Tips On Buying Eco-friendly Clothing

These days, it seems like most people are aware of the “eco-friendly” concept. But while green living is a popular buzz phrase and everyone seems to think it's important to get on board with the concept, it is not always that easy to figure out exactly how to do it.

One of the ways to increase the eco-friendly factor in your life is to look for clothes you can buy that are considered environmentally friendly. But it can be hard to sift through all the possibilities and distinguish between which clothes are actually eco-friendly and which ones are just being labeled that way for marketing purposes. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when researching environmentally-friendly clothing purchases:

What fabric are the clothes made out of?

In the past, all-natural fabrics have been associated with hippies, Birkenstocks, boring colours and sometimes uncomfortable, itchy clothes. But not anymore: these days the fashion runways are packed with clothing made from natural, earth-friendly, sustainable and comfortable fabrics, including: bamboo, organic cotton, organic silk, organic wool, soy, hemp silk and tencel, all of which are less taxing on the environment.

What chemicals are used to make and treat the fabric?

Cotton fields are often covered in millions of pounds of pesticides every year, and some studies have shown it takes close to one-third of a pound of chemicals to produce the amount of cotton it takes to make a single t-shirt. Much of these chemicals end up being absorbed into the cotton plant and the environment around it. In addition, bright white might be really “in” during the summer, but did you know that clothes often go through harsh and toxic chemical processes to get them gleaming white? For all of these reasons, it might be better for you to opt for organic, off-white fabrics as an alternative to synthetics and regular cotton. These types of fabrics are also more likely to be recycled because they haven't been chemically altered.

Where was the clothing made?

If you opt for clothing made by a local designer, you don't have to worry about the costs and pollution associated with transporting that clothing from overseas – and you'll be helping your own local economy and environment at the same time. Also, do some investigating and find out whether the clothing was made in sustainable fashion – fair labour practices and environmentally responsible stewardship.

What is the clothing item's reusability factor?

Searching through racks of clothes in a thrift shop takes time and patience, but you can find some great deals and unique items that way. Alternately, you might want to consider borrowing clothing and accessories from friends or loved ones, or even doing a clothing swap where you clean out your closet and then trade items with your friends to freshen up your wardrobe. Also, for special occasions, try not to buy clothing or shoes that you will only be able to wear one time in your life. If you must buy something really fancy, opt for a style that can be altered after the article of clothing has served its special purpose.