The greenest clothes, of course, are those that you already own (or that have been pre-owned by someone else.) We’re lucky to have a great selection of consignment stores in the area that sport everything from kids’ clothing to vintage garments to name brand designs. (See page 11 for a list of places).
Clothing swaps (where friends get together to exchange items they no longer wear) provide yet another way to give your duds new life and pick up some fresh ones in the process.
But if you’re looking for some new threads, here’s some information to help you make more environmentally friendly choices about the most widely available fabrics on the market today.
Organic cotton: Conventional cotton farming accounts for 10% of total agricultural chemical usage in the U.S. and 25% of insecticide use worldwide. While organics still make up less than 1% of worldwide cotton production, the good news is that it’s becoming easier to find clothing and home goods made from organic cotton.
Hemp: The availability of hemp fashions has increased significantly in recent years. Hemp is naturally resistant to pests and therefore can be grown with little to no pesticides. It’s also a remarkably strong fiber that offers durability with the look and feel of linen.
Bamboo: Long renowned for its green qualities, bamboo requires little pesticides, naturally regenerates and grows remarkably fast (up to a foot a day as those of us with bamboo in our yards can attest!). It is incredibly soft and is often compared in feel to cashmere. However, the process used to turn the plant into clothing is sometimes not so friendly, which has given rise to calls for a certification process.
Wool, linen and other natural fibers: While not as widely available as organic cotton, you can also find organic wool, linen and flax clothing. With or without the organic certification, these natural fiber options are preferable to synthetic fibers that release hazardous chemicals during the manufacturing process.
SeaCell: A relative newcomer to the green clothing world is a fabric called SeaCell that is most common in undergarments and bedding. Made from a blend of wood pulp and seaweed, it is purported to release healthy minerals into the skin when it’s worn. More testing is needed to find out if these claims are true, but SeaCell is certified by the European “Eco-Label.”
Recycled fibers: Some companies have been making polyester from recycled soda bottles, keeping plastics out of the waste stream. Patagonia has developed a system for not only making clothing from recycled plastic, but also recycling the clothing itself when it reaches the end of its life cycle.
So where’s the best place to find them?
For the best selection of eco-friendly clothing options in Portland, try A-Wear, Butterfly Baby (children’s), Ferdinand, The Happy Yogi and Nomads. In Freeport, check out the Patagonia outlet, and in Brunswick go to Morning Glory Natural Foods. Maine-owned Cuddledown (with an outlet in Freeport) carries a line of organic cotton and bamboo towels and sheets, as do some department stores. And if you’ve got a copy of the SunriseGuide, be sure to check out the coupons for many of these stores that can help save you some money in the process.
Heather Chandler is the publisher of the SunriseGuide, a local resource guide and coupon book about healthy & eco-friendly living in Southern Maine. Go to www.thesunriseguide.com.