WHO MAKES FASHION? ECO-FASHION EMERGING
April 24, 2008 · Print This Article
Recycle, Re-gift and Rejoice! ~~~Part1.
What is Green about fashion? It is certainly not the first thing we think of in times of declining dollar values, increasing fuel and food prices. Or is it? Women have always cared about what they wore, whether it be the shape and softness of a buckskin dress, the color of dyes and embroidery on a Huipli, or the choice of Obi for a kimono.Today there are lots of eco-fashion choices vying for your dollar. The newest designers – from the lesbian and edgy street fashion in the ‘80’s to today’s emerging sense of fun…Earthdance style – green and tan, brown, asymmetrical hems, layers that an elf would be comfortable in, love of natural flowing silhouettes
But what if we were abandoned with only the clothes we and our friends had in our copious closets…
If there was no news from the fashion front – what would you choose to wear? If you had to keep on wearing the clothes you already own – as I think about it – the best choice is enduring fashion – things that make you feel good, that feel good on the body, in fabrics you love to touch or admire…things that will last and be enjoyed, in fabrics that breathe, wear well, are healthy for the body and do not need replacing due to poor fit, bad choices or trendy changes of mind.
Are you the practical type? Someone like my mother – the original tomboy back when it wasn’t invented yet – Beverly looked to Katherine Hepburn for advice on how to find and wear good looking pants. One of her earliest pictures is of her sitting on the grass in fabulously pleated menswear pants. In the 1950’s, he needed a wardrobe you could play softball in, chase four young children, can a bushel of peaches, and still make it to your husband’s Award Banquet. Ok, I am exaggerating about the awards banquet…for those occasions she looked to her older sister for real fashion advice. Other wise she dressed herself and us 4 girls in practical clothes – things like shirtwaist dresses and slacks from Sears that lasted long beyond our interest in the color or style.
So – what can we do now with limited budgets and big desires for looking good?
Today, the practical and athletic type ( this needs a slang term) might choose to relax their standards toward Lycra yoga pants and layers of stretchy tops 24-7. As a long time world traveler, and having lived in the same clothes for many hours in planes and airports, the sensibility of this type of dress rings a familiar chord, and indeed – a busy woman who fits exercise into a day of work and errands finds that a casual wardrobe of stretchy pants and comfy tops goes to work, the store, to Curves and back home into immediate dinner prep without wasting one moment of time beyond peeling and adding layers. Why, I think at least 10 minutes is shaved off of my own busy schedule by this clever use of clothing. Enough time to add writing this article to my already busy weekly schedule…
Now, if having extra time to smell roses, gaze at the beautiful eyes of your lover isn’t a Green value, what is? Ok, so – dressing in an Ecological manner involves smart use of resources and time. What else?
A true fashion maven who cannot bear to give in to such slovenly habits as Lycra or spandex yoga togs might better take the advice of Coco Chanel! Fifty years ago she declared fashion sense to be akin to common sense and won our hearts with classic silhouettes that lasted for years in the front section of many a smart urban closet. Today we have even more options since fashion has gone crazy and it seems that only a few teeny threads of mandate from
Ok, so we are saying that in order to make enduring choices you must “know thyself” and collect fabulous clothing that is your true “unique look”. That might be a fitted hacking jacket or a men’s Italian shirt, a hemp tunic or an Organic Tank top.
Or – are you the romantic type? Given to hats with long elvish tails, flowing tunics whose Angel sleeves are made from chiffon or voile, cloaks of velvet and tapestry - you find yourself buying your clothing at strange stores with one word French names, or perhaps from a craft show vendor. In this case, make careful choices, or trade with your Neighborhood Fantasy Fiction Group, since you will using these special items for a long time! We hope…
With your new interest in Green and Eco Fashion, no matter what your personal style - you can start to ask – where was this made? Made by whom? Were the garment workers paid a “living wage”? Was it dyed with low impact dyes?
If your supplier cannot answer these questions, don’t despair. We are all on a steep learning curve right now. The scramble to Green our clothing lines is huge in the garment industry. We are getting there with your help. Your job, as the buyer – is to ask good questions, and vote with your dollars. Baby steps, a directional shift is good enough to reward with your purchase. Look at tags and labels. All pieces of Organic cotton, or Ecospun, Bamboo or Hemp are labeled and you can choose what fabrics to buy. The question of where it is made…. A sticky point.
To sum up this first article in my series about Eco Fashion – you have choices. The human lifestyle changes that our precious and fragile planet needs to survive these times is completely yours to make!
How to act responsibly?
One – spend your money on classic and enduring styles, durable fabrics that garner applause and are easy to care for at home (No dry cleaning if possible)
Two – dress to please yourself, and if you can spend less time caring for your clothes and your look, you get to take more walks and read more books! That makes for better health, which also contributes to our sustainable future
Three – find out about the garment you are buying. Ask about its origin ( “Shade of Green”*?), and be happy with small transitional baby steps by your supplier. It is not yet possible to get that Organic Hemp Jacket made from locally grown fiber and sewn next door by a deserving single mom who got paid designer wages. A few compromises are going to be part of our learning curve.
Four – and this is the subject of another article – just trust that we will explain why…
Buy everything from a locally owned business. The smaller the better. Buy local ad The money stays in your community – contributing to your local economy andhelping the create vital, vibrant places where you will want to continue to live and work
~~~
Note:
Let’s set some standards for “Green” – there are lots of shades of green…
For example - recycled and reused local clothing wheedled from your best friend’s closet rates a full “10” no matter what it’s fabric type or country of origin.
An organic cotton shirt made in
*“Shade of Green” Criteria include-
Carbon footprint or “Cradle to Cradle” cost to the environment
Fair Trade values and standards
[...] Allyson wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThe newest designers – from the lesbian and edgy street fashion in the ‘80’s to today’s emerging sense of fun…Earthdance style – green and tan, brown, asymmetrical hems, layers that an elf would be comfortable in, love of natural … [...]
[...] Tiffany Monhollon wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptToday, the practical and athletic type ( this needs a slang term) might choose to relax their standards toward Lycra yoga pants and layers of stretchy tops 24-7. As a long time world traveler, and having lived in the same clothes for … [...]
Having personal style with a conscience is something I’ve always struggled with, and this article is an awesome baseline with some great tips. Would you consider submitting it to a blog carnival I am hosting this month, the Fabulous! Festival?