
6 minute read
green living
Sustainably Stylish
Eco-Fashion that’s Kind to the Planet
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by Kajsa Nickels
The trendy “fast fashion” industry standard that originated in the early 1990s has had far-reaching effects that continue today. With a production turnaround time as short as four months, designer knock-offs made with inexpensive materials line the shelves of shopping centers throughout the world. But cheap textiles come with a hidden price tag. According to the documentary The
True Cost, consumers worldwide buy around 80 billion new items of clothing per year, a 400 percent increase from 20 years ago. A report by the UK-based Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which advocates a regenerative, circular economy, found that more than $500 billion in value is lost globally every year from rarely worn manufactured clothing and the lack of recycling. The greenhouse gas emissions from the production of these textiles total more than 1 billion metric tons per year, more than produced by international flights and maritime shipping combined.
Sustainable clothing is important for both the planet and those wearing the clothing, says Jeff Garner, a fashion designer in Franklin, Tennessee, who founded the eco-label Prophetik. “The worst effect is the washing of clothes. The synthetic fabrics and dyes come off in the laundry process and go into our groundwater and oceans, including the microplastics from polyester clothing.”
Jay Charlton, founder of the UK’s Viva la Vegan fashion brand, believes eco-friendly fashion does not have to be poorly produced or poorly designed. Nor does it mean choosing between a million different options, says Charlton, who found her passion for veganstatement apparel after adopting a vegan diet. “One easy choice here is organic cotton over conventional cotton. While not perfect, it is better for the environment. Most organic cotton is produced under better working conditions for the farmers, too,” she says.
She also stresses the importance of reading labels to determine where clothes originate. “The next time you go shopping, seek out sustainable vegan fabrics and fair wear policies to do what’s right for the planet, people and our animal friends.”
Clothing from companies like Fair
Indigo use more sustainable fabrics and ensure better lives for garment workers. image courtesy of FairIndigo.com
Sustainable Yet Stylish
Just because something is safe for people and the planet doesn’t mean it can’t also be fashionable. Fair Indigo, located in Madison, Wisconsin, is a sustainable clothing company that specializes in garments made from organic Peruvian pima cotton. According to president and co-founder Robert Behnke, Peruvian pima cotton is prized for its longevity and durability. “We want to show the world that organic and sustainable does not have to be either too ‘crunchy’ or too trendy. The clothes that people wear every day— the clothes that make them feel comfortable—these are the brands that will have the greatest impact in truly changing the world.”
Fashion doesn’t have to be brand-new in order to be in style. Although secondhand clothing has been regarded negatively in the past by some, it has become more popular in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Market researchers predict that resale clothing sales will increase 185 percent in the next decade compared to 20 percent for fast fashion. Creative

ways we can help reduce clothing waste while staying in style include the following: Clothing exchange parties. Friends and family members can swap clothes and nonsized items such as purses, hats and scarves in fun, socially distanced events. Creative mending. People that have extra time on their hands may like to learn a new skill. Also known as visible mending, creative mending includes freestyle stitching around holes and tears, and both beaded and Japanese shashiko embroidery. Repurpose into something new. If an item of clothing is beyond repair, it doesn’t have to be thrown away. Old T-shirts can be turned into blankets, pillowcases and even coin purses. Men’s dress shirts can be transformed into dresses for young girls or onesies for babies.
Kajsa Nickels is a freelance writer in Salisbury, Massachusetts. Contact her at Kajsa.BlueMountain@gmail.com.
Embrace plantbased workout clothes from companies like Viva la Vegan. Angelina Capalbo
A Do-Good Dozen
Local retailer shares favorite sustainable brands for women, family, children and home fashion
North Bergen mom Angelina Capalbo has literally made it her business to be a conscious consumer. Her online shop, Organic Good Market, sells only American-made, ecofriendly products, sourced from ethical suppliers. So for a local take on sustainable fashion for parents and kids, we asked for her go-to brands, she suggested the following dozen: 1. Coyuchi produces GOTS-certified organic cotton and linens—primarily bedding, bath towels, robes and throws. Through their second chance program, you can send back your old Coyuchi linens, via a prepaid shipping label for a 15% discount off your next order. 2. Delilah Home is another great brand for linens and towels. Delilah Home is certified organic by GOTS and OneCert, belongs to the Organic Trade Association, and is Green America and vegan certified. 3. Cahoots is a zero-waste kids’ clothing membership service, where clothing is shared and artfully repaired for the lowest impact possible. 4. Kidizen is another space where you can support other parents by shopping gently used and new kids’ fashions. 5. Primary is a unisex kids’ clothing brand, which I love because ‘girls wear pink and boys wear blue’ is so taboo. Primary clothing is also OEKO-TEX certified, and I love their Family Matching and Rainbow Shop! 6. Pact uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and partners with fair-trade certified factories to make clothes for the whole family and bedding too. Use their “give back” (shipping) box to donate your old clothes to nonprofits. 7. Jackalo, a great brand for active kids’ clothing, also has a trade-up program: send back any of their kids clothing and get a $15 discount on your next purchase. 8. Christy Dawn, is a designer of sustainable, ethical and timeless dresses. This month they launch their new Farm to Closet collection, made from cotton grown through regenerative farming. 9. Whimsy & Row makes women’s clothing, including denim products made with certified organic cotton and recycled materials. Their wedding collection just dropped with “dresses you can commit to long after the wedding, available in five silhouettes, and in six colors!” 10. For Days makes organic, zero-waste basics, from tees, to pants, dresses and masks. Everything you purchase at For Days comes with a swap credit, swap old products for new. 11. Rothy’s diverts plastic bottles from landfills (nearly 100 million so far) and transforms them into their signature thread, which they then knit into durable and sustainable styled shoes, bags and accessories—all fully machine washable and remarkably durable. 12. Terra Thread makes organic and fair-trade backpacks, totes, cosmetic bags, duffle bags, laptop sleeves and masks. They use GOTS-certified organic textiles and fair-trade cotton, are a fair-tradecertified factory and are carbon neutral.
Capalbo also recommends downloading the Good on You app, to discover ethical fashion brands and see how they measure up. “I often use this before deciding between two products,” she says, “it’s my decision moderator.”
If you want to keep it local, check out Margo, Hazel Baby, and Dune and Salt. As well as local vintage stores like Mint Market, Find & Revive, and Vintage on First. To learn more, visit OrganicGoodMarket.com.