Fair Trade Clothing Brands & Human Rights ... the Ethical Consumer Movement

[woodenhouse]

For any Baltimore peeps, the store A People United has some nice environementally/socially conscious clothing buys. One brand, Tribe, which I can't find ANYWHERE on- line, had a really cute cropped "edgy" jacket I bought. It wasn't too bad either- $40.

 

[shoegal2183]

From the Chicago Red Eye:

Young People Driving Less or Going Hybrid

Out: SUVs that guzzle gas. In: Walking, bicycling, taking public transportation and leaving the car in the garage. That's the perception of many young people who are driving less and taking more interest in hybrid cars. hannah Mcrea, 22, said she has become more environmentally aware over the last 3 years and has made conscious decision not to buy a car-at least for now. "You should be able to operate in a city like Chicago without a car, " said McCrea. Whith bikes and public transportation, having a car is no longer a need. It's an option. That sentiment is shared by Kerry Graham a West Loop resident who said she is curbing her car use. I just think that when you can get out and walk instead of drive its a good thing. It's better for your body as well, "Grahm said. If she ever does buy a car, McCrea said it would likely be a hybrid. She would get an incentive to make that purchase if one local alderman has his way. Ald. Rey Colon (35th) has proposed an ordinance allowing hybrids that get 45 miles per gallor or more to park for free at city meters. "This is about more than just a quarter in the mether, " said Colon, who said he has his doubts themeasure will pass due to fears it would clog parking meters beyond the typical two hour allotment. Its more about awarness and trying to push toward less reliance on oil inour day to day lives. Colon said he doesn't own a hybrid but wants locals to consider more fuel efficient cars. That's a no brainer for many young people who no longer need to be convinced of the values of hybrids siad Jack Darin director of the Sierra Club's Illinios Chapter. It's now considered cool to drive a hybrid and there's even a stigma associated with giant gas guzzlers. Not only because of how much it costs to fill up,but how much it costs the future.

 

[SwanDiamondRose]

i haven't read this whole thread. so sorry if this has been mentioned but
http://fiftyrx3.blogspot.com/
is a woman interested in sustainable style. she blogs about companies that are also interested in this. and she institutes her plan to reuse/rework her wardrobe. she was mentioned in Nylon this month.

i am not explaining well. you will just have to check it out.

 

[lalablossoms]

i try to do what i can because no matter what you do you cant gaurantee everything is ethical unless you produce your own materials and apparal, i'm buddhist and while i'm not vegan i do try to buy products that are humane, i try to buy as many vintage and thriftstore items i can and make the rest, even purchasing fabric you arent sure where it came from unless its organic and fair trade and within those standards you are limited, sometimes i just buy what i like though, i cant resist h&m which i'm sure isnt that ethical but i'm poor and a style addict

 

[fash ho']

hey swan!

I mentioned jill a few times above but not sure if anyone has checked her site out. I love that blog!

 

[droogist]

A friend of mine swears by Method, a company that makes eco-friendly cleaning products; unfortunately I haven't been able to try them out myself, as thus far they only sell to the US and UK, but it looks very promising: 100% biodegradable ingredients, recyclable packaging (designed by Karim Rashid), and a pretty irreproachable company ethos: http://methodhome.com/

The also have a blog, which is where I just learned about Goodsearch; it's a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates money to the charity of your choice everytime you do a search. Right now they only work with charities based in the US, but according to the site they plan to expand internationally. Here, give it a go : http://www.goodsearch.com/

 

[SwanDiamondRose]

hey swan!

I mentioned jill a few times above but not sure if anyone has checked her site out. I love that blog!

oops! i'm sorry, i didn't see that and it is on this page! oh well.

with the Nylon thing i'm sure people are going to her blog even more.

 

[cerfas]

I did check out that blog but haven't really followed it...I don't know ... I think I disagree with her on some issues.

Total yes on the undyed and organic underwear. unbleached organic cotton IS THE SOFTEST THING EVER. I started making underwear from us grown unbleached organic cotton last year - I should post some pictures of it sometime.

 

[cerfas]

also: Cool stuff sea_of_stitches!

 

[fashionista-ta]

A friend of mine swears by Method, a company that makes eco-friendly cleaning products; unfortunately I haven't been able to try them out myself, as thus far they only sell to the US and UK, but it looks very promising: 100% biodegradable ingredients, recyclable packaging (designed by Karim Rashid), and a pretty irreproachable company ethos: http://methodhome.com/

The also have a blog, which is where I just learned about Goodsearch; it's a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates money to the charity of your choice everytime you do a search. Right now they only work with charities based in the US, but according to the site they plan to expand internationally. Here, give it a go : http://www.goodsearch.com/

I believe Target carries Method ... and it seems like I saw it at a grocery store too. A friend of mine tried and liked ...

