Eco-Chic: Saving the Earth One Outfit at a Time

By Connie Nguyen, Staff writer

There are plenty of ways to conserve energy and help the Earth: turn off the faucet, replace your light bulbs, and use your car less often. However, it doesn\’t have to end there. You can take your Earth friendliness to the next level with some eco-chic fashion.

Eco-chic fashion embraces more than green t-shirts labeled, “Save-the-Earth” or other clever puns. It\’s a collection of clothes that reduce your carbon footprint or help the environment. With plenty of options available, there\’s no reason why you shouldn\’t try a little eco-chic fashion.

One of the easiest ways to incorporate eco-chic fashion into your wardrobe is with organic cotton. Unlike its heavily processed counterpart, organic cotton is grown and processed using less pesticides and chemicals. When you buy and wear organic clothing, you\’re putting less waste into the atmosphere to keep the Earth a little greener for a little longer.

An additional plus is that organic cotton comes in a variety of forms, from shirts to sweaters to jeans. The only downside is that it isn\’t in demand as much as regular cotton is, so it can be a little pricier. However, if you\’re truly devoted to the cause, it will be worth every penny.

Another form of eco-chic resides in recycled fashion. Not only does recycled clothing benefit the Earth, but it also comes with other perks as well. Used clothing offers a variety of unique pieces that are no longer in production, so you are less likely to run into someone with the exact same thrift, oversized sweater. Another benefit to shopping at thrift stores and vintage consignment shops is that the clothes will be cheaper since the recycled clothes have already been worn before.

If you’re doubtful of the garments available at thrift stores and consignment shops you can try clothing recycling centers. Luckily, Southern California is home to a range of clothing recycling centers heavily concentrated in Costa Mesa, such as Buffalo Exchange at the Lab. These stores don’t just sell whatever comes along like a donation-based store such as Goodwill. Stores like Buffalo Exchange exclusively carry both high name brands and popular street wear, ensuring that your latest purchase from their store will be in this season.

Not only can you buy used clothing at these centers, but you can also sell your own. Selling clothes you no longer wear will make more used clothing available; and what\’s to lose when you make money for recycling your clothes and help the environment at the same time?