daughters shop the seconds stores like Plato's Closet. They were raised this way so don't feel compelled to have the latest North Face or whatever brand is currently popping their classmates eyes and parents' wallets.

We have yet to buy any new clothes for my 7 month old daughter. Everything was either given to us or picked up at the thrift store. I get most of my clothing used and wear it until it's worn out or no longer fits. If it no longer fits, I donate it to the church yardsale.

When I buy new, I like to get bamboo - it grows quickly, is so comfy and lasts a long time!

Bamboo clothes??? Tell me more!

I have been a tree hugger for years and my family was always into 'Green' before it was fashionable and the stylish thing to do.
Here are 10 highly effective ways that we employ to be greener.
Always shop with a plan
Love your duds, keep the ones you have in pristine shape
Don't go dry ( Dry Cleaning is harmful to the environment)
Buy vintage or used
Wash well
Wear organic
Find a re-purpose
Approach new fabrics with skeptical enthusiasm
Choose clothes that work for you not against you
Don't throw it all away give it away

I wear clothes that don't need ironing and are multi-use. By multi-use, I mean I will wear a new cotton T-shirt with a pant suit. When the shirt has seen considerable use, I wear it with jeans.

And I keep a box going where I put clothing and other items I no longer use to be picked up periodically by a local charity group.

Karolyn Q. makes a great point -- it is hard to find "green" clothing in non-standard sizes (I'm over 6'). I've found the following really help with mine:

1. Wash in cold water. Line (or shower rod) dry. Saves the energy for heating and helps prevent shrinkage.
   
2. If you must dry clean, find one of the vendors of the new oxygen injection method (rather than the standard chemical chleaning)
   
3. Consider re-soling shoes (birkenstocks actively market this, but many shoes can be revitalized this way).
   
4. If clothing cannot be recycled for wear, it can be used for rags or rag rugs.

We don't have alot of "green" clothing options available in our area. But, we do try to limit the amount of clothing we buy. For instance, I only have 2 pairs of jeans and about 4-5 t-shirts. My son only has enough clothes to get him thru the week without doing laundry. And, we always donate our clothes that we aren't using anymore to either our church or other local charities.

As far as washing....we use all-natural eco-friendly laundry detergents so that we're not putting harmful chemicals back into the environment.

Try gaiam.com for organic clothing (including bamboo), mrelliepooh.com for organically made stationery (yes, it is what it sounds like it is but it's great stuff), and Kate's Caring Gifts for earth friendly gifts.

We also subscribe to Organic Gardening and, incidentally, you can buy online subscriptions to many publications and save the paper.

One thing I loved during college was that I was one of the few folks wearing clothing made from hemp fiber. People don't realize that hemp fiber actually is as soft as cotton and can be grown organically pretty easily. There was a place just outside of Springfield, MO, I would stop in that sold hemp everything..it was (i believe) called hemp world...that's been a few years back. But today that would be a great green alternative.

btw, that episode of "Big Ideas..." on fashion...was a real eye opener.

I love vintage clothing- we shop at our local Goodwill , and always bring clothing that the kids have outgrown there for someone else to use.

If you like band t-shirts, I suggest buying from Yellowbird Project - some great bands design t-shirts, and all the proceeds from the shirt sale go to charity. The shirts are 100% cotton American Apparel shirts. The shirts are beautiful, unique, and by buying them you're donating to charity as well as making a fashion statement!

We don't buy clothing anymore just to buy it. I wish our stores around here carried more organic cotton items. My last purse I bought is made from hemp, as is my bag I use for college to carry my stuff in for class. Hemp is a wonderful fabric.

walmarts has started carrying a line of t-shirts that are made from recycled material and have green messages on there. they are pretty cool and have a decent price. well worth checking out

