What I Bought Today - Fashion

I stepped into my local charity shop today and found some great pieces to add to my green wardrobe. Apologies for the iffy images from the camera on my phone but I just wanted to show some of the treasures laying in many second-hand, thrift and vintage stores!


This Lilac Brocade Dress doesn't get enough justice from the grainy photograph but up close the fabric has a subtle metallic glint that makes the dress ideal for day or evening, casual or dressy occasions!



I'm a huge fan of scarves and love the way they inject a little glamour or personality into any outfit, so I pounced on this classic Black & White scarf as soon as I saw it.



The Chocolate Brown Metallic Tank Top came in the colour and length I love. Worn alone or as a base for layering, it will get a lot of wear.



I was so thrilled to glimpse the Silver Beaded Cinderella Slippers. I love pretty, bejewelled shoes and these will look sweet worn as ballet flats or slippers.


Cost of Lilac Brocade Dress - £11
Cost of Black & White Scarf - £4.50
Cost of Chocolate Brown Metallic Tank Top - £5.50
Cost of Silver Beaded Cinderella Slippers - £3

Cost of knowing you've purchased clothes the most eco-friendly way?

Priceless

Six Ways to Become an Ethical Fashionista

Vintage 80s Black Jumpsuit - Ramona West (Etsy)

1) Check your labels
Grab five items out of your closet and check the labels to see where they are made. If they are clothes from the high street or mass produced labels, I bet the tag reads 'Made in China' (or PRC). I did an audit of my old clothing and shoes about 18 months ago and I was shocked to see that 80% of it was made in China! While we should be ever so grateful to the people in China who do work hard to make our products, I don't know how grateful we should be to the companies that choose to manufacture in countries where they can:

• pay staff less
• make staff work extraordinarily long hours
• employ or use children
• use hazardous work environments

I make sure the labels on my clothing come from a country I am confident has more laws in place that monitor factory working conditions. I will not buy clothing made in countries where factory working conditions are shady and unlikely to be enforced. If I do buy any clothing made from countries such as China or India, I make sure it has been certified fair trade by an organisation such as the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO, formerly known as IFAT) or Made-By.

Your Resources:
World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)
Made-By

2) Check your fabrics

ORGANIC COTTON
Did you know your 'regular' jeans contain about 2/3 of a pound of pesticides and your t-shirt contains 1/3 of a pound? - Del Forte Organic Denim website

'An estimated 1 million to 5 million cases of pesticide poisoning occur ever year, resulting in 20,000 reported deaths among agricultural workers and at least 1 million requiring hospitalisation' - Environmental Justice Foundation

These statistics were enough to convince me to immediately switch to organic cotton purchases. There are so many stunning fashion items being made today from organic cotton that there is no need to keep using normal cotton.

SILK
Another natural fabric, I'm ashamed to say I hadn't stopped to think about was silk. I don't like to list disturbing and gruesome information about the way some animals (or living creatures) suffer for things such as fashion, so if you want to learn more about silk, you can read this information provided by PETA. You can buy Peace Silk or Ahimsa Peace Silk instead, which is just as beautiful but is 'made from the cocoons of caterpillars who have completed the moth stage and flown away.'

BAMBOO
I've started to limit the amount of bamboo derived clothing on Green Lashes and Fashion after reading articles such as the following:

Treehugger featured an article, 'Is Bamboo Clothing Truly Green?' in which Michael Lackman of Lotus Organics stated, 'the growing of bamboo is environmentally friendly but the manufacturing of bamboo into fabric raises environmental and health concerns because of the strong chemical solvents used to cook the bamboo plant into a viscose solution that is then reconstructed into cellulose fiber for weaving into yarn for fabric.'

Your Resources:
Environmental Justice Foundation - information about organic cotton and the problems within the cotton industry.

3) Check where you shop
I used to enjoy popping into H&M and finding cute pieces at cheap prices but I no longer visit high street, big name shops due to where the clothing is made and the fabrics used to make the clothing. It wasn't too hard to end this retail relationship once I saw the benefits such as:

• less chance of running into another girl wearing the exact same outfit as you (the ultimate fashion nightmare)
• increased fashion creativity. Interpreting fashion trends and outfits I see in magazines or on the street with clothing I already own (and a vintage accessory or two).
• the thrill of finding a designer item or high street label at Oxfam for half the price and in excellent quality (perfect for moments when you may be tempted back to the high street).
• supporting ethical labels by shopping at their sites and parading in their eco clothing looking simply fabulous, will increase the popularity and profile of ethical fashion which will then increase the market and lower the prices! It's a win / win!

Your Resources: If you haven't checked out ethical shopping online, you may want to check out the following stores (which are also featured on a longer list of shopping sites I have on the side panel of Green Lashes and Fashion).
Adili
Fashion Conscience
Nimli
Greenloop
Beklina

4) Check what you really need
Before you reach for a pair of harem pants or other 'must-have item this season', ask yourself the following questions:

• Will I still be wearing this in a year's time?
• How often will I wear this?
• What other items in my wardrobe will it go with?

