Clothes

Disposable clothes have got to go! We've have had it too good for too long. Cheap clothes that is. The average woman 10 ten years ago bought 20 pieces of clothing a year, now we buy 35! Most items purchased under $30 are probably from a sweatshop and apart from that- the true environmental cost has not been factored in either. Now we are becoming more accountable for our pollution (ie. green-house gases emitted right back to the source.) Cheap clothes don't last anyway- you wash them once and that's it, they look crap!

• Buy less and better quality? Maybe? Try not to be caught up in the trends and start looking at quality of the fabric and manufacturing. These will last and look better for longer and they will be unique. Try lay-by.
  
• Buy pre-owned clothes or vintage- this is not for everyone but try op-shopping. You never know what you may find. Some creative types are buying second hand fabrics and re-fashioning (or redeployed) them into master pieces. Check out www.goodone.co.uk
  In the 70's we used to find incredible things- 100% silk nighties- we used to wear as dresses. In Australia our young designers are onto it- so watch out for them. Recently in Sydney, there was an exhibition of sustainable clothing by the Fashion and Textile Department from The University of Technology.
• Have a Ladies, Let's Swap Clothes Party- get a group of friends together and take all your clothes you haven't worn in a couple of years and swap. At least you know who owned them. Saves money too!
  
• Buy clothes manufactured in Australia- if you can, cutting down on transport.
• Buy natural fibres like cotton, linen (flax), wool and silk not synthetic fibres like acrylic, nylon and polyester that are made from oil or coal. Viscose is made from pine trees or petrochemicals. As cotton is often had to grow where rainfall is diminishing try an alternative fibre like hemp or bamboo.
  
• Buy organic natural clothing with natural dyes- these are more expensive than what we are used to paying- but you are supporting a sustainable farming technique. "Organic production uses much less energy than conventional farming, increases carbon sequestration and has much lower externalised environmental cost." says NZ Soil and Health Association spokesman, Steffan Browing. Non-organic cotton is usually grown in a pesticide and herbicide intensive way. For sweatshop free and organic clothing try Fully Stoked.
  

  

• In the near future there will labeling to show the carbon footprint made in the manufacturing and transport of each item.