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Why eco-fashion?

Jill

Kate Goldwater explains:

I think eco-fashion should be what every designer strives to create and every customer vows to buy. We hear every day that we should reduce, reuse, recycle, turn off lights and unplug appliances, use public transportation and carpool, but you don’t hear enough that we should shop for clothing that isn’t as hard on the environment. I wish people considered wearing vintage and eco-fashion as important as recycling their plastic water bottle. I wish everyone knew that it takes 400 gallons of water just to make one cotton t-shirt, along with all the CO2 emitting pesticides, insecticides and synthetic fertilizers. If everyone knew and cared about this, shoppers would seek out organic cotton and eco-fashion, vintage and recycled clothing. Once enough shoppers demand it, designers and clothing stores would have to provide it. My hope is someday there won’t even be a distinction between “fashion” and “eco-fashion,” all fashion will be eco-friendly.
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I’ve heard several definitions of sustainability, but my favorite one is “using the resources we have to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In other words, let’s not screw over our future grandchildren and let’s not screw over our planet. I think our environment is our playing field and we should try to preserve it with everything we do.

Read the whole interview here, and check out Kate’s store and blog.

6 thoughts on Why eco-fashion?

  1. this is awesome, and I’m so glad that eco fashion is coming out of its dusty little tie-dye corner at the fair-trade shop.

  3. I wish everyone knew that it takes 400 gallons of water just to make one cotton t-shirt, along with all the CO2 emitting pesticides, insecticides and synthetic fertilizers. If everyone knew and cared about this, shoppers would seek out organic cotton and eco-fashion, vintage and recycled clothing.

    Heck, I think it would be enough for us to quit making those ugly t-shirts we Americans seem to find so essential to commemorate every single little school/work/community event!

    If I wanted a t-shirt for a fundraiser 5k I’m walking/jogging in, I’d buy one. However, I instead have a rather large collection of t-shirts I’ll occasionally remember to change into before changing my car’s oil or working in the garden, but really have no desire to wear in public.

  4. Her Etsy site is not stocked with anything I could get away with wearing since I’ve left the city- although I fucking love those beautifully cut bloomers,- but I will totally stop by next time I’m in NY. Fashion model Jill, you wear it well and thanks for the heads up.

  5. I love the idea of eco-fashion for the fashion-conscious. The only problem I have with this is the same problem I have with a lot of the “green” movement- ie, organic produce, expensive recycled fabrics and hybrid cars all require a lot of money. Even sewing classes are prohibitively expensive! How cool would it be if some enterprising person took it into hir head to empower lower-income people to utilize what is available to those who lack funds?

  6. @xenu01, actually what was most helpful to me in learning how to sew, and of course this partly speaks to my learning style, was a book I checked out from the library. It’s really what you need to sew- the machine, the odds and ends- that make it not such a great way to save money, in my experience.

    I hardly ever wear new clothes, and while I admit I’m a little bit fussy about what I pick, used clothing is still by and large cheaper than new. There is a *lot* of it out there, and it’s a very environmentally sound way to go. I thought it was pretty cool that Kate Goldwater didn’t just make a case for her own clothes but also what any woman that could afford a new t shirt could do with that money that was more environmentally sound.

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