Fashion : Apparel :

Can you wear your eco-conscience on your sleeve without resorting to a lifetime of hemp and sandals?

01.24.2006

Submitted by idealbite on Tue, 01/24/2006 - 6:00pm.
The Bite:
Just go vintage. With high-quality vintage or second-hand fashions, you can get new (to you) clothes at bargain prices (sometimes), while avoiding the waste and inhumane working conditions of most of the garment industry.
The Benefits: 
  • Vintage fashions help you reuse and recycle…so you don’t have to reduce your shopping habit. And the quality and workmanship of many vintage designs are better than today’s mass-produced clothing, so they’ll last longer.
  • Giving older garments a new lease on life reduces reliance on petrochemicals (the basis of synthetics like polyester and nylon) and the energy needed to manufacture them. Even natural fibers like cotton are usually doused with pesticides, polluting dyes and chemical treatments.
  • Look unique with combinations from different eras and styles.
Personally Speaking: 
Sorry, we’re busy rummaging through the backs of our closets for stuff to sell on eBay. (Does Jen’s old “Surf Naked” t-shirt from college count as “vintage?”)
Wanna Try: 
  • Rusty Zipper – over 12,000 vintage items available online, searchable by size, era, style and price.
  • Enokiworld – specializing in designs from the 40s to the 70s.
  • Annie Creamcheese – get vintage couture in their Washington DC store, place a phone order, or link to vintage shops in other cities.
  • Goodwill – find vintage and second-hand bargains at thrift shop locations near you, or shop their online auction. Your dollars support job training and placement programs for the disadvantaged.

Cocktail Fact

“Sex and the City” stylist Patricia Field offers this rule: "If something is over 50 years old, it's antique; less, it's vintage."

Bang For The Bite

The $16.5 billion U.S. garment industry is highly dependent on polluting synthetics and sweatshop labor. Invest your hard-earned clothing dollars into quality repurposed pieces instead.

21 comments
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Nora  on February 23, 2009 at 05:08 AM 1
Don't forget the Brown Elephant Thrift Stores in Chicago. Located in Andersonville, Boystown and Oak Park, they support the Howard Brown Health Center for the LGBT Community. The stores are full of gently used second-hand and real vintage clothes at wonderful prices. They also have all kinds of other treasures.
Tiffany  on February 23, 2009 at 05:23 AM 2
Love vintage! Check out the great eco-friendly buys in my shop! www.stilettogirl.etsy.com
Bianca Alexander  on February 23, 2009 at 02:17 PM 3
For other ideas on going vintage with your wardrobe, check out our winter fashion episode featuring retro jackets shot during Inauguration Week in D.C. or, learn how to swap out your old clothes for something 'new', in our cheap and chic "Swap-0-Rama-Rama" episode on the www.ConsciousLivingTV.com Style page.
Disk encryption software  on March 01, 2009 at 01:02 AM 4
Hm… This is really fresh idea of the design of the site! I seldom met such in Internet… Good Work! Disk encryption software - Powerful encryption software with pre-boot authentication secures 100% of your hard disk drive, including the OS.
Anonymous  on March 05, 2009 at 03:19 PM 5
the prices at Enokiworld are ridiculously overpriced!! what a shame.
Photography Templates  on March 15, 2009 at 02:05 AM 6
I agree with you! This was actually what I was looking for all over the net, and I am glad that I finally stumbled into your article! I love your blog and cool design you have Photography Templates
Mon Ami Vie  on March 20, 2009 at 02:13 PM 7
Check out Etsy.com for great vintage finds! There are literally thousands of sellers from all over the world :) My shop is just one that is making the old new again: http://www.monamivie.etsy.com
student loan information  on March 24, 2009 at 08:11 PM 8
You do have a point here :) I admire the stuff you post and the quality information you offer in your blog! Keep up the good work dude. student loan information
diet food delivery  on March 27, 2009 at 05:19 AM 9
You have been bookmarked. You can't imagine how long I have been searching for this precious information. This will be very useful to me for my future business on that field. diet catering
Candy Leonard  on March 27, 2009 at 06:33 AM 10
Great vintage clothing at Artifaktori and Poor Little Rich Girl - both in Davis Square, Somerville MA. Artifaktori is on College Ave and Poor Little Rich Girl is on Elm Street - both are just footsteps from the Davis Square (Red Line) T stop. And you can check out the other great shops and food in the square while you're here.
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