I don’t usually watch videos on blogs or websites, but a reader over at Grechen’s Closet recommended I take a look at the new CP Shades website and the video on their homepage. And I’m glad I did.

I’m human, and while I do try to shop consciously, paying attention to where my garments are made, and what they’re made from, I sometimes don’t. I forget, or I’m so smitten with the piece, I don’t WANT to know where it came from. Not terribly enlightened, I know, and I’m not proud of it, but it happens. Watching the video at CP Shades reminds me of WHY I should care about who makes my clothes, and where. I WANT to buy my clothes from people like the Weinstein’s from Sausalito, California. They have such a passion for the clothing, the designs, the manufacturing and for the people who will wear their designs. Like me:

(me in my CP Shades linen dress)

If what you wear is important to you, you cannot ignore your clothing’s history and the journey each piece took to get to you. I love it when what I wear has a story; I just need to take better care from now on to make sure that story is one of sustainability, passion and quality.

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UGH. I just want to scream!!! actually, I did say OMG out loud when I first read this, but refrained from screaming

I loved this the second I saw it. It’s not a knockoff or a replica or anything like that. It is what it is. Since everyone is so tote bag and environmentally friendly these days, this is the perfect solution for those of us who can’t afford a $3,000 bag.

Every time I look at Forever 21′s Printed Purse Tote I get the giggles. I think it’s really chic, affordable and hilarious! When was the last time something like this made you laugh? And don’t fret — no one will know it’s not real!

PRODUCT DETAILS

Forever 21 Printed Purse Tote, $5.80

Totally fun and eco-friendly, this canvas tote features a stylish printed quilted purse detail on the front and back with printed chains on the straps. Closure-less style.

She’s referring of course, to this Forever21 tote bag:

Besides the fact that her logic just doesn’t follow (the perfect environmentally friendly solution for those of us who can’t afford a $3,000 bag? does that make sense?) Can someone PLEASE tell me how this is eco-friendly? It’s not only the writer who “claims” this, it’s Forever21 itself. It is NOT made from hemp or organic cotton or reclaimed materials, it is NOT produced fairly OR ethically, it is NOT made locally…

I suppose the rationale is that it can be used in place of plastic grocery bags, but that in itself does not make a product eco-friendly. I mean, by that logic, the shopping bag you get from J Crew is environmentally friendly if you re-use it. But that’s incorrect; re-using a bag does not make the bag itself environmentally friendly – the most environmentlaly friendly thing to do is not to take a shopping bag from the store in the first place…which I supposed you could do if you had this tote bag with you, but seriously, how many people have you seen use a tote bag in place of a shopping bag at the mall? (I do it, and get strange looks carrying around a stuffed full BAGGU bag instead of branded shopping bags)

Add to this that Forever21 is the last place in the world you should be buying stuff if you’re trying to be more environmentally friendly. In my opinion, being eco-friendly is about shopping consciously, thinking about where what you buy comes from, who makes it, and all the production steps along the way. Forever21 embodies exactly the opposite of this; they knockoff designers (big and small) constantly, and they make inferior product to sell for the cheapest price possible not considering the impact this has. Please. It’s not all about the almighty dollar. You don’t want the companies you buy from to consider profit their end all and be all – so why should buying the cheapest products possible be your goal as a consumer?

(read this article at 39th and Broadway – it’s another great discussion of why you should THINK before you buy)

**and also read this: Factory vs FROCK – where would you rather buy your clothes?

What do you think? What makes a product eco-friendly in your opinion? am I way off-base here?

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I love clogs. If you follow my other site, Grechen’s Closet, at all, you know this already. And I’m ecstatic that they’re back “in” style now because of all the options out there. Unfortunately, you cannot imagine how hard it was to find vegan clogs online that I’d actually wear. Or maybe you can. Sure, there are lots of vegan clog options out there, including the dreaded CROC, but I wouldn’t be caught dead or alive wearing any of them. I almost had to give up, but I did manage to find a few pairs of vegan “clogs” that are somewhat stylish (if only Swedish Hasbeens made a non-leather version of any of their clogs).

