Building Ecotopia: Green Clothing

by Chuck Hall

Unfortunately, clothing is more about status these days than about utilitarian value. The more clothes you have with designer names on them, the more status you have in the fashion hierarchy. Thinking about green clothing involves thinking about the purposes that clothing serves in the first place. Is it about comfort? Is it about modesty? Is it about protection from the elements? Is it about looking stylish? Is it about ‘one-upping’ your neighbors? What does clothing mean to you, and how will this affect your own personal definition of ‘green clothing?’
I mention the style and status aspect of clothing because environmentalists aren’t immune to the dangers of clothing as a status symbol just because they choose greener alternatives. I’m sure we’ve all seen environmentalist fashion victims as well. The point is, that having a closet full of green clothing that you wear maybe one time a year is no different, and not much better for the environment, than having a closet full of commercially produced clothing that you only wear one time a year. It has been estimated that if everyone switched to natural fibers, the entire planet couldn’t keep up with the demand for new clothing at the current rate of consumption. Rampant materialism isn’t any more sustainable just because it’s green. When choosing to live sustainably, less is more.
The type of work you do will also be a factor in the type of clothing you can choose. Many places of employment have dress codes to consider. If you are required to adhere to a dress code where you work, look for green alternatives in your clothing choices. If you are required to wear a uniform, you may want to check to see if your uniforms are available in green alternatives. If so, talk to your employer about making the switch. You may be pleasantly surprised at the reaction. Given the awareness of and interest in environmental policies right now, it may be a good marketing strategy for your place of employment. It never looks bad on an advertisement to declare that your business’s uniforms are environmentally friendly!
If you’re not required to abide by any strict dress code at work, congratulations! You’re one step closer to greening your wardrobe. The next step would be to review your wardrobe to see what’s indispensable and what you can do without. Since sustainability is about simplification, it’s better to have a few favorite garments than a whole closet full of stuff you never wear. Design a few outfits for each season, make a list, and plan to purchase environmentally friendly versions of each garment in that list. Don’t rush out and buy a whole new wardrobe, though. Another principle of sustainability is to get the most use out of everything before recycling it. So unless you’re planning to donate your whole wardrobe to charity so you can start over from scratch, just replace items one-at-a-time as needed with greener choices. That way you’re getting the maximum utility out of clothing you’ve already purchased. You can also find out which designs and materials work best for you and your lifestyle. And please don’t throw away your old garments! They can be donated to a charity like Salvation Army or Goodwill, or they can be used for any number of household needs. You can make dust rags out of them, or quilt them into shopping bags, or if you’re artistic you can even shred them and make your own handmade paper with them. The possibilities are endless!