What clothes are you wearing today? Plants? Animals? Synthetics? What does it mean for the planet?
Apparently the clothing industry is right after the oil industry for the carbon footprint. Today I went online to buy some clothes for the first time in a long while and found this article:
Even before knowing fully the impact of the fashion industry, I'd already turned to RESALE. One good shop I've found:
Where do you shop for clothes?
Comments
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Cotton and denim.
Love the consignment idea and thread. I buy a lot at consignment and thrift shops. Theres stuill a lot of good use in their items plus they repurpose well. Its really where I get most of my clothing.
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I pretty much only wear cotton and leather.,,, sometimes a felt hat. I prefer vintage clothes and always buy second hand shoes/boots. Like used cars, barely used, near mint shoes sell for a fraction of what they do new.
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Just bought 2 pairs of jeans today. Total $ spent: $6.39. Sunday and Monday are half off specific tag colors at Goodwill. Jeans for women are $5.99 a pair. I work on a factory floor and am not going to spend big money on jeans to wear to work.
I recently bought a 12 pack of new cotton military surplus t-shirts in plain black for $35.
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Sunday and Monday are cent day for the right color band at good will. I get a bagfull on those days. And .39 cents for housewares so it a great day to pick up crafting supplies.
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I highly dislike polyester. It dislikes me too, so its mutual. Synthetics are not my friend.
Cotton is much nicer, however, I do wonder about the GMO/spray damage to the areas its grown in. Nothing seems to be without some cost/trade off anymore if you take the time to research it.
We live on second hand things and if it is clothing, it is often worn until it is well "air conditioned," especially through this past year...things were extended even further. When it goes past that, it becomes rags or whatever else fits its leftover usefulness.
The animals don't care what we wear...unless it is a rooster that is surprised by something new to them or unexpected, like a bright safety vest during hunting season. 🙄 I guess that's a bit alarming!
I really have no idea what the latest and greatest fashion or the popular gadgety things are, and often I don't even give it a second thought.
I really like supporting the MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) Thrift Stores over any of the other second hand places. The money isn't lining a rich man's pockets or funding his mansions like one huge for profit (advertised as non) second hand chain, but the money goes toward helping those in need around the world whether it be disasters or otherwise. It is one of the most responsible charitable organizations as far as how they distribute funds if you do a breakdown of where the money goes. These are very important factors in choosing where we shop when its second hand. It is more than just saving money or what cloth is used. It makes a difference locally and abroad and I respect & admire that.
Repurposing used clothing & other things is also important and I know that others on here agree, considering some of the great discussions that have appeared on TGN.
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Acrylic and polyester are not my friends. I prefer cotton, linen, silk, and wool, and most of my clothing is secondhand.
There is a balance between deciding how big our carbon footprint is and having to go naked:)
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I prefer only natural fabrics: cotton, wool, linen, silk. I like knitting, so I buy wool from local sheep farmers. I love linen. With cotton I am more careful as so much exploitation of people and soil is behind, so I check where it is produced as I do not want to support human slavery. Natural silk is not easy to get, but if I see something comfortable first or second hand, I get it.
I wear clothes as long as possible. And then use the cloths for cleaning, wiping, etc.
Fashion as such for me is a means of manipulating people in buying, when people do not need anything new.
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@aprilbbrinkman I’ve been trying to introduce more hemp and bamboo clothing to my wardrobe. Bamboo t-shirts, underwear are long lasting, feel good and absorbent. Hemp pants remind me of linen.
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I've always gravitated towards natural fibers. There are so many beautiful designer garments out there, but it's just not practical. I'd rather do my part to be more sustainable, while also saving money to invest in more important things! I still wear old clothing I've had since I was in high school many years ago, and as I need more clothing in the future, I'll be looking into how I can support the Amish communities around me, by purchasing the clothing they make. I enjoy the challenge of loving and appreciating something for all it is, until it's served it's purpose and cannot be worn any longer. Something fun to do is, instead of going out to retail stores with the intention to shop, you can go with the intention of getting ideas and inspiration... take pictures of designs and styles that you like... then purchase natural fabrics locally, or re-purpose your own fabric from old clothing to design and sew your own "new" clothes! Very fun as a creative girl's night too!
