How to be eco
Eco-fashion/ eco-apparel is all the rage. It’s the way to go nowadays. But wait- is everything that claims to be eco-friendly for real? Or are there toxin filled wannabes out there, masquerading as earth friendly items?
To truly be eco-fashionable we have to be willing to do research or have friends who are.
There are numerous companies offering clothing and accessories made from organic or recycled fibers. The problem is that some manufacturers treated these eco-friendly fabrics with chlorine bleaches and chemical dyes that are harmful not only to the environment but to the poor suckers-us- putting them on thinking that we are safe from contaminants.
Another thing to consider is the type of companies we are giving our business to, and therefore supporting. If we buy organic or eco-apparel from heavy polluters we really aren’t doing the world any favors. We could and usually are acting as enablers, unknowingly maybe but if you want to consider yourself a green shopper knowledge is power. We are the consumers and as consumers have the right to information on where our eco purchases are coming from and how they are treated from beginning to end. No matter what type of fabric your clothing is made of, whether its organic wool, cotton, hemp, linen or something recycled, there is going to be some impact on the environment. We have to think practically and realize that nothing is perfect- and then aim for the nearest thing to it.
One way to gage how eco-fashionable our wardrobes are is to look to manufacturers and see how much they care about our planet and how much they care about profit. A large number of the retailers offering eco-friendly goods are part of a program called 1% For the Planet, which is fairly self-explanatory. Do the stores you shop at have websites offering helpful information? Do members of the sales staff know anything about what they are trying to sell you? Do they actually try to follow green practices, or are they just trying to make a buck of those of us that care about the earth? If you want to be eco-fashionable ask some questions and find out what you’re really buying.
