How to Dress Eco-Friendly!

Okay so we are becoming more eco-friendly in our home decor and functionality of our houses, but have we thought about what we are putting on our bodies everyday? Our skin absorbs everything, from the pollution in the air to the creams we put on our skin, so are we aware of what our bodies are absorbing from the clothes we wear? There are more and more companies transforming their clothes to be more eco-friendly, right down to your footwear. "El Naturalista's Recyclus line uses recycled materials to create beautiful, sustainable footwear. According to Students for Sustainability (a partnership between The David Suzuki Foundation, The Sierra Youth Coalition and the Canadian Federation of Students) the environmental footprint of the shoe industry is sizable: North Americans throws out millions of pairs of shoes every year. Many of the adhesives used in shoe production contain the solvent toluene, highly toxic to the environment and the health of workers. And, the tanning process also uses several concerning chemicals including arsenic, mercury, lead and hexavalent chromium. (Not to mention the greenhouse gas emissions associated with livestock and international shipping) "

Did you know? "On average, North Americans throw away about 30 kilograms of clothing and textiles per year." So if we reduce the waste that we produce, our wardrobes are a great place to start. How do you create a environmentally friendly wardrobe? 1. "Buy local whenever possible Keep your carbon footprint in check by seeking out pieces that are locally designed and produced, that way your clothes don’t have to travel the globe to reach you." 2. "Watch for labels that are marked with a third-party certification to provide you with assurance that the garment was not produced in a sweatshop-free and safe environment, and with sustainable materials."
3. Asking stores to show you their lines of clothing and textiles made with organic cotton, bamboo or other sustainable fabrics." This might seem small but this will help send a message, , consumers are in demand for a more eco product. " Always ask whether the dye used as colouring was vegetable-based and non-toxic."

http://green.sympatico.msn.ca/green-living-online-article.aspx?cp-documentid=812885

Also don't forget about the cleaners you are using to wash your clothes in, make sure you read the labels of your detergents and protect your skin and your new eco-friendly wardrobe! Reading the labels on your clothes is very important and should be become a habit to make sure that we get the message across, we are here to save and protect our bodies and environment!

Until next time,
w&c designer girl!