Going green means going cheap - but we have been duped into thinking that means we have to BUY all this "green" stuff! Think CHEAP, and you'll be going green! Ideas:
* Extend your clothing by patching, sewing on buttons, using less laundry soap in your washer, and putting your laundry away promptly. Shorten your dryer time to reduce shrinking and heat damage on your more delicate clothing. Do you *really* need new outfits every year? I haven't bought myself any new clothing since I became pregnant with my first child - now 3 years old.
* If your closet is full, you have too much clothing! What are you wearing, and what aren't you wearing? Most people outside the U.S. have 1 or 2 pairs of shoes and one coat. How many coats do you have? Why so many? Get rid of any regular clothing that you haven't worn in the past year (exceptions are formalwear, like a tuxedo or formal gown).
* Why are you wasting money on paper towels? Can't you just use a cloth and wash it weekly with the rest of your laundry?
* Have you planted a garden? The less money you spend in the grocery store, the better. The more vegetables you grow on your own, the less gas you spend traveling to the grocery store, and the less vegetables need to be trucked thousands of miles for you to consume.
* If you live in an apartment, consider doing a little window herb garden. Not only do you get the benefit of having fresh parsley/basil/oregano, but indoor plants increase the indoor air quality (which is usually quite worse than outside air)
* Turn on your A/C at the last second. Window fans use significantly less electricity. Consider installing a ceiling fan - and use one with a winter/summer switch, so you can push the warm air down from the ceiling when it's wintertime - it'll save on your heating bills!
* Get rid of a television. No, seriously! How many TVs do you have in your home? Statistically, most homes have multiple televisions. This encourages the bad habit of watching TV, making us couch potatoes, and televisions are energy hogs. If you don't think you can go without all the TVs in your home, consider just unplugging one of your TVs for say, a week. It's good for your waistline, your wallet, AND the environment.
* Walk, bike, bus. We spend entirely too much time in our cars. Now that it's spring, why aren't you taking walks or bicycling to your local library, hair salon, drug store, grocery store, post office, wherever. You'll get some exercise, be able to do an errand or two, and save a little bit of gas! Remember, every little bit helps!

I love the idea of going green and would love to be better about it. I don't know much about clothing but I do go to the thrift stores sometimes and try to find things there and I am always giving my clothes to different charities each year.

I'm going to start trying to buy green cleaning products.

I'm planting my own veggie garden this year so that is a very green thing to do.

sounds great

I have used the green works products. they seem to do fine

I shop for clothing at Goodwill and other thrift shops when ever possible. This is particularly true when it comes time to purchase new "play" clothes that I will wear while hiking, gardening, and doing other activities that wear out clothing quickly.

Thrift stores are great because they are cheap and because they generally support beneficial charities like the Salvation Army. I find unique items all the time at my local Goodwill store.

Thrift stores are also sustainable for some less obvious reasons. The clothing sold at these establishments is generally donated by local families and individuals. So it has not traveled far before you buy it.

On the other hand, the clothing you buy at the mall has often traveled around the world before it ends up in your closet. The shipping of raw materials and finished products around the globe involves the use planes, trains, trucks, and ships. This process consumes vast quantities of oil and produces untold pollutants - including massive quantities of greenhouse gas emissions.

Shopping at local thrift stores is just one more way to embrace a lifestyle based upon the principle of "reduce, reuse, and recycle".

we are trying to incorporate "green" into our lives. we started by not getting the plastic bags at the supermarket. but the cloth bags are VERY hard to forget to bring every time. we also need to stop buying bottled water. its hard, with both of us working long hours, to go without the water, but i think we need to invest in the eco friendly water bottles. we are taking baby steps, since doing it all at once is overwhelming!

I've been going "green" for years by wearing hand me down and recycled clothes. Anytime we see a resale clothing shop we stop by and check out what they have. I have some interesting clothes and I'm often complemented on them. It is sad how many clothes are discarded these days.

We could clothe nations with what is tossed away in our country.

I have bought no new clothing in the past 2 years ( besides underclothes!) There are some great consignment and resale shops out there if you look around!

We do hand-me-downs as much as possible. No sense in making news clothing when perfectly good options are available. I have two boys and I not only hand down from one to the other, I share with neighbors and I even wear my older sons older t-shirts and sweatshirts. Anything we cannot share with friends and neighbors gooes to Big/Brother Big Sister. Whenever posisble, I buy winter jackets and outerwear at a consignment shop or yard sales. Not only is it better for the environment, it saves money.

Great ideas!!!

Debra C. and David Anderson have been selected to receive an organic t-shirt and recycled bag.