And just to clarify, my definition of a clog is a shoe with a wood sole & heel (NOT A WEDGE) and preferably with some sort of nails or staples fastening the upper to the sole. What exactly IS a clog is a definitely point of contention around the blogosphere lately, now that clogs are “in” – but I’m sticking to my guns on this one…

So…here goes! Let me know if you find any more stylish vegan clogs out there…

Ethical Wares

These vegan t-strap clog sandals are available at UK site Ethical Wares for approximately $92. They also have a couple of other pairs of decent-looking vegan clog sandals, although I do wish the heels were a bit higher on all of them. It would balance out the heavier styles in my opinion.

Lulu’s

These could also be called a platform sandal, but according to my definition, they’re a clog. $31 at Lulu’s:

Alternative Outfitters

I’m sorry, but I actually think the heel on these is very ugly – but aside from that, the shoe isn’t bad…$29 at Alternative Outfitters:

Etsy

Etsy turned out to be a good option for vegan clogs – all “vintage” or used at least…I found two pairs, one was sold out already, but this pair isn’t bad:

Sanita

I do still love a “classic” clog, either with a back or without, and Sanita makes a nice vegan option – but while I think this shoe is pretty to look at (the pattern, anyway), it’s hard to wear. Sanita does make a floral patterned high-heel sandal, but it’s lined with leather, so not appropriate here.

Stella McCartney

And I had to save the best, most stylish vegan clog/sandal for last – Stella McCartney:

What do you think? would you wear any of these? Have you found any other vegan clog options? do tell!!!

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Just let that sink in for a second and consider all that it means. Heavy, isn’t it? But is it true? I’ve been batting this around in my head for quite some time actually, and have admitted already here that I find what I and other eco-fashion bloggers do hypocritical, to say the least. But I also don’t believe that producing and consuming are inherently evil or bad for the environment; there’s a fine line, however, between balance & excess in the world of fashion. I do believe that waste should be avoided at ALL costs (starting with the producers and ending with consumers) – I’d even argue that that’s more important that the actual materials used in producing a garment. It’s about resources, and using them intelligently and as ethically as possible.

Given the recent scandals with H&M throwing out clothing that had been SLASHED so as not to be wearable, and their disclosure that their organic cotton may not have been as organic as they said it was, thoughts and discussion about organic cotton and eco-fashion have set the blogosphere on fire. And I don’t want to be all “I told you so…” but I have always advocated shopping smaller boutiques & designers as opposed to fast fashion or large chain stores EVEN if you’re buying organic cotton clothing. In my mind, buying eco-friendly means buying more than just the item of clothing – you’re also buying into the company and its suppliers. I’m never really that surprised when a gigantic corporation discloses information like this – I almost expect it, which is why I prefer to focus on smaller designers and boutiques who start out and are guided by ethics and concern for resources. The idea that you can purchase organic cotton clothing at H&M or WalMart and that makes you “eco-friendly” is so misguided it’s not even funny…

I don’t mean to rant, but there was way too much shock & awe over recent revelations for my taste

But back to the original statement and title of this blog post: “I don’t think any eco-brand exists.” That’s a quote from SANS designer Lika Volkova from a video about her new “printable patterns” initiative & the idea of eco-friendly clothing in general. It provides absolutely brilliant insight into what it means to be an eco-friendly designer and the use of resources in the fashion industry. (Thanks so much to makool loves you for introducing this on her blog today.)

Her argument is essentially that as a designer, because you’re producing things, using up resources, you can’t possibly be eco-friendly. I don’t agree with that 100%, but there is a significant amount of truth to what she says. It would simply not be possible for all the producers to stop producing, not even for a small amount of time; economies would collapse, and nothing would be accomplished. It’s much more about using resources ethically and intelligently so as not to produce WASTE along with a product that’s important. And that is where the challenge lies: it’s relatively easy for a designer to just say, okay, I’m going to work only with organic cotton. But that does not an eco-friendly designer make. The hard part is deciding to work with hemp, to find uses for scraps, to makes smaller batches, to pay fair wages, and so on.

