A recent trip to the Science Museum in London inspired this post. Round about the time my batteries were running low (I was in dire need of some caffeine!), I came across an exhibition about eco fashion, which really got me thinking about what I wear and how it has repercussions on both the environment and the working conditions of those who work within the fashion industry.
This exhibition opened my eyes to alternative materials, colourants and ways of producing clothing that are far more environmentally friendly.
On display:
This dress made from old recycled Metro newspapers.
The skirt layers of this dress are made from ‘bioplastics’ which come from plant sugar(s).
This black dress is composed of nettle fibres (yes, the stinging kind) as they
are stronger than cotton and apparently just as soft. Nettles grow well in
the UK (they don’t need much) so they are a good source to use.
This shimmery dress uses a fabric called Morphotex which imitates the
reflective nature of Morpho butterfly wings. This fabric reflects light and
creates this lovely shimmery colour without the need for dyes
– which is a lot better for the environment.
How eco friendly are you?
Lots of people play their part by recycling, washing their clothes at a lower temperature and so on - but it’s never enough. There is so much more we can do to help. Here are some ideas of what you can do:
- Don’t bin your clothes if they are still in wearable condition. Hand them down to others so the clothes get as much wear as possible.
- And for the very same reason, buy second hand / vintage pieces. I love owning something that I know has a bit of history to it.
- Don’t just throw out your clothes if they are ripped / holey. Transform them into something wearable. Old jeans can be cut into cute little denim shorts and given a new lease of life.
- Buy ethical or organic clothing where you can (if you can afford to do so). Some of you may know about Free People (Emma Watson has done some modelling for them and they feature on sites such as ASOS.com). Here are some of my favourite items:
Trimmed Edges Eyelet Top - £78.32
Lace Cropped Kaftan - £139.51
Eyelet Scalloped Shorts - £53.85
New Romantics Cala Luna Tunic - £78.32
Vintage Victorian Long Sleeve Shrug - £200.70
I love the floaty, relaxed nature of the fabrics. I can visualise wearing these on a hot sticky summer’s day, sitting on a beach somewhere, digging my toes into the sand. Accessorized with sunnies and a huge floppy hat, of course.
However caring for the environment needn’t be so expensive.
There are cheaper alternatives where eco-fashion is a lot more accessible.
This has been demonstrated perfectly by Natalie Portman recently.
For a pre-Oscar party she wore this incredible dress:
Source here
Was this a designer’s dress? No. Believe it or not, this is actually a dress from H&M’s eco-fashion range called the Conscious Collection. Expensive? No. At least I find £29.99 for a dress is nothing compared to the £75+ that you may be expected to pay for an eco-friendly top elsewhere. I love their scallop shorts:
They are recycled polyester and at £12.99, they are more than affordable.
- Eco / organic materials can cost more
- These materials are meant to be better quality and have a longer life span
- They are usually not mass-produced like most high street clothing
- If they are made locally rather than overseas, the production process costs more
What do you think about eco-fashion?
