I think the contemporary economist Anna Lappé put it best when she said, “Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want.” That is to say, if the environment is a real concern for you, then you ought to be watching where your money is going. Mostly everyone wears clothes daily and so there is always a market for clothing. Lots of resources are poured into the production of our clothing yearly. Do you know from where or how your clothes are being made?
What Are Your Clothes Made Out Of?
40% of women’s clothing is entirely made from cotton.
60% of women’s clothing is a cotton blend.
75% of men’s clothing is 100% cotton.
10% of men’s clothing is a cotton blend.
This makes cotton a hot commodity in fashion and retail. The problem is that cotton is one of the thirstiest crops.
It takes 2,700 liters to produce a single cotton tee-shirt (National Geographic).
Although cotton only covers 2.4% of cultivated land globally, it ends up accounting for 6% of the world’s pesticide use, which is more than any other produce (Rodale Institute).
That pesticide-infused water then finds its way into our groundwater, so you’re getting more than you bargained for when you buy cotton. Of course, there’s always polyester. While polyester doesn’t contain pesticides or require excessive watering, this synthetic material is derived from plastics, which requires petroleum to manufacture. So, by buying polyester clothing, we’re supporting the market for crude oil.
This isn’t even accounting for the dyes, detergents, and chemicals such as Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) that prevent staining that the vast majority of our clothing gets washed in before finding their way into our stores.
It’s comforting to justify our buying choices by telling ourselves that it’s already on the shelves. The damage was already done before we got there. But the bigger picture is that any time we buy cotton or polyester clothing, the store then goes to order more to replace them, and then someone else wanders in using the same logic as us. It’s a perpetual cycle. One that can be ended by just a few people casting their votes for a more sustainable form of fashion instead.
There’s a growing trend now to make fashion from more eco-friendly sources, such as organic cotton, hemp, flax fibers, etc., as well as recycled and upcycled fibers. The key is to ensure that sustainable clothes are made as eco-friendly as possible, and as fairly as possible. Many emerging sustainable fashion companies take huge strides in transparency, making their crafting methods and business practices well known.
Some great sustainable clothing companies include the UK-based outfitter People Tree, who has been partnering with Fair Trade farmers for over 20 years. They feature a broad selection of 100% Organic Certified Cotton sundresses, skirts, yoga pants, and more. What’s more is that their selection is just as stylish as anything you’ll see in conventional markets, but with the added bonus of being sustainable.
Krochet Kids, Intl. is another great sustainable brand. In addition to utilizing eco-friendly fibers, they are also a nonprofit organization that employs women in areas like Uganda and Peru. The organization trains and educates their workers, pays them living wages, helps educate them and even helps put their children in schools. Each item is handmade and signed by the lovely lady who crafted it. So Krochet Kids’ consumers aren’t just helping the environment – they’re helping communities.
Specializing in outdoor and sportswear, Patagonia goes to great lengths to locate the most responsible, Fair Trade Certified factories to do their business. They use only organic fibers, and also greatly encourage recycling of their products. Their program Worn Wear allows customers to trade in their warn Patagonia clothing, which will then be recycled to create new articles. Patagonia’s main mantra is “do no harm,” and they go to great lengths to reduce their impact on our environment.
With the same concept in mind, but a touch more modern, Where Mountains Meet offers a wide array of artsy clothing. In addition to using only pure organic fabrics and dyes, their fabric is sourced from the U.S. and hand-crafted in New York’s esteemed Garment District, so you can support the world’s ecosystem and your local economy!
Obviously we all want to look good in clothes that define our style and culture. But we have to maintain a stylish world, too. We can do this by funding sustainable fashion companies with our shopping choices. We can talk all we want about saving our economy, but the point won’t be made until we’re literally wearing our values with pride!