Please take a few minutes to watch the video if you haven’t yet – it’s really valuable. I love that Lika puts her money where her mouth is with her printable patterns and very unique designs. I don’t think anyone could argue against the fact that if you were to print out one of her patterns and create it yourself with a conventional cotton fabric it would be much more friendly towards the environment than buying organic cotton or even hemp clothing from a larger outlet. (I also just love to hear her talk) And she makes some very interesting points about “making things” for yourself and that being enough. This really hit home for me, as I’m wanting very much to get back into needlework and sewing and “making things” myself…

Do you think there’s such a thing as an “eco-brand?” What does it take for a designer to be eco-friendly in your opinion?

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I’m so excited to present this guest post today by Brad from Commerce with a Conscience. I don’t do much shopping for men’s fashion items – my fiance isn’t interested in fashion, or shopping outside of Macy’s – so I asked Brad if he would do a simple post on Men’s ethical fashion to get some ideas on what’s out there. I love the look he put together – so perfect for Fall….

Aimed towards a new generation of socially conscious, yet aesthetically minded, men, Commerce with a Conscience (CwaC) is focused on stylish, affordable, sustainably and ethically produced men’s clothing and accessories. Striving to dispel the widely held dreadslocks / Birkenstocks / trust fund and smug sense of self satisfaction image of the modern environmentalist, CwaC highlights brands and products that make it possible to stay on-trend without any moral sacrifice, or overdrawn bank accounts. Guys can get their news from Treehugger, but take their style cues from The Sartorialist. CwaC explains how.

Clockwise from left:

• Steven Alan Reverse Seam Organic Shirt

  100% organic cotton

  Made in USA

  Best Price: $129.00 (PRE-SHIPPING) at Steven Alan

• ICU Eyewear Classic Recycled Reader

  100% recycled lenses, frames, hinges and details

  Responsibly made in Taiwan

  Best Price: $22.95 (PRE-SHIPPING) at ICU Eyewear

• Kuyichi Caddy Cardi

  100% organic cotton

  Fair Trade made in Hong Kong

  MADE BY trackable

  Best Price: ~ $132.00* (SHIPPED) at Adili

  *Price is listed in Pounds, so the exact cost will be dependent on the day’s exchange rates.

• Tanner Goods Waxed Canvas Tote

  Eco-friendly waxed cotton

  Vegetable tanned leather

  Handcrafted in USA

  Best price: $195.00 (SHIPPED) at Tanner Goods

• Terra Plana Wittgenstein Boot

  Vegetable tanned leather uppers

  Vegetable Tanned leather sole

  Made in Portugal

  Best price: $250.00 (SHIPPED) at Terra Plana

• Nudie Jeans Grim Tim Dry Dirt Organic

  100% organic cotton

  Low-impact dyes

  Made in Italy

  Best Price: ~ $127.00* (SHIPPED) at Dogfish

  *Price is listed in Pounds, so the exact cost will be dependent on the day’s exchange rates.

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To wrap-up eco-beauty week, here’s a wonderful post by Stancie Wilson of Fig+Sage on her personal favorite beauty products (I’m totally trying all of them…)

Stancie Wilson is an avid researcher who’s passionate about organics and the personal care industry and is eagle-eyed when it comes to ingredients. She’s not a hippie or treehugger (though nothing wrong with that), she’s a working woman with a full-time career in the communications industry who loves spreading the word about truly pure and stylish products, helping educate others about the dangers of toxic ingredients and hopes to help others dicifer products that are greenwashed and those that are truly green.

She’s Co-Founder and Editor of the popular blog, Fig+Sage™ [www.figandsage.com] which won the 2009 Top Blog Award named one of the “Best Blogs By Women” by Blogtrepreneur, is featured in Alltop and was recently awarded Blog Pick Of The Day by RedOrbit. Gaining rapid popularity since its inception in March ‘08 is no surprise given its honest and refreshing voice in a sea of “crunchy” green blogs. It is the go-to online resource for discovering hip organic and fresh eco finds with a heavy emphasis on organic beauty.

Stancie is also Beauty and Fashion Editor for Feelgood Style [www.feelgoodstyle.com] and was the first to be awarded the ‘Eco-Friendly Expert Maven’ title by ThisNext.com last year where her recommendations are followed by millions of shoppers.

