Green and Chic: Great Tips for an Eco-Friendly Wardrobe

Everyone seems to be going green these days. Caring about the earth has suddenly become very fashionable. It’s certainly for good reason, and that’s why even the fashion world itself is raising its consciousness and starting to recognize the urgency, as well as the benefits, of minimizing our impact on the environment.

Yes, there is now such a thing as green clothing. The world of fashion has caught up to offer consumers everywhere plenty of eco-based options for comfort and style. Organic wear, eco-friendly fabrics, handmade dresses, and recycled clothes are quickly making their way to a fashion stop near you. There are now more possibilities than ever in dressing up with sustainability as your purpose and green as your color. And you don’t even have to sacrifice your own unique style.

Interested in greening your wardrobe at home? Here are some eco-savvy tips for you:

Know the eco-friendly brands

Dressing green doesn’t necessarily mean wearing earthy stuff that looks as though it might have been made with leaves and strewn together using tree branches. Save the planet in style! The world’s biggest clothing brands – including couture fashion houses – are now coming up with products that are environmentally friendly. Or they’re taking a more sustainable approach to manufacturing. So really, it’s just a matter of finding out what these brands are, and which of them suit your style. If you want to try out new stuff, then consider specialized green clothing brands like Blue Canoe, Loomstate, Kate Organic, Maggie’s Functional Organics, Element, and Stewart and Brown, among many others.

Line dry your clothes

Forget the dryer. They’re such energy hogs anyway. For longer lasting clothing, hang your clothes to dry on lines. Not only does this guarantee you plenty of energy savings; it also lets you freshen up your wardrobe with all-natural – instead of all-electrical – help. So go on and head out to the backyard, feel the warmth of the sun and the breeze, and line dry your way to a greener wardrobe. Here’s a great tip: instead of using chemical-laden fabric softeners, just add a cup of vinegar to your laundry load before the start of the rinse cycle. This is a great non-toxic way to avoid stiff, scratchy clothing. And don’t worry about the odor. We guarantee it will be gone once the clothes go dry.

Choose natural, sustainable clothing materials

Not sure if your favorite clothing brand is eco-friendly? Build up your knowledge on today’s most eco-friendly clothing products and materials. Green clothing doesn’t always have to be officially “organic”; it can be any fabric that’s made from natural, sustainable materials like bamboo, soy, corn fiber, silk blends, and hemp blends. Also, go for clothing items that are colored with natural, low-impact dyes – as opposed to those that are chemical- and metal-laden.

Opt for energy-efficient, environment-friendly appliances and products

The electric iron, the washer, dryer: it seems that clothes will always have something to do with these home appliances. That’s not to mention the cleaning products that you have to use (probably full of chemicals) and the amount of water needed for getting the laundry done. Even if you don’t opt for organic clothes, you can still minimize the environmental impact of your wardrobe by going green in your use of clothing-related home appliances and products. Upgrade your washer and dryer to models that have the Energy Star label. Install water-saving faucets. Be more conscious of the cleaning products you buy and consider green alternatives like natural laundry detergents, chlorine-free bleaches, biodegradable laundry liquids, and palm-derived softeners.

Shop smart

Don’t go to the downtown mall with no plan on what to buy. Forget impulse shopping. It’s not so green having a closet full of clothes that don’t fit your taste or style requirements. Also, make sure you read manufacturer labels before you make a purchase. What are they made of? How are they supposed to be washed and taken care of? As you continue to upgrade your green, chic wardrobe, always remember the steps that you need to take to make sure you’re applying best environmental practices.

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