{"id":5732,"date":"2010-11-02T12:43:51","date_gmt":"2010-11-02T17:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145696.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=5732"},"modified":"2010-11-02T12:43:51","modified_gmt":"2010-11-02T17:43:51","slug":"eco-friendly-fashion-10-tips-for-supporting-green-sustainable-fashion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/articles\/eco-friendly-fashion-10-tips-for-supporting-green-sustainable-fashion\/","title":{"rendered":"Eco-Friendly Fashion: 10 Tips for Supporting Green, Sustainable Fashion"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a guest post from The Emerald Closet<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"wardrobe<\/p>\n

Green fashion is more prevalent than ever. At one point it was typical to sacrifice style in order to support the eco-friendly fashion initiative. However, more and more designers are implementing green fashion practices into their designs and construction. Being eco-chic is possible, you just need to know the facts. Here we provide you some tips for supporting green fashion, and how you can implement it into your wardrobe.<\/p>\n

1. Pay Attention to Where Clothing and Accessories are Made.<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t ignore that \u201cMade In\u201d verbiage on clothing tags and packaging. Aside from the benefit of supporting local materials and designers, it gives you insight into the energy wasted to transport that one item. The further away it\u2019s made, the larger the carbon footprint of that product.<\/p>\n

2. Buy Second-Hand, Vintage, and Recycled Styles.<\/h3>\n

The longer the life line of a garment, the less time it will spend in landfills. Someone else\u2019s garbage is another person\u2019s treasure, so remember to donate your old styles as well. Feeling crafty? Put your own spin on old items and refurbish old styles to create a new, DIY look.<\/p>\n

3. Avoid Purchasing Items That Require Intensive Care, such as Dry Cleaning. <\/h3>\n

Many dry cleaners use harsh chemicals and methods to wash clothing. If you need to use a dry cleaner, seek out one that is sustainable. If funds permit, seek out an Energy Star washer and dryer, which can save gallons of water a year. Be wary of clothing that advertise low-maintenance features, such as \u201cwrinkle free.\u201d These often use harmful chemicals that are bad for the environment.<\/p>\n

>>Next: Know your terms, sustainable fabric, green beauty, and mindful consumption.<\/a><\/strong>
\n
\n\"Clothing<\/p>\n

4. Know What terms like \u201cOrganic\u201d and \u201cFair Trade\u201d Mean. <\/h3>\n

To be 100% organic, items need to be certified by a recognized third party (such as the USDA) and must follow strict guidelines for growing fibers and avoiding all synthetic materials. Fair trade garments are produced with the whole process in mind, rather than just the final product. This often entails personal relationships with suppliers, ensuring fair working conditions and compensation. Sustainable fashion refers to an item that can be produced over and over again without affecting the environment. Cruelty-free means that a company does not use or test products on animals. Keep track of this type of wording, especially as it pertains to your favorite brands. Research the companies you purchase from most and become familiar with their manufacturing practices and policies.<\/p>\n

5. Buy Clothing Made of Sustainable Fabrics. <\/h3>\n

These include fabrics such as bamboo, linen, organic cotton, soy, and wool. There are even more scientifically advanced, sustainable fabrics, such as SeaCell (seaweed and wood pulp) and Eco-Spun (recycled soda cans and bottles). Avoid fabrics that don\u2019t use natural dyes. Dyeing fabrics uses more water than most industries. Also, consider reducing the amount of animal products in your wardrobe, such as leathers and furs.<\/p>\n

6. Practice Mindful Consumption.<\/h3>\n

Embodying eco-chic fashion reminds us of the old adage of sexual abstinence, don\u2019t buy (have sex), don\u2019t waste (get pregnant\/STDs). In theory it is best to only buy what you need and don\u2019t go on excessive and lavish shopping sprees. However, we know being fashion-obsessed can make this difficult to follow. A good compromise is to try and go easy on the trends, injecting classic pieces into your wardrobe that will never go out of style. This extends the life of your clothing, making it less likely you will dispose of last season\u2019s looks.<\/p>\n

7. Implement Green Practices into your Beauty Regiment.<\/h3>\n

Use organic and natural beauty products in addition to supporting sustainable fashion. This includes purchasing paraben and cruelty-free products, and paying attention to ingredient lists. If you can\u2019t pronounce the ingredient, or it has words ending in scientific terms such as \u201c-ide,\u201d skip it. Not only does it protect the environment, but you are also protecting yourself, since many experts believe ingredients and chemicals used in traditional beauty products can cause cancers.<\/p>\n

>>Next: Eco-accessories, stop making excuses, and speaking up.<\/a><\/strong>
\n
\n\"recycled<\/p>\n

8. Make Sure Your Complementary Fashion Necessities are Eco-Friendly.<\/h3>\n

This includes using sustainable hangers and biodegradable detergents. Also, avoid bleach (use \u201cgreen bleach\u201d alternatives) and try using natural stain removers before purchasing chemically-laden stain fighters. Oh, and did we mention investing in eco-friendly washer and dryer appliances? Besides reducing water consumption, it reduces your bills. Gotta save them dollars where you can.<\/p>\n

9. Stop Making Excuses.<\/h3>\n

The #1 excuse for supporting anything eco-friendly relates to money. Whether it\u2019s food, automobiles, or fashion, people like a deal and, let\u2019s face it, organic usually implies \u201c$$$.\u201d However, don\u2019t think about the immediate gratification of saving a few bucks, but rather look at the bigger picture. Think of all the good you are doing, and try to understand that paying a little more goes a long way in the end. Another common argument is that eco-friendly fashion isn\u2019t as stylish as traditional designs. Sure, \u201ctraditional fashion\u201d has been around a lot longer, so yes, there are more options. But there are a plethora of new brands popping up, serving the demand for eco-chic fashion. Do your research and look for sustainable versions of an item you\u2019re coveting, rather than simply deeming finding a green version unlikely.<\/p>\n

10. Speak Up.<\/h3>\n

We\u2019re not suggesting you be a political advocate for all things green (though if you did that, that would warrant you a gold-star of awesomeness). We\u2019re just suggesting you speak out when the opportunity presents itself. Store owners are dedicated to serving their customers, so if enough people demand eco-friendly fashion alternatives, they will most likely comply. And remember, actions speak louder than words, so implement green fashion practices into your everyday life. Repeat after us: \u201cPractice what you preach.\u201d<\/p>\n

We hope this helps you on your path to supporting sustainable fashion. If you have any other suggestions, be sure to bring them up in the comments. We look forward to hearing your ideas! <\/p>\n

Image Credits:
\nWardrobe Remix. Creative Commons photo by Cosmic Bandita<\/a>
\nClothing Facts. Creative Commons photo by Phat Pat<\/a>
\nRecycled Beads. Creative Commons photo by ecocessories<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Green fashion is more prevalent than ever. At one point it was typical to sacrifice style in order to support the eco-friendly fashion initiative. However, more and more designers are implementing green fashion practices into their designs and construction. Being eco-chic is possible, you just need to know the facts. Here we provide you some tips for supporting green fashion, and how you can implement it into your wardrobe. More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":11878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false},"categories":[366,11,75],"tags":[123,5224,5225,9016],"apple_news_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/wardrobe-remix.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5732"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/110"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5732\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feelgoodstyle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}