If you’re like most consumers its likely you’re overwhelmed at the sheer number of brands claiming this and that when it comes to natural and organic beauty.  At times you may even feel like a deer in headlights with so many options and claims being hurled your direction by savvy marketers.  Its important to remember there are brands who have a genuine passion for creating products with both performance and purity in mind and as one who has tried, tested, slathered, smoothed and used countless natural and organic beauty products, I’m  going to share with you some of my favorites, those shining stars that are now amongst my absolute must-haves, most of which are in my makeup bag right now.

 Intelligent Nutrients Anti-Aging Serum:

Its not often that I’m absolutely blown away by an entire skin care range, but this one does just that and its my #1 favorite (of the hundreds I’ve tried) at the moment.  Its no surprise really, considering Horst Rechelbacher is the brain behind this brilliant brand. He founded Aveda back in 1978, sold it to Estee Lauder in 2005 and is now the founder/formulator/visionary behind these USDA and Soil Association certified products, that prove “organic luxury” is not an oxymoron. I use just 1-2 drops for my entire face (including under eyes and eyelids), neck and décolleté.  If you have really dry skin, you’ll benefit from applying this before your moisturizer, but I just use the I.N. Serum at night and the I.N. Moisture in the morning.  Looking in a mirror in the morning can be scary, but I actually really look forward to it after I’ve used this serum.  Pores appears smaller, redness is gone and if there were any blemishes they have either vanished completed or on their way to recovery.  And I love the smell of this – fresh and herbal.  First glance at the price tag may raise eyebrows but considering how long this will last (approx. 6-8 months) and how your skin will adore it, its a total bargain.  In last months issue, Lucky Mag’s Beauty Editor raved about this serum, writing “there’s nothing better”.  In case you want to try it out before dropping a good amount of cash, the only places I know that offer samples sizes of Intelligent Nutrients are Spirit Beauty Lounge and The Nature Of Beauty. 

Organic Wear Mascara:

When it comes to natural mascara, its not easy finding one without synthetics and petroleum, but its even more difficult to find one that stays put.  After trying numerous brands, I became discouraged and went back to using a conventional brand because I just couldn’t live with the (mascara-induced) dark circles that natural/organic mascaras were leaving under my eyes.  So when I stumbled into the cosmetics aisle at my local drugstore and saw the Physician’s Formula Organic Wear display, I instantly reached for the mascara to put it to the test.  I was so surprised to discover that it didn’t smudge at all and provided good volume.  And I’m not the only one, this past June I was on a panel of natural beauty experts and we voted that this is one of the best natural mascaras out there.  If you’re concerned about spending money, not sure about whether you’ll like it, I found this rebate form where you can try for free until the end of this year! 

Dr. Alkaitis Travel Kit:

Once you’ve used this organic “skin food” there’s really no questioning why its a celebrity fave (this past Spring Gisele Bündchen revealed his eye cream was one of her must-haves).  When I interviewed Dr. Saul Alkaitis last year he indicated that celebs endorse other lines because there’s money in it but they use his products because they work. Dr. Alkaitis blends his extensive scientific knowledge of plants with a holistic way of healing the skin to create powerful products that are as pure as they are potent.  All products are created in small batches in-house, including the extracts, and all are formulated and manufactured by Dr. Alkaitis (not outsourced like many brands do). They’re biologically active, made from raw, organic ingredients with a base of organic aloe vera, not water (like most lines). And products are no more than two weeks old when shipped. This kit will give you a good sense of most of the products and many will last 2-3 weeks.

RMS Beauty Living Luminizer:

After celebrity makeup artist, Rose-Marie Swift’s health began to decline she started to began to discover that many of the beauty products she was using daily – both on herself and the models she was beautifying, were contributing to her illness.  She launched Beauty Truth to bring awareness to these dangers and educate others about toxins that can lurk in conventional beauty products and last year she launched her own organic cosmetics line, RMS Beauty.  The Living Luminizer is the stand-out product and one you’ll not be able to resist once you try it.  It lightens, brightens and provides a gorgeous, luminous glow wherever applied.  During my interview with Dr. Alkaitis, I discovered this is the only cosmetic line that he endorses. And when I interviewed Jessa Blades (Founder of Blades Natural Beauty) who was featured in Glamour Magazine’s March issue as one of 70 eco-minded women who are making a difference (and last month on the TODAY show), she shared this is one of her must-haves as well.  One of her secrets to making models who have partied to hard or didn’t get enough sleep the night before a photo shoot is to mix Living Luminizer with concealer and apply under the eyes for an instant pick-me-up. 

