PINE BLUFF, Ark – April 22 marks Earth Day so it’s a great time to get your green on.
But before you go looking for Earth-friendly clothes, do some green wardrobe planning, says Kaye Crippen, associate professor of merchandising, textiles and design at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
“It’s so hard for consumers to know what to do to go green with their wardrobe,” Crippen says. “A lot of people think it’s only about buying an organic or eco-friendly fiber. ‘Oh, I’ll go out and buy an organic cotton dress and I’ll be fine.’ But you have to look at the life cycle. You want it to be friendly to the environment and you want it to last a long time.”
Green wardrobe planning involves incorporating items that are made from sustainable, recycled or organic fabrics.
Some companies are now making fabric out of recycled plastic bottles, giving consumers more options. Such eco-friendly fabric ingredients – which are comparable to virgin polyester and nylon fibers – reduce energy consumption in care and conserve natural resources by offsetting the need to use newly refined crude oil. But going green goes beyond just choosing the right materials.
“It means buying fewer things and choosing more durable items,” Crippen says, adding that it also involves changing consumer behavior. “Consumers can help the environment by making wise choices in garment selection, use, care and recycling.”
Tips for becoming a green wardrobe planner
- Take care when washing your clothes. It will help them last longer. Reduce the water temperature you use. Try cold water detergent to maximize cleaning at that temperature. Turn clothing inside out and partially line dry it if possible.
- Be wise about selecting items. Do you really need that? How long do you think it will last? Consider clothing brands and fibers for durability. Think about what you are looking for before you shop. This step will save time and help eliminate the clutter that can come from impulse shopping.
- Fix it. Got a loose hem or a broken zipper? Try to repair more clothes. If you can’t do it yourself, find a local seamstress or tailor who can.
- Find a new purpose. When you get tired of it, see what else you can do with it. Give yourself a new look. A skirt might be made from a dress or dress pants might be transformed into capri pants.
- Don’t throw textiles or garments in the trash. Take them to the thrift store or give them to a friend or family member.
- Buy second hand or vintage clothing. Shop local thrift stores or yard sales and give old clothes new life. You can support a local charity or help out a neighbor at the same time.
- 30 –
University of Arkansas,
Writer: Bobbie Crockett, (870) 575-8227, crockettb@uapb.edu
Have a specific question?
Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.
Similar Posts:
- 8 Ways To Buy Organic Produce And Meat On A Budget
- The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving
- Wrong Purchase? Why Shoppers Can’t Stop Buying
- The Best Time to Buy
- Where We Are Spending
Recent Comments