For those of us who cannot afford $100 organic cotton tees but would like to opt for a conscious friendly wardrobe, it can be quite frustrating. The eco clothing market today seems to run on polar extremes: you either have Haute Hippie – super cute, fashionable, but averaging at $250 per item – or you can get something reasonably priced, but totally boring. Because of this, I have come up with some different buying tips on how to make your closet more conscious friendly without compromising style or price.
First of all, organic products are not the end all to consumer consciousness. Look for where the product is produced, and who is producing it. American based, sweat shop free products are an ethical choice that are becoming more and more readily available these days. Stores such as American Apparel (who owns a manufacturing factory in Los Angeles) offer basic yet fashionable goods at an affordable price point.
Easy Green: American Apparel's organic raglan
Another route is to seek out handmade products. The benefits of handmade products are that they produce a lot less waste and pollution, are generally more biodegradable, and are made to last longer. You’ll find that the price of homemade items tend to be higher, but the better quality, uniqueness and fact that the artist themselves receive a much larger profit per sale is well worth it.
Finally, don’t feel bad if you do need to make purchases that aren’t quite eco friendly. It is better to substitute what you can rather than try an all or nothing life transformation. There’s nothing more of a turnoff than when someone criticizes you for not being completely green in every aspect of your life!
~Maria
PS> look for the grand opening of Bachman’s Sparrow in a few months for affordable, stylish and conscious friendly products.
October 15th, 2009 → 10:31 am @ Maria
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