Green Clothing

You've adopted the green movement as your own, but now you're wondering about your wardrobe.

What is green clothing?

What are the best choices for sustainability?

How do you find green and fair trade fashions?

The greenest clothes are the ones you already have! Although they may not be made of organic cotton or hemp, they're already in your closet or dresser, which means the only energy they require is at laundry time.

Avoid “dry clean only” clothing and look for items that can be washed in cold water. Only wash your clothes when needed … a pair of sweatpants worn for a few hours on a lazy morning probably don't need washed before they're pulled into service again. Line dry your clothing whenever possible. I have clotheslines in the backyard for when the weather cooperates, and another set of lines in the laundry room for our not-so-cooperative Colorado winters. If your clothes feel stiff after line drying, try mixing 1 cap full of liquid fabric softener with one cup of water in a spray bottle. Lightly spray clothes to get rid of the stiffness. If you must wear a dry clean only suit every day, please look into green cleaners. It may cost a bit more, but doesn't use all the toxic chemicals of a traditional dry cleaner.

Shop second-hand stores. Again, these clothes are already out there and you can always get a better quality garment for less than a new one. This allows for new-to-you green clothes, focusing on the second “R” - REUSE.

Look for “union made” labels. It means the people assembling your clothes are making union wages and are protected by the union's demands for safe practices. It also means the people assembling your clothes are NOT children who should be getting the opportunity to go to school or people working for pennies an hour, which makes these ethically green clothes.

$1 from every purchase at CleanSpirited.com is donated to environmental causes!

Choose renewable, organic fabrics such as those made from hemp, cotton, soy and bamboo. If you simply must buy new, look for sustainable fabrics that are made responsibly – without pesticides or artificial dyes.

Choose “fair trade” articles. Fair trade means the people producing the items are paid a living wage for the goods they produce.

Choose timeless pieces that won't end up in a landfill. Today's hottest styles are tomorrow's trash. Buying a traditional cotton shirt that you'll wear for 20 years is preferable to a bamboo shirt that you'll outgrow the style of 3 months from now.

Think about the repair-ability of garments when you're purchasing them. A button, for example, is easy to replace but will you be able to affix a new snap if the original fails? Green clothing is durable and repairable.

Once that favorite tee or pair of jeans is absolutely beyond repair, consider repurposing it. Old shirts (especially your husband's!) make great dust rags and those jeans might make the most comfortable throw pillow ever.

Once your clothes have passed their usefulness, please consider recycling them. If you don't know where to recycle clothes in your community, please try contacting your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. Either may know where these services are available.

Don't stop at clothes. Use the same guidelines for bedding. Organic cotton is a great choice for sheets and pajamas, as is bamboo.

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