Interesting article about the changes that are happening in the apparel industry and how it is going to affect consumers.
Nov 17
I left the other night’s TGAAD exchange (thank you, Sally!), inspired by the conversation, action and awareness.
The question was posed: Where do discarded clothes end up?
Good question!
According to the EPA and the Council for Textile Recycling, the U.S. generates roughly 9 BILLION POUNDS of used clothing each year–an average of 29 pounds per person–and only a small fraction of that is recycled.
Discarded clothes go where you send them… landfill, Goodwill or your friend’s closet. Some materials (polyester and non-natural blends) take hundreds of years to decompose, and some never do.
Absolutely, recycle your clothes–repair them, make them into something else, give them to friends or donate them to a worthy cause. Keeping clothing out of the waste stream can help others in need, reduces landfill, as well as keeps valuable materials flowing for reuse.
Additionally, think “upstream” — when you purchase new clothing, go for materials that are natural, good for the environment and sustainably manufactured. Organic cotton, hemp and bamboo are natural fibers that will decompose, even if they end up in the landfill. Also consider quality over quantity — buy staples that will last and avoid “disposable clothes” that fall apart at the seams and look scruffy after just a few washings. (You know the ones I mean…)
Where and how to recycle:
Donate! Goodwill and Salvation Army are always safe bets for recycling clothes. There’s also the Jubilee Women’s Center, as well as other smaller and local organizations looking for clothing donations.
Sell them! If you have the time and patience, garage sales and vintage/consignment stores, like Le Frock, are a way to make some extra pocket money.
Recycle! Patagonia Common Threads: Patagonia recycles a number of items–worn out Capilene® Performance Baselayers, Patagonia® fleece, Polartec® fleece clothing (from any maker), Patagonia cotton T-shirts, and some additional polyester and nylon 6 products that come with a Common Threads tag.
Make something new! My old tshirts turn into rags — that’s about as crafty as I get, although there are some fun recycled clothes craft ideas here as well as great recycled clothing fashions like these on Etsy by Feltedfancy and wonderful inspiration from The Thrifty Chicks, “Thrift Store Gurus,” who recently joined the TGAAD challenge.
Would love to hear other ideas and sources for recycling clothes — please post them if you know them!
Sep 30
Although I have completed my year of the diet, it has still continued to influence my purchasing. In the last year I have purchased only 3 new items, all after I completed my diet. I have since purchased a pair of running shorts and a top for my upcoming Komen Maryland Race for the Cure. I had been running in cotton shorts and a tshirt, and in the muggy Baltimore, MD it left me soaked and uncomfortable. The only other purchase that I made was a comfortable pair of foldover waistband lounge pants. They were half price and fit like a glove; I couldn’t resist.
Some of the permanent life changes as a result of the “The Diet” are that I continue to read “look books” and fashion articles to discover the trend items and then use what I have in my closet to restyle what I already have. Over the last year I have purchased a a few accessories including this gorgeous belt and a brand new purse. A few pieces of jewelry like this leather cuff, tattoo necklace, and some very chic recycled mixed media pendants. The final and most important purchases were these great brooches that I use to accent my staple pieces like cardigans and jackets. It allows me to wear the same items each week, but feel like I’m wearing something new. I never had enough in the budget to buy clothing and accessories, even back when I purchased cheap clothing on clearance. I have two more planned purchases this year, a black cardigan and one in brown, to replace the ones that I wore so often and for so long that I wore out the elbows and then through the patches.
What I will continue to do is to always buy vintage, refashioned or recycled clothing first and whenever possible. Etsy, Ebay and local thrift stores are great ways to shop for eco-friendly, inexpensive clothing. If that isn’t possible then I’ll buy handmade to support artisans and crafters who still value quality and creativity. I do love a good one of a kind piece that I know I can wear for many, many years to come.
The most important lesson that I learned though, is that you can be really stylish without constantly updating your wardrobe with throw-away fashion. Don’t be a fashion victim caught in the cycle of constantly having to buy the newest, trendiest clothes. Buy a few well-made, perfectly fitted items and keep them. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise can help you fit into those pieces longer and you’ll be happier and healthier in the end. I spend so little time shopping now that I’m free to pursue all of the interests that I always wanted, but couldn’t find the time, money or energy to devote before. I’ve taken up cooking, running, knitting, crocheting, sewing, downhill mountain bike racing and spending much more time with my family and friends and I couldn’t be happier.
Sep 30
The Great American Apparel Diet got some good news coverage in Colorado this week. Our very own Birdie Carpenter was front and center. See the article below and video here.
Sep 29, 2010 7:38 pm US/Mountain
Go On A Clothes Shopping Diet To Save Money
Got A Colorado News Tip For CBS4 Denver? Share It Here
ReportingDENVER (CBS4) ― Coloradans are taking a stand and finding solutions in their effort to Beat the Recession. Visit our Beating the Recession section.
A new campaign to save money is spreading, not only in the U.S., but in other countries as well. It’s called the Great American Apparel Diet.
It’s free to join and people pledge not to buy any new clothes for an entire year. Those on the diet say it’s good for the environment, good for the wallet, and promotes a healthier lifestyle.