When shopping for new pieces, it's important to purchase invaluable pieces that will suit your lifestyle. It's also better to spend more money on one good quality item than several cheaper pieces that will date, loose their shape and / or colour or fall apart.

Your Resources: I've written a series of posts about the key wardrobe pieces we all need, which you can view here: Building the Perfect Eco Wardrobe

5) Check out vintage and second-hand stores
This is the greenest option by far because you are using fashion that already exists and not creating a demand for new items to be produced which can impact negatively on the environment and the people making them.

For anyone that thinks vintage is expensive (yes, it can be in big fashion cities) but I'm sure you will find some cool vintage stores in your town or online vintage sellers at Etsy, who will all prove just how affordable vintage can be! You can put together a whole new, fashion forward outfit from Etsy's vintage sellers for less than $50.

Your Resources:
Etsy (vintage section)
Oxfam (shop online)

6) Check out your sewing abilities
Upcycled clothing (clothing made from reclaimed fabrics, vintage clothing, end of line fabrics) is exploding in the fashion world right now. What better way to save the planet and look stylish and unique whilst doing it? If you or someone you know can sew, your fashion creations will be limitless but if sewing is not your thing, you'll be pleased to know you can look online and find many sites and labels are producing some stunning upcycled pieces (see below for listings).

Upcycled fashion:
Round London
Armour Sans Anguish
Si:Su
Heidi and Seek

Check you have have a pretty reusable shopping bag for your ethical fashion purchases! You probably have your reusable bags for your groceries but why not keep an extra one solely for clothing purchases in your handbag?

An Ideal Earth Friendly Day (and way of life hopefully)

Wake up
Reluctantly get out of bed which is covered in organic and fair trade cotton sheets, blankets and pillows and also has an organic mattress.
Mattress - Abaca
Linen - Liv

Brush teeth
Use a natural toothpaste free from SLSs, fluoride and parabens. Brush teeth with Preserve Toothbrush which is made from recycled plastic and yogurt cups and remember to turn off water in between brushing. Do not use mouth wash but use clove oil rinse or warm water, honey and cinnamon mix for fresh breath and healthy gums.
Green People Toothpaste
Weleda Toothpaste
Preserve Toothbrush

Morning Shower

Use products with ingredients that are safe for me and waterways. I ditched the plastic packaging of a shower gel and opted for a bar of sweet smelling soap which is SLS free and contains no palm oil or at least uses sustainable palm oil. I use razors with handles made from recycled plastic and yogurt cups to avoid tossing disposable razors into landfills.

After my shower, I dry off with some lovely white fluffy organic towels and then moisturise with fair trade / organic coconut oil (the scent transports me to Tahiti). Before getting dressed I try and choose between Weleda's Citrus Deodorant or just plain baking soda for an aluminium / propylene glycol free deodorant option. Both work very well but decide to go for baking soda as a deodorant and Weleda for a summery perfume / body spray.

Soaps - Dr Bronner and Raw Gaia
Razors - Preserve Double Razors
Towels - Liv
Coconut Oil - Akamuti
Deodorant - Weleda

Organic skincare
Cleanse and moisturise with natural and organic products to protect my skin and the planet (toxic and synthetic ingredients can be absorbed into the skin and can also have detrimental effects on the environment such as polluting the waterways). Also scan beauty labels for sustainable ingredients and query palm oil now after reading article describing how the high demand for this ingredient is rapidly contributing to the deforestation of the rain forests in countries such as Indonesia.

Cleanser - Pai
Moisturisers - Read my reviews on Raw Gaia, Suki and Weleda
Eye Cream - Dr Alkaitis

Organic makeup
I just counted the number of make up products I use each day and realised the total was 8! At least they are all organic and natural though and I know that whatever my skin is absorbing and my lips are ingesting (from lipsticks and glosses), the ingredients do not contain harmful toxins and synthetic ickiness.

Organic and natural tinted moisturisers - Suki
Natural concealer - Lavera
Natural mascara - Lavera
Natural eyeliner - Borlind
Natural lipgloss - Lavera
Preservative and talc free blush - Suki Color Pure Cream Stain
Vegan lipstick - Perfect Organics
Natural lipgloss - All The Better to Kiss You With

Hair products
Turn to Green People and Aubrey Organics for high hair and high hopes today and also forgo the hair dryer! Thankfully there are some amazing natural and organic hair products available today that will leave your locks and the earth healthy, luscious and bountiful!
Shampoos & Conditioners - Green People and Aubrey Organics
Styling Products - Intelligent Nutrients, John Masters Organics and Aubrey Organics

Get dressed
Put together an outfit derived from organic, fair trade, vintage and re-tailored pieces. Organic Frank & Faith jumper (Annabelle style pictured above), organic Del Forte denim jeans (made in LA), Enamore organic underwear (made in the UK), Charmone vegan heels (sweatshop free from Spain). Accessories include vintage scarf, English Retreads bag (vegan, made in Colorado from recycled tires) and fair trade and recycled jewellery from Made and Kirsten Muenster.