NVEY ECO Moisturizing Foundation:

 Providing a flawless finish and lovely glow, this gorgeous organic foundation hydrates while it heals.  It may also be added to moisturizer if your goal is more of a sheer look.  Calendula and chamomile mix with soothing cucumber and Rose Absolute to address dry and sensitive skin and natural pigments provide ample coverage.  NVEY ECO makeup is Organic Food Chain Certified Organic and Australian Government Certified. Olivia Wilde, model, actress and star of the hit TV show ‘House’ and Victoria’s Secret Angel, Miranda Kerr are said to be big fans of this foundation. Arriving in the U.S. just a few years ago, NVEY ECO is the eco child of its parent company, NVEY Le Maquillage, with nearly 50 years as a cosmetics leader in Australia. 

Alima Pure Eyeshadow:

This brand offers beautiful mineral makeup that doesn’t contain skin irritants or suspect ingredients that can lurk in many products claiming to be ‘natural’.  The luxurious mineral pigments they use can be beneficial to the skin providing subtle reflective properties, sun protection and anti-inflammatory benefits. Alima Pure went a step further than most brands and had their products certified natural by BDIH.  The silky smooth colors blend beautiful on skin and currently I’m loving the Zen Garden Collection.  I also admire their efforts to reduce waste which is why I love their Jar Return Program where you can send them your empty jars and they will recycle (not reuse) them and reward you with a free eyeshadow of your choice on your next order. 
Right now all Alima eyeshadows are 20% off for a limited time at www.alimapure.com.  This year Alima Pure cosmetics have been featured in NYLON, Natural Solutions, Real Simple and Natural Health magazines.  

Pangea Organics Lip Balm:

 With a desire for businesses to become more conscious of their decisions and aware of their impact on the earth, after being prompted by a friend, founder Joshua Onysko decided to fund his dream of a learning center (Pangea Institute) with soap sale profits.  With an “Always Beneficial, Never Artificial” mantra, today he is doing just that; laying the financial foundation for a non-profit that will teach entrepreneurs and small businesses all aspects of sustainable living and business practices.  As a lip balm addict and self-professed lip balm connoisseur, Pangea’s Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange lip balm tops my faves list since its ultra-hydrating, tastes fresh and isn’t thin or greasy (one of my lip balm pet peeves).  The size of this tube is larger than average so it will last a lot longer.  Click here for a coupon to get $4 off (expires 3/2010). 

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This is a guest post by Jennine at THE COVETED. About Jennine:

Born and raised in California, Jennine’s always had a sense of adventure, spending most of her youth traveling and wearing many hats, art, design, and dressing up. Ok… nothing’s changed. It was only a matter of time before she discovered blogging, a way to connect and share all the beautiful things life has to offer. Jennine graduated from the London College of Communications, an experience which still influences everything about The Coveted, from the design of the blog to the quest for international style. In her spare time, she loves eating candy and running in the forest. Jennine is also the founder of Independent Fashion Bloggers, a resource and community of fashion bloggers.

Aside from not buying anything, buying vintage and used clothing is the greenest option for adding to your wardrobe. Although eco-friendliness is a motivator, and to tell the truth, it does weigh a factor in my head when buying clothing… I did not start out shopping vintage to save the planet.

