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AT WHAT PRICE IS YOUR WARDROBE?
ETHICAL FASHION IS FINALLY GETTING ITS CATWALK MOMENT. IT’S ABOUT TIME.
WORDS: MARIA FITZPATRICK
Fashion. If you had just one word to describe it, what would that be? Fickle? Certainly. Fun? Absolutely. Fair? When we’re in the middle of a winter shopping spree... well, most of us don’t tend to dwell on that word for too long. How do we know which fashion labels are ‘kind’ or ‘fair’ to the environment, or to the people who make the clothes? We bury our heads in the sand, and just carry on as normal, albeit uneasily. And of course it doesn’t help that the whole arena of eco fashion has always had an image problem of its own, being a little too bohemian, perhaps, for our tastes. Fairly or not, it conjures up visions of tree-hugging, tofu, scratchy, sack-like jumpers and ugly hemp handbags - and let’s face it, it’s wasteful to buy clothes and then never wear them. Sound familiar?
Read more about Ethical Fashion in the December | January 2007 issue of WMB, subscribe now.
| ETHICAL FASHION TIPS: |
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Check the label — look for fairtrade, organic, and carbon-neutral symbols |
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Buy once - some ethical labels may seem pricey, but it’s better to invest in quality once, rather than buying – and regularly disposing of – cheap clothes |
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Support start-ups - buy from small, independent labels, locally sourced products, traditional crafts |
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Endorse - choose your staple clothing from ethical labels, and tell people where they can get the same items |
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Ask the questions - don’t be afraid to ask retailers and designers: where does it come from; who made it; were they paid fairly? If they can’t or won’t answer, think twice |
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Recycle - wherever possible, and give your clothes to charity shops |
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Consider vintage - and second hand clothing, when you need a new outfit |
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