There is a growing trend to resist temptation to squelch the urge to shop.
“You remove the temptation, you don’t think about it, you don’t expose yourself to that environment,” Birdie Carpenter said.
Carpenter has not been in a mall for months after going on the diet.
“It really appealed to me because I have a lot of clothes,” she said. “I’m always getting rid of clothes and then replacing them.”
Now she finds herself with more money and more time.
“I can actually do something fun, active and outdoors,” she said. “That seems like it makes more sense.”
While the diet has followers throughout the U.S., Europe and South Africa, CBS4 found many shoppers who are appalled by the idea.
“It sounds pretty silly to me,” a shopper told CBS4.
Jul 28
Tonight I was with my friend Portia who has been contemplating going on this diet for 11 months now. I told her that I have decided to extend the diet for one more year, in light of the fact that there have been so many people interested in joining the effort in the past few weeks (here we go again). When I told Portia it wasn’t too late to realize the benefits of clothing deprivation she hooped and hollered “That’s what I need, a closet colonic.” The visual made me gag. She went on to claim, “Deep within my big, fat, bloated walk-in closet there is a skinny one begging to be free.” Portia, warming to the idea, is going to “think about it,” before she commits. Let me be clear…I am not doing this for another year myself but I will moderate, facilitate, contemplate and write about life post diet.
Alright already Portia—stop the squawkin’ and start walkin’ give your closet the future it deserves with a purge, a cleanse a regular down home colonic. We’re here my dear and waiting to hear how it all “flushes out.”
Jun 14
- Designed and made in California
- “ecoSkin is a privately-held California apparel company offering chic, contemporary designs for the eco-conscious but fashion-savvy woman. Core to its planet-friendly mission, ecoSkin uses only environmentally sustainable luxury fabrics woven, dyed and sewn in the USA.”
My friends and I would shop at ecoSkin; pre-teens would shop at ecoSkin. My mother would shop at ecoSkin, and even my Aunt would shop at ecoSkin. That is only one of many appealing things about this earth-friendly brand made and designed in L.A. by industry veteran Sandy Skinner. Offering everything from casual shirts to evening-worthy dresses, there is something for everyone and every moment of your life. Outfits come in toned-down blues, reds and pinks as well as neutrals such as grey and beige. Their looser tunics and summer dresses caught my eye, and I know my mother would love the selection of wrap dresses; they are perfect for the office. The clothes are begging you to style them which allows fashion freedom and the ability for them to easily slip into any existing wardrobe. With Sandy closely watching every step of the process to make sure the clothes are made with environment in mind, you are sure to walk away feeling guilt-free and with a jump in your step that these flirty pieces will surely produce.
Twistflower Dress
- Prices are on par with Banana, though unlike Banana these items were not made in sweatshops in China, so overall a good deal.
- Sold in boutiques in 31 states as well as show rooms in LA and there is an online store.
http://www.ecoskincollections.com/ecoskin/index.html#
Jun 09
- Made in a family-owned factory in Mexico
- “At Green Bees, for every tire that is rescued from the landfill, four shoes are produced. Keeping in line with their planet-saving credo, Garcia and Clancy use only full-grain leathers that are byproducts of the meat industry and considered waste material. Tanned without formaldehyde or heavy metals, the leather is then crafted into bohemian-inspired footwear in a family-owned factory in Leon, Mexico.”
With soles made out of recycled tires, and the rest of the shoe made out of genuine leather, you cannot help but love this classic footwear. There are a limited number of styles, but most, such as the Molly Shoe, come in a wide range of colors. Old-fashioned loafers and boots that can be seen on the farm as well as the street are among what is offered. The Emma Boot, a short boot with small detailing on the leather was my favorite. And when makers Garcia and Clancy are donating a tree for every pair sold, there is no reason not to buy one of each!
The Erma Boot (left) and The Emma Boot (right).
- Reasonable prices, since leather is never cheap, but some of the newer sandal styles come for less.
- Can purchase online or at a few stores in California and limited other states. See website for details.
http://www.shopgreenbees.com/index.htm
Jun 07
All right dieters, for many of you this diet ends in 85 days. I am trying to prepare as best I can for the day when we are “set free.” The last thing I want is a mass binge on crappy, (earth damning) clothes all made in inhumane factories in China.
As you know I have been pondering the question—what does responsible consumerism mean and is eco-fashion code for burlap dress? First let me reflect a bit. At the beginning of this diet I didn’t know I would become interested in “world friendly” fashion. But through TGAAD experiment I have read, met and interviewed several fashionistas who have made a concerted effort to be both fashionable and kind to the globe. I have come to admire that goal and would like to try that myself.
So, with that thought, I am hoping that when I am finally “let loose” at the mall I will be much more aware of where my products come from, who made them and what they are made of. We are talking sophisticated, hot, sexy, sharp, professional, fun clothes, not Burning Man attire. Apparel that looks beautiful, is made well and comes from a place that you can pronounce.