My love affair with vintage started out in high school, then, it still wasn’t ‘cool’ to shop at Goodwill, but I just couldn’t afford to buy new with my part-time $4.25/hour minimum wage job. My friends and I would hit up Purple Heart Thrift and DAV for these crazy dresses under a dollar. I loved it, but as time passed my taste changed and my reasons for buying vintage changed…

The following questions/tips depict the process I go through when shopping:

1. Does it fit?

Shopping vintage clothing is a lot of fun, but isn’t always the easiest… unlike new clothing, where they have one desgin in several sizes, you pretty much have to match your size and what you like and they don’t always go together. I always like to err on the side of too big, becuase then they can be altered to my size. Vintage pieces are often a much higher quality than what you will find today. Many pieces are hand stitched using beautiful fabrics. But everything deteriorates. Some older pieces will tear easier than their contemporary counterparts. If something doesn’t fit properly (meaning, when you are breathing normally) it may give you problems. Up through the 70’s women wore Foundation Garments under their clothes. They were mostly used to hold up stockings and to give an hourglass shape. That’s how they were able to achieve such a silhouette. Go easy on yourself, besides, there is always Spanx.

When buying online, most vintage is sold measured flat, as sizes change through the years. It’s probably a good idea to measure flat some clothes that fit you well, and keep those measurements as a reference while you shop online.

2. Check zippers, buttons, seams, is everything working? Are there any stains, tears, weird smells?

A broken zipper can be fixed by a tailor, most dry cleaners can do it, or if you are a crafty one, then great. Factor that into the price, the amount of repairs or work that has to be done. As for smells, I’m not good at that, once I bought a cool army jacket, and I didn’t know until I got home that it reaked. Dry cleaning didn’t help, it was like a Seinfeld episode. The jacket had to go.

3. Picking pieces you are going to wear.

Unless you are a collector, buying dresses you’ll never wear is just a waste of money. I know lots of women who wear vintage in a very inconspicuous way. How they do it, is they look for elements that tie in with current trends. Blazers, high waisted trousers, crop tops, floral dresses, sequined anything are all things you’ll find at a thrift store, or a vintage shop quite easily, and for a fraction of what you’ll find them for new. I pretty much wear vintage every day, but it’s mostly integrated with new items so I don’t look too costumey.

4. Think out of the box

The great thing about thrifted and vintage clothing is beause of the lower cost, they make great DIY projects. A boring black tank top can be brought to date by adding a couple of rows of fringe. A long floral dress that looks matronly at mid calf length can be easily hemmed into a mini dress. Some purists don’t like to alter vintage clothing, but I feel that altering is very much the spirit of vintage clothing. My grandmother always altered her clothes to be more up to date, and she got more wears out of them too. You don’t always have to alter either… Last year I came across a pair of tye die, wide legged pedal pushers. These were so big, there would be no way they’d ever fit me. But I loved the tie dye and the weight of the fabric (rayon was very popular i the late 80′s)… so what did I do? I could actually fit in one leg of the dress, and it became a one-sleeve asymetrical dress. I’ve also been known to turn clothes upside down an backwards to see how they change. Play around, it’s amazing how clothes can easily transform.

Most of all, It’s important to find clothes you are happy with. When you’re happy with what you’re wearing, it shows. Developing an eye takes time and practice, have fun, the best part about vintage clothing is finding your hidden treasures.

Some of Jennine’s vintage treasures:

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After seeing this piece on milk fabric designer Mr. Larkin on EcoStiletto and this observation about the eco-friendliness of using milk to make fabric on Seed & Sew, I really need to vent LOL!

How, exactly, is milk fiber eco-friendly? Seriously? Just being an “alternative” fabric, doesn’t automatically make it eco-friendly. As with bamboo, just making a fabric from something other than cotton doesn’t make it better for the environment – it depends on many other factors like how the original material is grown and the process used to break down the fibers and ultimately create the fabric. Bamboo is not always grown organically, and it is most often chemically processed – making it only marginally better than conventional cotton, a far cry from organic cotton. But I digress…we’re talking about milk.

How could milk fabric be considered eco-friendly?

