Dress Green in 3 Ways

By: Melinda Toussaint

For most of us shopping for clothes is fun but can also be very frustrating; between trying things on, waiting in line, and well the all around pesky customer service. But when we do find that perfect outfit, handbag, or pair of shoes…what are we really paying for? How can we know that this item wasn’t made by a 14-year-old girl that works for 15 hours without so much as a bathroom break? How can we know that a farmer didn’t get an unfair price for his goods? How can we know that our favorite t-shirt didn’t pollute the environment by the chemicals used to dye it? The answer is easy… research! Take the time to find out where your clothes are coming from and take a stand against injustices.

The first step is to stand up against sweatshops. Sweatshops are harsh work environments in which the people are treated poorly for very little pay. Companies use sweatshops for cheap labor and therefore a huge profit. But we need to take a stand against companies using them by boycotting their clothes. Send the company an email saying that until they change their process you will not wear their clothes. Encourage your friends and family to do the same. If enough people boycott, the CEO’s in their big expensive offices will have to reconsider their practices. Visit www.sweatshopwatch.org and join the fight against sweatshops.

Boycotting sweatshops is only the first step. Start purchasing clothes that are supporting the green fight. Make sure the materials used to make the things in your closet are organic but are also constructed organically (which means that no harsh chemicals, pesticides, or dyes that pollute the environment were used). Once upon a time organic fabrics/clothes were expensive and hard to come by but now many companies are going green including H&M and Victoria’s Secret, but that’s not all. Visit the following sites for more organic buys: -www.sweatfree.org; -www.nosweatapparel.com; www.americanapparel.com

The last step is to support companies that use Fair Trade. Fair Trade ensures that the farmers get a fair price for the goods they supply and are treated equally. For awhile now the main focus of Fair Trade products were chocolate and coffee, but with your help hopefully clothes can become a big focus as well. So the next time you are shopping take a look at the labels. If it has the “Fair Trade Certified” label opt for that one; you might be paying more money but that money is helping better people’s lives. So you can feel good about that! Visit www.transfairusa.org and click on “Fair Trade in Stores” to find out just how many fair-trade-products are at your local store.

If you have taken a look at all these sites I encourage you to check out one more: www.factorygreen.com. Factory Green was started by two college guys wanting to make a difference in the world. They have created an eco and fashion-forward clothing line that brings green to the highest level. They make everything from an organic t-shirt to a clutch made from candy wrappers to a watch made out of an old basketball. All of their products are made from recycled materials and are shipped using recycled cardboard and packing peanuts; even their shipping label is on recycled paper. But that’s not all… all of their products are “Fair Trade Certified”! So go ahead and order a cool organic tee for only $10. You’ll be supporting a company on the cutting edge of green clothing and whenever you wear it you’ll know that you are protecting the Earth and that is a feeling better than any designer label can provide!