Tag Archives: Engaged consumerism

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Eco-Fashionistas

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Amended Title: The Seven Habits of [What I Imagine to be] Highly Effective Eco-Fashionistas

In my pre-thanksgiving post entitled “Baby Steps: How to Lessen Your Eco Guilt This Holiday Season,” I discussed a few steps we conscious consumers can take that will help us go green bit by bit – or recycled bottle by organic yoga pants.

That was the beginning.

Now, I want to share what I imagine to be seven habits of men & women that have achieved an outstanding level of green in their wardrobes.
Disclaimer: I’m not there yet, but I’m working on it.

1. Don’t be a mindless shopping machineThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective Eco Fashionistas

  • Research brands: if you are lusting after a particular blouse, lookup the CSR information for the designer to find out where, how and with what their clothes are made.  If you find out that they’re on the right track – maybe the blouse is made locally or uses eco-friendly material – great! If not, consider spending a few extra minutes perusing the net for one that looks just like it but will be better for mother earth.


Eco Bonus: There’s now a site that does this for us!  Fashioning Change shows you stylish, eco-friendly and ethical alternatives to well-known brands.  Check out the “Wear this, not that” feature: Continue reading →

The Pro’s & Con’s of TOMS Shoes (and another option)

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I got a pair of TOMS shoes in the mail last week (thanks Mom).  They’re super comfortable, and I got them in this snazzy gold herringbone pattern: The Pros & Cons of TOMS Shoes (and another option)

I know there are issues with give-away philanthropy, so I did a little digging to see how sustainable TOMS Shoes really are.  Putting aside TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie‘s accidental speech to the anti-gay Christian group Focus on the Family in June, there are several fundamental problems with the way TOMS gives back.

Giveaways Don’t Solve the Problem

As Kelsey Timmerman, author of Where Am I Wearing, reminds us, this is a classic case of giving someone a fish vs. teaching him/her how to fish. Giving children shoes is all very well and good, but does nothing to address the root causes of the poverty that makes them shoeless in the first place.  In fact, Continue reading →

Made in Nicaragua

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As I write this, sitting on the beach in Nicaragua, it is easy to ignore everything but the crashing waves and pink sunset clouds.  But just miles away in the capital city of Managua, there is rampant poverty, unemployment, illness and any manner of problems typical of the third world.  Many of this country’s troubles stem from colonialism, political turmoil and natural disasters – most notably the earthquake that destroyed Managua in 1972 .  Because my subject is sustainable fashion, however, I decided to look into the ways the global garment industry has affected Nicaraguans.

Made in NicaraguaMy first [electronic] visit was to the now-defunct cotton fields. Cotton only came to Nicaragua in the 1950s with Continue reading →

Mmmmmm that smells…..sustainable

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Let’s talk perfume.  I have to admit that I love my current scent (Armani Agua di Gioia) to death.  When I looked it up on the Good Guide here is what I found:

-OK marks on the environment (7.2) and society (6.2)Mmmmmm that smells.....sustainable

The Guide even adds that the company is among the top/best 15% in its database because of its social policies and practices.  That’s great! Unfortunately it got less OK marks on health (4.0) because of a chemical called Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) that is suspected of causing  immunotoxicity, respiratory toxicity, and skin or sense organ toxicity.

That’s a bit more potential toxicity than I’m comfortable with, so I checked out some natural scents. Continue reading →

In Sustainable Fashion, is it the thought that counts?

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Is it enough that fashion designers have the intention of being sustainable?  Well, no.  But does it make a difference?  Is it a step in the right direction?  Usually.

There are a lot of factors to consider when making clothing, and a lot of steps along the way for things to go wrong.  Designers have to keep track of the environmental and human costs of their products from harvesting the cotton or producing the synthetic to manufacturing, shipping and retail.  Inevitably, trade-offs must be made.  Organic fabrics can still be sewn together by exploited workers Continue reading →