So beginning today I am going to, along with my intern Kim, share the knowledge of what eco brands exist out there. This will be a daily update. We will begin to educate you on who is shaping the designs and direction of eco friendly fashion. We will introduce you to people and companies who can legitimately boast fair treatment of their employees. And finally and I think most exciting we will open your eyes to some stellar American sourced and American made brands that you can get enthusiastic about. So here it goes.
Mar 22
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“True fashion is about non-toxicity. If fashion pollutes, it should no longer be called fashion, it should be called pollution.”
-Horst Rechelbacher, Founder Intelligent Nutrients and AVEDA
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One of the best things about this diet is connecting with new people all over the world. Apparently this is a topic that has hit a nerve and has been pondered for a while. One of the people I have been in contact with is Kelly Drennan Founderof Fashion Takes Action, www.fashiontakesaction.com. Kelly has provided us with the facts below that are both depressing and enlightening. Kelly is a thought leader in the fashion/sustainability arena and is a great resource for information on sustainable fashion.
FACTS ABOUT THE FASHION INDUSTRY
Consumption & Waste:
- In North America, the average person consumes over 80 pounds of textiles per year.
- Synthetic (man-made fibres) products will not decompose, and while woolen garments do decompose, they produce methane gas which contributes to climate change.
- 38% of Canada’s methane emissions (greenhouse gases) comes from landfill sites.
- On average, 80% of textiles thrown away still have 75% of their wear-ability left.
- If everyone in Canada bought one reclaimed woolen garment each year, it would save an average of 300 million gallons of water and 400 tonnes of chemical dyes (imagine what this means for the U.S. which is 10 times the size of Canada).
- Fashion is the second largest industry next to agriculture in terms of water consumption.
Cotton:
- One pound of low impact dyed cotton uses 100 gallons of water.
- One single cotton t-shirt requires 357 gallons of water to produce.
- A single t-shirt uses about 9 ounces of cotton, an average of 17 tsp of synthetic fertilizers and nearly a teaspoon of pesticides that are classified as among the most toxic by the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Agrochemical companies make on average $2.2 billion selling cotton pesticides each year.
- Many of the agents used to spray cotton were originally developed in WWII as nerve gases.
Leather:
- 95% of US tanneries have moved overseas to avoid environmental oversight penalties. Tanneries are so toxic that many old tannery sites can’t be used for agriculture or built on or even sold
- Quick and permanent chrome tanning creates soft leathers, dyes easily etc; however chemicals are extremely poisonous and linger in ecosystems
- In addition to chromium, modern tanneries use synthetic chemicals such as sodium sulphide, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, sulphuric acid, bactericides, paints, dyes, degreasers and surfactants various solvents which release volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Chromium (VI) is the most persistent toxin used by the leather industry. It is a known carcinogen with the following documented human health effects: skin rashes, upset stomachs and ulcers, respiratory problems, weakened immune systems, kidney and liver damage, alteration of genetic material, lung cancer and death (source: Organic Leather) – because of this most tanneries have switched to chromium (III) which is considerably less toxic but it commonly oxidizes into chromium (VI) during the tanning process and so the finished product contains toxins
- Even in the finished product, chromium (VI) causes allergic reactions such as skin rashes and ulcers, and because of its oxidized nature, it moves easily across membranes such as human skin
- According to EPA, 95% of all leather has been tanned with chromium.
Dyes:
- All synthetic dyes are made from coal tar, one of the most carcinogenic substances on the planet.
- Conventional dye process discharges massive quantities of toxic chemicals into the environment, including huge amounts of dioxins, the world’s number one carcinogen (source: Mike Betts, Director Better Thinking Ltd).
- On the local level – effects on ecosystems – wet processing effluent discharged into rivers and streams, resulting in dead zones due to effluent aquatic toxicity and biological oxygen demand; areas where chemicals are found disrupt normal reproduction of fish.
- On a global level – depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer due to emissions of chlorofluorocarbons and climate change due to CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
- Heavy metals such as chromium and cadmium, while capable of making bright and vibrant dyes, can pose a threat wherever they appear in the product life cycle – during mining, use of the dye in dye wastewater, or as result of composting or incineration.
Synthetics:
- Fibers, particularly micro-fibers, which are synthetic and petroleum derived, are perilous to our lungs. Tiny dust particles – micro-dust – coat our lungs, potentially inducing lung cancer. Some fabric dyes use cadmium, which with exposure to air, binds to small particles. It falls to the ground or water as rain or snow, and may contaminate fish, plants and animals. (source: Horst Rechelbacher)
- The main catalyst used in polyester production is antimony – a known carcinogen and toxin that affects the heart, liver, lungs and skin. By products of antimony cause bronchitis and emphysema.
Oct 20
Hello ladies, a delight to be in such great company, and Sally, thank you for the warm welcome. I must confess that I’ve been practicing The Diet for about a month–a test to see if I could commit to the full year–and was feeling pretty smug until Sally posted her welcome and made it official. Suddenly, I’m desperate for a new dress! So desperate, I entered the Modaspia Figi Dress Giveaway online contest and actually care about the results. (Hey, it’s a killer hemp number and would look great with my red heels!) Did this happen to any of you? Any other eco-fashion contests out there? Can someone teach me how to sew? x@
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