Breakfast
Use Brita filter water to fill jug (with only the amount of water I need) and make organic and fair trade tea. Breakfast of homemade granola and homemade almond milk (organic oats, almonds and dried fruit bought in bulk to reduce packaging and own milk is made to reduce use of milk cartons which can sometimes be hard to recycle).

Pack own lunch / water bottle
This saves money and also ensures I get a healthy organic meal (salad, sandwich or soba noodles) without excess plastic packaging. A reusable glass water bottle also reduces plastic waste and reduces the risk of contamination that may come from aluminium water bottles.

Unplug electrical devices around home before leaving house to ensure no unnecessary energy is being used.

Pack a few reusable shopping bags into my vegan work bag in case some unforeseen shopping spree occurs during the day!

Empty recycling into recycling bins on the way to work

Take public transport or carpool to work to reduce carbon footprint

Read a library book, Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' on the way to work for some environmental inspiration. Briefly consider purchasing an e-book reader in-between reading. Downloading books directly to electronic devices such as a Kindle or iLiad saves cutting down trees but where are they manufactured and what are they made of? Here is my first ethical dilemma for the day!

At work
Quickly check the fair trade coffee, tea and sugar supplies at work when I go to make a cup of tea (with my own coffee cup).

Email office manager to say how happy I am that he listened and acted upon my 20 polite but passionate emails about eradicating plastic cups, installing recycling bins, refilling ink cartridges, using natural and toxin-free hand soap and cleaning products, using recycled stationery and printing only when necessary on double sided paper and for making sure everyone turns off and unplugs their computer at the end of each day. Just about to send this email when said manager approaches my desk. Decide to thank him in person and perhaps discuss my ideas of banishing air conditioning and heating in the office / or implementing a green dress code for all employees once a month, but he quickly turns the other way when he spots me. It's like he is avoiding me or something. Can't think why?

Exercise
After work I avoid the gym (yeah!) due to the energy needed to power electrical gym equipment such as running and elliptical machines. Decide to get some fresh air and run outside (okay walk) and consider looking for a good yoga class nearby.

Dinner
Enjoy a dinner of organic / seasonal / vegan ratatouille and couscous with organic wine (for friends) so the planet is not being sprayed with pesticides and I am not eating them. Urge carnivorous friends to consider adopting a 'meat free Monday ritual' since they won't go completely vegetarian. It was difficult but the ratatouille and vegan raw food desserts from Raw Fairies finally convinced them.
Raw Fairies recipes

Wash dishes
Wash dishes in sink using Michael's natural luffa (lasts up to 3 months) and my own dish washing liquid as I don't trust what is in the so called natural ones. My personally branded, 'Miss T's Clean it and Green it' liquid is a mixture of water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon essential oil, salt and Dr Bronner's castille soap. It won't be hitting supermarket shelves just yet because while it does clean dishes easily and leaves them sparkly, there is a slight glitch, in that the grease seems to rise to the top of the water and makes the sink a bit of a hassle to clean afterwards.
Michael's Original Luffa

Laundry
Wash clothes using soap nuts and my favourite essential oil of lemon. Place washing on rack to air dry naturally and to save energy needed to run a dryer (okay, so I don't have a dryer).
Soapods

Time online
Pay bills online to cut back on paper mail and play a little background music from some green musicians (Jack Johnson, Radiohead and KT Tunstall). I then decide to get my ethical fashion fix by perusing the online green glam magazine, Coco Eco. No paper used and just eco friendly eye candy to absorb!

Wash on, wash off
Remove organic makeup with the Organic Pharmacy's Carrot Butter Cleanser with organic muslin cloth. Can't decide to use this or sweet almond oil or coconut oil to remove eye makeup? There are still so many decisions to make in an eco friendly world!
Carrot Butter Cleanser

Watch DVD
Unwind at the end of a long but enjoyable earth friendly day with Al Gore's inspiring DVD, 'An Inconvenient Truth'. All lights are turned off in house and only soy tea lights (palm oil free) twinkle in the dark. And there may or may not be a tub of vegan Hunky Punky Chocolate Booja Booja icecream in the room. After watching an Inconvenient Truth, I decide to go online and see where the new climate change film, The Age of Stupid is playing in London (Shortwave Cinema until 26 April) by using energy saving search engine, blackle.

Giving thanks to the Earth
Write down all the things I'm grateful to the earth for in my Tibetan Recycled Paper Notebook. I also write down some actions I will take to help protect and respect the earth from today onwards.
Recycled Notebook - Ethical Wares