I need to preface this by saying that I am a vegan (who wears leather – so take that for what it’s worth) partially because I don’t believe that humans should consume or use other animals’ milk. Cow’s milk is for calves, not for babies – or adult humans for that matter. I also don’t think that milk production – as it is engaged in now, is sustainable OR ethical. The dairy cow industry is far from angelic, and the UN states that the cattle industry is THE major contributor to the increase in greenhouse gases.
Milk Fabric dress by FIN
So keep that in mind when reading this article at the WSJ: “Style’s New Sustainable Frontier” that among other things, deals with new materials like MILK fabric and nonviolent silk.
I’m not going to get into the whole “argument” again (read my first anti-milk-silk post here), but I just have to say that I’m disappointed (again) that the “journalist” writing the story didn’t mention anything about the cattle industry’s negative environmental footprint or the ethics of forcing a dairy cow to continually produce milk (here’s how they do that).
The author does mention that fabric made from milk
frees up land that would otherwise have been used to grow cotton, a crop vilified for its intense water consumption and high pesticide use
but doesn’t also mention that (source)
Cattle-rearing is also a major source of land and water degradation
and
Livestock are one of the most significant contributors to today’s most serious environmental problems
which in my mind kind of negates any possible benefit from “freeing up land from cotton production.”
What are your thoughts? Is milk fabric ethical & sustainable? Am I missing something?
This is an insanely good deal on organic cotton (+ some hemp) goodies by Prairie Underground and She-Bible at Doe – all items by both designers (including sale items) are 50% off!!
Prarie Underground: $182
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She-Bible: $150
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Directions on how to get your discount online:
this offer is available both in-store and online, so add a comment during checkout that says 50% off to receive your discount. paypal customers, please wait for an amended total via email before sending payment.
Yes, it’s true (in case you hadn’t heard). Acid wash denim is a “trend” for Fall. That doesn’t mean you have to buy into it, but if you’re interested, PLEASE don’t buy new, buy vintage! After all, acid wash was a late 80′s early 90′s “thing” so there should be plenty of used options out there for your shopping pleasure. Anyway, acid-washing denim adds just another layer to an already energy/resource-intensive process (NOT very eco-friendly), so, seriously, if you’re going to wear acid wash this season, please buy used/vintage/whatever. Or if you’re lucky enough to have kept any of your pieces from the first time around…more power to you! 
If I’m doing ANY acid-wash (and no, I don’t think I will this time, sorry) it’s going to be a jacket – like this one available at LA Vintage:
Vintage Levis Acid Wash Denim Jacket at LA vintage: $83
(I also want to say THANK YOU so much to the ladies at the LA Vintage blog for the shout-out)
I am a little behind. I don’t really do Woot, or get that excited about one-day-only deals (well, sometimes I do, depends on the deal) like so many other people do, but I do think the idea is great.
Enter the just launched, one deal, one day site for eco-fashionistas, Hip Green Deals. Imagine the potential…
Today’s deals are these organic cotton ethically handmade totes by Canadian artists Simon Underwood and Nina Palmer:
Now I’m interested to see what tomorrow brings…
Oh, also, for a limited time, when you sign up for their daily e-mails you’ll be entered to win a beautiful fairly traded silver necklace by the Andean Collection.
