Clothes Shopping
I am a huge fan of capsule wardrobes, which are a small collection of a few essential items that do not go out of fashion. I realize this is not for everyone, but no matter what our personal style or philosophy, we will all need clothes. Here are some eco-friendly green options. Not everyone (me included) can afford the ticket price for some of these eco-friendly brands but consignment can be a great alternative option. You can search for the brands you love with ethical guidelines that align with your own.
REUSABLE BAGS TO BE USED FOR ALL SHOPPING
It is important to remember your reusable bags for all shopping outings.
Tote - Plastic Free - We always get lots of compliments on this canvas tote, we have it in natural and black.
CONSIGNMENT
Thredup - This online consignment company has worked great for me and my kids. Luckily, like me my kids dislike shopping so we can have the clothes shipped to our home and if they don’t like them then we can send them back. They also offer free shipping on the CLEAN OUT bags so you can clean out your closet frequently and send clothes to them for consignment - the return is poor but the service is HUGE! The packaging is all very green and eco-friendly, a win win!!
Poshmark - This is an online site for people selling from their closet. Poshmark monitors the sale and makes sure you are happy with the transaction. If you know exactly what you want it works great but there are no returns unless the item is not as described.
eBay - A good source for used clothing and discounted prices. The downside is items are usually mailed with way too much plastic and packaging.
ECO FRIENDLY CLOTHING RETAILERS
Alternative Apparel - Sustainable materials, socially responsible, casual activewear.
Eileen Fisher - Eco-friendly clothing retailer.
Nudie Jeans - This company uses “raw” denim, that does not utilize water to distress the jeans. The company guarantees their organic cotton jeans will last forever! They also offer their customers discounts for recycling their products so they can be made into new products.
Patagonia - Fair-trade, recycled materials and organic cotton for much of its line. They offer a repair-and-reuse program to extend the life of clothing. Patagonia also accepts back all Patagonia products for recycling.
Prana - Sustainable, quality, cute clothing.
Stella McCartney - Eco-friendly, cruelty-free, sustainable clothing line.
Toad&Co - Sustainable, eco-friendly clothing great for the casual dresser. This is my favorite company for coats!!
Threads 4 Thought - Sustainably produced, recycled materials.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES & CAUSES
It is always admirable to support local businesses, but be cautious of impulse buys that regrettably fill our closets and drain our wallets. Looking for products that are produced cruelty free with sustainable fibers can lessen our impact. Another way to exercise your purchasing power it to support causes through your purchases.
Blue Planet Society - A UK based environmental campaign to end over-exploitation of world’s oceans by offering clothing and totes made of organic cotton.
FLOAT | For Love Of All Things - A new breed of company promoting socially, environmentally and globally conscious consumerism.
ARTICLES | PODCASTS
6 Places To Buy Eco-Conscious Summer Shoes | Marissa Higgins | GreenMatters | June 2019
10 Eco-Friendly Clothing Brands That Care Deeply About Our Planet | The Good Trade
Patagonia | Yvon Chouinard | NPR | December 25th, 2017
The Ultimate Guide To The Top 25 Sustainable Brands To Try in 2019 | Thredup | March 15th, 2019