Sustainable Fashion

Wear Your Green on Your Sleeve

One of the easiest ways to live a sustainable life is to wear it on your sleeve…literally. While the fashion industry has exploded and offers more options than anyone could imagine, it is also creating incredible amounts of waste as the world’s second most polluting industry. The good news is that it is easy and good on your wallet to be a responsible consumer when it comes to fashion. Here’s how!

Dress with less

According to a chief design officer at California closets, the average individual only wears 20% of the clothes in their closet on a regular basis. So why have all those extra clothes cluttering up your closet? Trim your wardrobe and get dressed faster and more fabulously AND have a beautifully streamlined closet. Start here with one of the many resources online to help you declutter,
including:

  • Project 333: This is simple. For a 3-month long season, whittle down your wardrobe to 33 items (not including workout wear or lounge/sleepwear). This site offers free resources to get you going!
  • Cladwell: This company out of Cincinnati believes that “cheap clothes hurt our wallets, the environment, and the workers who make them.” For a monthly or annual fee you have access to their tool that helps you “take control of your wardrobe,” as well as their stylists who will provide recommendations on how to shop, and curate brands to fit your style.

Take care of what you have.

  • By showing your threads some TLC, you give them a longer life. Wash according to label instructions and hang to dry when able. Mend, replace buttons as needed. Take your shoes to be re-soled, have new heels inserted, or polished. Spending $60 on some new soles for your riding boots is cheaper than buying a new pair for several hundred dollars, and you’ll extend their life by years!

  • Be a responsible consumer.

  • Ask or find out where clothing is made, and if they use sustainable practices and materials. Here are 35 ethical, fair trade brands that are fighting the “Fast Fashion” trend..as well as children’s brands.

Buy local – from independent designers and local shops.

  • Dayton is fortunate to have local clothing designers, as well as boutiques with beautiful clothing options. You can also use your voice to tell local shop owners that sustainability is important, and help influence the brands they carry.

Designers:

  • Ellaina Boutique -Sue Bradbury works out of her home studio to sew items just for you.
  • Bahar and Reza – Special occasion designers with Persian influence.

Boutiques Carrying Sustainable Fashion Lines

Be thrifty, and recycle that clothing!

  • On a budget, or looking for something that will be worn for a limited time? Check out resale groups on Facebook, thrift stores, or consignment shops. Got clothing to spare? Don’t throw ANY of it away! Donate your clothing (even nasty stuff) to Goodwill Industries. What cannot be sold will be recycled into industrial wipes or sold to recycling brokers if possible.
  • Tracy’s Sewing Studio – custom design and vintage looks.
  • Needle Ink and Thread
  • Irma’s Alterations – Neighborhood alterations, embroidery and leather work.

Learn more about the environmental impact of the clothing industry here.