• One company, Cyarn, that produces milk fabric uses an new “bio-engineering” process to manufacture the “protein spinning fluid suitable for a wet spinning process” and have been certified Oeko-Tex Standard 100 green certification, which apparently means that it is free of “chemicals which are known to be harmful to health.”
• Milk products/fabrics are considered more biodegradable
• It could use raw materials that would otherwise be discarded – not milk for human consumption – although there’s no significant evidence of that
• There are also claims that producing milk fiber doesn’t use as much energy or produce as much waste as conventional cotton

But…what is glaringly missing from all the considerations above are that on a large scale, the dairy/cattle industry is one of the most destructive industries to our environment. Besides contributing to greenhouse gases, cattle eat grains that could be used to feed humans, and dairy farming is an inefficient use of water. Companies that are producing milk fabric are only riding on the coattails of the dairy farming industry, they’re not big enough to influence it, but in using the materials produced by that industry, they are contributing to the continual degradation of the environment resulting from it.

On a personal note though, as a vegan, I choose not to consume dairy products, so I’m sure not going to wear them. I cannot sustain an industry that keeps milk cows pregnant constantly to get a consistent flow of milk and then takes away their calves within days; it is un-natural and exceptionally cruel. Besides that, milk from cows was meant to feed cows, not humans!!! I wouldn’t necessarily be averse to a dairy farm where cows were “naturally” milked and allowed to raise their calves, going on about a normal life, but that could be done only on a very small scale…and it would drive the cost of milk fabric up even higher than it is already (it is very expensive).

I’m not convinced. Milk fabric may be an alternative to conventional cotton, but THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT ECO-FRIENDLY. My opinion is that the environmental impact of the dairy industry and inhumane treatment of dairy cows completely negates any positive affect. I’ll stick to my organic cotton, thank you.

**I don’t mean to call-out Mr. Larkin specifically, other designers/companies are using milk fabric. Mr. Larkin is generally an eco-friendly designer, using organic cotton and producing locally. And her designs are PHENOMENAL. I do call out EcoStiletto though; this kind of feature without supporting information (why exactly $700 dresses made from milk are eco-friendly) contributes to greenwashing and overall ignorance about what eco-fashion REALLY is.

What do you think? Would you wear milk?

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Juicy Couture Faux Fur Jacket

’tis the season for warm winter coats and the resurgence of fur-as-fashion. I’m not going to be a hypocrite and say I’d never wear an animal – I wear leather shoes and carry leather bags. But I do draw the line at wearing pieces that LOOK like animals, or like they belong on an animal; they definitely do not belong on me. Fur is also not my style, and honestly, I am usually repulsed by fur coats, and shocked by the tackiness of fur-trimmed bags (and shoes). Sorry. I just don’t get it.

BUT. I also don’t get faux fur. I’m not really into “faux” anything: as a vegan, I don’t want faux “chicken” fingers, I prefer vegan handbags that are made from innovative materials, not necessarily those made to LOOK like leather, and don’t even get me started on faux/FAKE handbags – ick. I do understand that many people like the look and feel of fur/faux fur, and many others also look to faux fur as an eco-friendly alternative to fur. But is it really?

The short answer is yes: it takes much more energy to raise an animal for it’s fur than it does to produce faux fur for a coat. And ethically-speaking, faux fur does not require the large scale torture and murder of millions of animals in the name of fashion. BUT, faux fur IS FAUX. It’s essentially plastic – most faux fur is made from acrylic fiber, which is synthetic, and made from petrochemicals/plastic. Sure, it’s not the same thing as ingesting plastic via plastic water bottles or food storage containers, but I’d rather wear natural fibers like cotton, hemp, or lyocell. When you consider how the acrylic fiber is made, and then what happens when it’s discarded and ends up in a landfill (nothing? how long does it take for acrylic fiber to break down?), faux fur doesn’t seem so environmentally friendly after all.  And there have also been reports that fur labeled as “faux” isn’t always – sometimes it actually contains dog hair.

Of course, it’s all relative, and yes, faux fur is MORE eco-friendly than real fur by a long shot, but it is NOT eco-friendly in and of itself unless you can find faux fur that’s made from organic cotton. And after all my research, the only organic cotton faux fur I’ve found is by Loyale – one of our very favorite eco-friendly clothing designers. Loyale’s Costilla Jacket is a consistent best-seller and 100% organic cotton faux fur.  They also have a super-luxurious organic cotton faux fur throw:

Loyale Organic Cotton Faux Fur Jacket

Loyale Organic Cotton Faux Fur Throw

You could also consider Patagonia’s Synchilla® collection – it’s not exactly billed as faux fur, but it does have the look and cozy feel. It IS made from polyester fleece (a synthetic material), but it is also recyclable, which means (theoretically) it doesn’t have to end up in a landfill.