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@happy-trails that would make a fun girls night out. Great idea.
I love to repurpose clothing. The styles they have now just do not appeal to me
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@jodienancarrow this is what I finally decided on: resale silk ware by Tolani and I'll get an organic hemp something or other for gardening the next time around...The small farmer who raises silk worms, I wonder what that kind of life would be like. Anyhow, I'm not buying the super toxic materials again unless for some good reason and it's resale.
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Thank you everyone for educating me on clothing and the natural fibers we can choose. I learned quite a few new things today. I am happy that I learn new things every day. On a documentary I was watching someone mentioned that China adds Teflon to the material. Why would they do that? Does it make the cloth more durable?
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@dipat2005 Wow, I did not know about China adding teflon to the material. So I had to look up why. Its a stain, water and oil repellent.
I learned something too and I don;t thunk I am impressed
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I have been watching for a good ol pair of blue jeans. You know the real denim kind. I have to wear them to work daily and all I seem to be able to find for the last few years are the ever so popular with high school girls around me, skinny jeans. They are fairly comfortable but they wear out and rip fairly easily so I have to replace them almost yearly. Anyone know of a reputable, responsible company that makes good jeans anymore?
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I pretty much live in cotton clothes and my footwear is almost always leather cowboy boots. My boots last for at least a year. I figure those 2 things alone put me in a smaller carbon footprint.
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@lewis.mary.e at this point regarding cotton I will need to buy resale I think as it is just so hard on the planet growing it, I have to say that yes I'm going to be investing in a good pair of boots soon and those will last as long as possible getting them repaired (re-booted if you will) they can last way over a year.
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@gardneto76 the thing I like shopping at your Thredup.coms your Rosses and Marshalls is that there is just so much choice all in one place of great quality, great price resale jeans.
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@aprilbbrinkman thanks I will check them out. I just ordered 1 pair from Deluth Trading as my husband has had a pair from them for 2 years and going strong. I have a Ross’s by me will have to swing by and snoop.
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Great to see so many of you wearing used clothes. I'll add myself to the list. I will occasionally buy a new item and make sure that it will last a long time and matches what I already own. No polyester and I try to stay away from jeans with elastic as they break down way too soon. Wool socks I buy new and shoes I buy new (used shoes and boots are a good way to get fungus infections as I learned from a friend). Linen is my preferred fabric as it dries super fast and is cool in my climate. I have boycotted clothing and shoes from China, Bangladesh, Cambodia and a few other places as they use child labor.
I discovered sugarcane cloth about a year ago and then the shop closed before I could buy anything. It's super soft beautiful material. I was told it doesn't last too long but at least it's biodegradable. I think it would be great for diapers, facecloths, napkins, baby clothes, anything that doesn't need a long lifespan.
Hemp just became "legal" here but restrictions on growing it are pretty extreme. I hope in the coming years we will have hemp fabric.
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@Sharie thank you so much for sharing this! Found this shop online based on your wisdom:
It looks like they use a fabric blend of 20 percent sugar cane! I just learned this even existed today b/c of you. I also found shops on Amazon that sell sugar cane fabric. What a great find. Thanks.
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@gardneto76 even when I was making just completely wacky money as an attorney, I always bought my suits at Ross. I love swooping through Ross. I would never show up to court with the same "suit" as another "suit" LOL. I love the surprises you can come up with at a resale shop. There is a lot of diversity walking down any aisle. One stop shopping too, socks, etc...
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@aprilbbrinkman I had a principal tell me my dress shorts were to short, 3 fingers above the knee. She sent me home to change in the middle of the day, when I lived an hour away. I went to Ross’s for 1.5 hours got several very cute outfits and then out to lunch. Was still way cheaper than the gas to drive my truck all the way home and back. We were state testing, so we had all 6th-8th graders in 1 large room with the teachers circulating around in silence.
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@gardneto76 once I went to work at my own little private law office quite forgetting I had Superior Court in the afternoon. Not enough time to drive all the way back home where I lived I ran over to a local Ross and Ross saved the day. My "suit" in shining armour...😏 I had worn sweats to the office that day. Only time I did it when I forgot about court LOL
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