Fall Fashion: Keeping it Green

Living green is all the rage and women especially have taken to adopting eco awareness in their daily living. As a sustainability consultant introducing sustainability concepts to living a green/ sustainable lifestyle, it makes sense to look for different ways to integrate eco awareness into your life. The most impactful areas of our lives are those that we do by habit. Take for instance, your clothes.

A common question from our lady clients is how to live green and dress green? Frequently expressed is a concern of how to dress with eco awareness yet not compromise on fashion, quality, or personal style. As green living consultant and professional consultant in business, I can relate and offer some suggestions.

First, use what is in your closet! If you don't wear it, donate it or recycle it in some way.
When shopping, remember to keep sustainability concepts in mind. Local shops are a great place to start.
Some prefer natural fibers or organic clothing.
Plan your purchases. Is it possible to buy the desired item from fashion designer embracing business sustainability? For instance, a line per se may be an eco friendly design.
Another option is to purchase an item that can be purchased from multiple stores, select to purchase it from a business that embeds sustainability programs in its core business. Wal-Mart. JC Penny, for instance.
Evaluate products on the full lifecycle. That is, your own personal lifecycle. Is this a trendy item or one that goes with only one outfit? Opt for multi outfit items that will last through a couple of seasons. How it will be discarded later? Patagonia offers a take back program.
Consider the care of the garment. If it can be washed in cold water and hung dry, it's a winner. Dry cleaning required? Not such a great option.
When applicable, buy Fair Trade.
Buy products from sustainable sources like bamboo.

As explained in our eco friendly training, there are more and more options becoming available. Here are a few ideas for sprinkling some eco awareness into your wardrobe:

Handbags: a personal favorite for its vibrant colors, Recycled CANDY-WRAPPER handbags
Gretchen and Grace: Dedicated to the environment, Gretchen and Grace Greenwear provide the absolute best in eco-friendly stationery, accessories, and clothing produced with recycled and sustainable materials.
GreenLoop: Greenloop began in 2004 as Aysia Wright's endeavor in market based environmental activism, with the dual goals of using fashion as a vehicle for environmental change and providing a fashion conscious eco apparel shopping resource.

For those on the path of living a sustainable lifestyle, there’s power in leveraging purchases to support credible and sustainable businesses. With business sustainability permeating the fashion world, there are more and more options available to look and feel great while wearing fashionable eco wear.