PS cerfas, totally impressed with your making your own organic cotton underwear I just get mine from Blue Canoe (www.bluecanoe.com)

 

[shoegal2183]

fashionista-ta...you are right..Target does carry Method. In this summer's Time Style and Design magazine (entitled Green Living-Is sustainability the New Luxury?) there is a little article about the brand and the makers:

"The Clean up Team- Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan

Claim to Fame: In 2000 Lowry and Ryan, high school friends from Detroit, decided to contest the idea that stronger chemicals make for better household cleaners. They introduced Method, a mass market line of health conscious and aromatic dish and hand soaps, bathroom cleaners, surface cleaners, laundry detergents, floor care products and air fresheners. "Its been pounded into our heads that you can't have safe and effective products in one, " says Lowry, who studeid chemical engineering and environmental science at Stanford University. "That isn't true."

Big Break: Method positions itself as a brand that benefits above all personal well being. The company's mission, "People Against Dirty" points to the harmful ingredients in cleaners as the real pollutants in our homes. Two years ago, Method came out with a triple concentrated biodegradable laundry degergent-and now the competition is catching on (Unilever launched its version, All Small and Mighty, last fall) Lowry says that if all detergents were to switch to concentrated formula it would save 400 million gal. of water and about 200 million lbs. of plastic a year.

Design Touchstone: Method is not only health conscious but the brand's sleek packaging conceived by award winning industrial designer Karim Rashid also redefines the catagory with scrubs and sprays that actually look stylish on countertops.


There were lots of interesting things in the issue..and I"ll post more later!

 

[Mis.T]

I think it would be very helpful and appropriate for people to post here when they find a clothing line that is not made in sweatshops so we don't all have to do the research on our own.

Here's a few I have found

http://www.nosweatshoplabel.com/accredited_comp.htm (Australian based site)
Can't forget American Apparel-http://www.americanapparelstore.com/main.html

No sweat Union Made Apparel http://www.nosweatapparel.com/shop.htm
And for those of you who say there is no solution I will end my post with a quote I have hanging on my wall: When looking for water in the desert where is the first place to turn? Away from thinking there is no water.

Thank you so much for this post! It is hard to find sweat shop free clothes in Australia. Inow know to stick to Billabong, Bardot and C.Dinnigan

Great thread!

 

[cerfas]

sustainable design and all things related are seriously blowing up now, like we predicted here at tfs

 

[gius]

hopefully hemp will go down in price over here...
it's actually much cheaper to produce
(and also environmentally friendly with having less tending to the plants. it's strong enough to stand pests, it accepts dye very readily and there are so many other advantages)
but our countries (u.s., canada) seem to be putting a tax(?) on them to increase the price. it's going according to the demands of the cotton industry
they just don't want to succumb to that kind of competition
hemp will certainly put them out of business

 

[Stylebites]

sustainable design and all things related are seriously blowing up now, like we predicted here at tfs

No joke, although I'd shy away from calling this a trend because it's more of a neccessity and long term market change.

BTW, hush hush but it looks like I might be leaving my job to go work full time towards promoting sustainable fashion.

 

[fash ho']

stylebites, that is brilliant!
what a fantastic move. can you say who it would be for, or is it still confidential?

 

[fashionista-ta]

Just wanted to recommend this website I ordered from recently:

www.lotusorganics.com

I got this snuggly organic cotton fleece robe in lavender:

They even included a little hand-written thank-you note in the package, complete with little squiggly artwork around my name, cute

 

[Stylebites]

stylebites, that is brilliant!
what a fantastic move. can you say who it would be for, or is it still confidential?

Thanks for the support FashHo'!

I'm waiting for more to be firmed up before I make an announcement but if all works as planned it will be a major project that you'll all hear about. This has actually been a long-term goal of mine and working as a fashion editor/stylist for the past few years was always a way of preparing for the eventual move to fashion sustainability work.

Don't worry...I'll make sure tFS is the first to know! I'm going to make sure that we all have a way of shopping for the clothes that we love--beautiful clothes--while not compromising our ethics!

 

[shoegal2183]

Congratulations stylebites!! Can't wait to hear updates on the project!

 

[Autumn]

Stumbled upon this designer's website: http://www.lindaloudermilk.com/wf06/wf06_022.html

All materials are supposedly made from ecofriendly sources.