Patagonia Synchilla Collection

More excellent resources:
The Eco-Ethics of Fur
A Furry Issue

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It matters where your clothing is made, and who you buy it from…

Why buy Locally?

1
Buying locally reduces overall shipping costs: the cost in fuel, energy, and time (as well as money) shipping long distances requires. Shipping long distances requires more fuel, releases more toxicity into our air, and takes more time, which makes the overall costs of shipping long distances much higher than the dollar value indicates in my opinion. Think first of the time/money/energy it takes to ship an item from a factory in China, to a warehouse in the US, to a department store, and then to you. Alternatively, what if you bought directly from the manufacturer/designer who produces in your city, or your country? There’s no “middle-man” involved; you’re paying the exact cost that the designer/producer incurs to ship you the item, AND the overall costs in fuel, energy, and time are much lower. You may actually be paying the same dollar amount on shipping for items coming from farther away (or even getting “free” shipping), but when you take into account fuel consumption and environmental impact of flying something halfway around the world, and then making two more stops before it even gets to you, you’re really paying MUCH more.

2
Buying locally supports your community: Local designers and businesses invest in their communities by providing jobs, building infrastructure and participating in local events/charities. And the money you spend at an independent business in your community circulates longer IN your community than the same amount of money you would spend at a big-box chain. Local business owners have a vested interest in keeping their community clean and inviting, and many support local environmental initiatives.

3
Personal interaction with designers/business owners: Know who you’re buying from. Most of the time when you enter a small boutique or independently-owned shop, you’ll run into the owner there working. Business owners take tremendous pride in their operations and enjoy interacting with their customers – we, the customers, are important to them individually. Every sale makes a difference to a small business owner, and it is in their interest to provide not only the products you want, but excellent customer service to go along with it. Especially if they’re selling eco-friendly products, they probably care about the same issues you do, and are actively working towards making those changes; I definitely want to support that!

How can you buy locally?

1
Shop within your community from business owners who sell products made in your community, or at least in your country. Use websites like GenGreenLife to find local eco-friendly businesses.

2
Shop from local designers who also source locally – ask them where their clothing is manufactured, as well as where & from whom they purchase the components

3
Shop Online – search for local designers online and buy directly from them (shopping online doesn’t expend any fuel…or spew toxic fumes into the air either…). Even if the designer isn’t local to YOU, as long as they’re based in your same country, buying from them is much better than buying a mass-produced tee shirt manufactured in China.

**note about buying locally: buying locally from small, independent designers or sole proprietors is going to be more expensive. Period. As I’ve mentioned before, buying from independent designers is more expensive because they don’t produce in the quantities big fashion houses do, and many of their items are handmade, thereby increasing their costs to produce. Same goes for buying from locally-owned stores & suppliers. My answer for this, is to simply BUY LESS. If want you want to buy costs more (monetarily), buy less of it. It is not good for the environment, OR your wallet in the long run to buy a lot of trendy, low quality, fast fashion from Forever21, or cheap t-shirts that were made under questionable circumstances.  Instead buy a $42 top that’s made in California, sweat-shop free, from organic cotton, designed by a mom of two. It will definitely last longer, and you’ll KNOW that you did the right thing.

Resources for buying locally:
etsy – search for designers in your city. Everything is handmade.
Petaline – a GREAT indie-boutique carrying designers from the Pacific Northwest
Supermarket – smaller than etsy, but very similar with many of the same designers.
Also, check our list of shopping links and search through our Designer List for local designers & boutiques.

There are also some exceptions to buying locally if you want to foster small business development in under-developed countries like Madagascar or Kenya, but for the most part, I still believe that buying closer to home is better for our environment, AND our communities.

PS…what do you think? share your thoughts and leave a comment!!

PSS…have you entered our Matt & Nat giveaway yet?? enter now if you’re an addict like me

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