When it comes to making a sustainable choice it’s not an all-or-nothing decision. A sustainable choice can be:
- partially made from organic, recycled or some sustainable fabric/material
- made locally, which can substantially reduce the item’s carbon footprint
- handmade
- conforms to the International Fair Trade practices
- recycled
- vintage
- made well - costs more, but will last a lot longer
The Splendor of Vintage
Every day, in all corners of the globe, factories are churning out more and more stuff. From clothing to furniture and shoes, the cargo containers and shipping trucks get crammed and prepared for a lengthy, oil-burning journey across land and sea. Along with this constant flow of creation and, let’s face it, pollution, people have grown accustomed to having new shiny things almost on a daily basis.
This “new is better” mentality keeps those cargo containers overflowing and our planet in a state of despair. This is where the splendor of vintage comes in to play. Shopping at vintage stores is a marvelous way to consume less new products and more new-to-you products. Now that’s eco-savvy style.
Every time you opt to purchase a vintage jacket, shirt or table, you are making use of materials that already exist in our cycle of consumption. For every vintage purchase, there is one less new item that gets sold, which means one less item that needs to be produced. This may not be great news for the companies who rely on those trucks to keep moving inventory. However, ultimately it is great news for all of us and the future of our earth, our health and our children.
Made Just For Me
Another superb sustainable way to go is to choose handmade possessions. The “indie” handmade movement has been growing at a steady pace over the last decade. Nowadays, it is gaining steam quickly and even becoming a way of life (and shopping) for eco divas and dudes.
From handmade sweaters and scarves to unique jewelry and furniture, you can find artists working all around the world to put their love, time and dedication into crafting amazing high-quality goods for you and your home. Many of these artisans are taking advantage of recycled materials, local resources and organic fabrics to create one-of-a-kind works of art that will last much longer than one trendy season.
Your Best Foot Forward
Today, the world of sustainable footwear has really come a long way. We no longer have to settle for boxy looking hemp boots and shoes that manage to be both uniformly un-sexy and uncomfortable at the same time. When it comes to choosing a “green” pair of shoes, there are many features that fit the bill:
- Recycled content
- Handmade components
- Vegetable tanned leather
- High quality workmanship
- Classic styles that will be fashionable for years
- Vintage
There are many shoe makers that are very conscious about the damage done in the process of creating a single pair of shoes. These producers are keenly aware of things like the distances the shoes must travel during shipping and the toxicity of the glues used in making the shoes. These shoe companies are making better choices every eco-fabulous step of the way. See below for examples of recommended companies.
Eco Friendly Shopping Resources
Organic Choices:
Handmade and Vintage Choices
Sustainable Shoes
- TerraPlana.com
- Mohop.com
- TomsShoes.com - For every pair of shoes that you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need.
- Patagonia.com
On The EcoDiva’s Nightstand:
- Not Just a Pretty Face by Stacey Malkan
- The Eco Chick Guide to Life: How to Be Fabulously Green by Starre Vartan
- Five Wishes Book by Gay Hendricks
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