Spring really seems to drag its heels this time of year, doesn’t it? Especially when you live as far north of the equator as I do. Though these late winter days do feel as though they are stretching slightly longer, and the sun is creeping ever so slowly back up further in the sky each day. I’m finding myself dreaming of the green that will surely return soon, but never quite soon enough for my liking.
So I look for ways to trick my cabin-fevered soul into thinking things might *just* happen to start blooming tomorrow by really doubling down on the on shades of green I surround myself with this time of year.
A great way to beat the winter blues has been to greenify my bedroom a bit extra during those long dark nights.
With a few sold yards leftover off after hemming both of the curtains to a less comical length, I figured I could use some new Euro sham covers for my plan old white pillows. They make a perfect resting spot while I read books against my headboard while I pile myself under ALL THE BLANKETS and pretend spring is around the corner.
A few sprigs of greenery was also a good trick I started to help myself limp through winter in recent years.
The absolute best part of greening up the winter blues with the finds of thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL has been that it’s also helping to keep our planet green, too.
A More Sustainable — And Fun! — Way to Decorate Your Home
Treasure hunting at thrift stores is one of life’s little delights that I really enjoy. I don’t know what I’m going to find today, but I know it will be something good!
Decorating your home by reinventing furniture and home décor items other people no longer want or need is a more sustainable way of living. And, I would argue, it’s also more fun. The challenge is designing a look that perfectly reflects your personal style — and simply feels good whenever you walk through your door.
Getting started is easy. Just choose home décor items that appeal to you. You can design a room around a favorite color or a beloved collection or even just a really comfy chair.
Remember: What other people think of your design choices doesn’t matter. YOU are the one who lives here! If it looks good — and feels good — to you, it’s perfect.
Choosing vintage furniture is another great way to design a more sustainable home. Vintage furniture is usually sturdy, well made and functional. And it costs less than buying new.
If you have children (or amazing nieces and nephews!), you probably have one-of-a-kind artwork. Decorate your home with it! It will make them proud to see their work on display in your home. And it always makes me happy knowing this art was created especially for me with love.
The next photo is a good example of what I mean when I say simply choose home décor items that appeal to you. I started with my grandmother’s fancy old lamp. It doesn’t really “go” with anything in my home. But it reminds me of her and it makes me happy so I found a spot for it.
Next, I perused my bookshelf and found two books with turquoise covers that matched the lamp.
Finally, I topped off the books with a flower arrangement I purchased at Goodwill for $3.99. I’m not good at keeping plants alive so this was perfect for me. Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers. I didn’t have an exact spot in mind when I purchased the flowers. I just liked them because they didn’t look too “fake” and they reminded me of summer. They appealed to me, so I bought them. When I got home, I found the perfect spot.
It reminded me of Christmas ornaments and the colors matched my rug so I bought it. I also found a tall vase to stick it in. Now I have an inexpensive and unique little objet d’art tucked into this corner thanks to somebody who donated it to Goodwill instead of tossing it into a landfill.
Will it appeal to everyone? Nope.
But that’s OK. Everyone doesn’t live here. I do! And I like it.
I hope this post encourages you to follow your instincts and choose home décor items simply because they appeal to you. You don’t need to justify it with a good reason why you like it. You just need to like it!
And by shopping for items you like at the local thrift stores in Destin FL, you are curating a home that reflects your personal style perfectly — and you are doing it in a sustainable way.
It’s official: summertime is in full swing! As the temperatures rise, winter sweaters make their way to the back of the closet to make room for their sleeveless summer counterparts. While some clothes are practical staples — like tees and shorts — following summer fashion trends will keep you looking and feeling cool.
Not sure where to start? No worries; we’ve collected some of our favorite trends to keep you and your family stylish all summer long!
Neon
After a long winter (and even longer spring), the joy of seeing the summer sun almost makes you want to shout from the rooftops — and nothing screams louder than neon. We get why, too! Neon acts like a cheerful shock to the system; a wearable shot of energy that’s sure to put a lil more pep in your step.
This summer, embrace the neon with hot pink sun dresses, highlighter yellow shorts or bright blue bikinis. Not ready to go all in on neon? Try layering in pops-of-color with an otherwise neutral look.
Fun Prints
Another way to embrace the playful spirit of summer is by adding bold prints to your wardrobe. Of course, there are classics (like the iconic Hawaiian Dad Shirt), but prints are also appearing on structured pieces that live outside of vacation mode.
Tailored to today’s cuts and lines, pieces like hibiscus-print blazers, palm-print sneakers, gingham jumpsuits and wide-striped cardigans can help infuse some personality into your wardrobe. Try a print to break up a monochromatic look or punch up a minimalist wardrobe.
‘90s Footwear
Almost every new trend is a recycled, modernized, mix-and-matched version of trends that came before — just look at the VSCO girl (or boy) as proof.
Heavily influenced by the ‘90s, the VSCO aesthetic is a lighter, brighter, eco-friendly take on grunge fashion. As it extends beyond Gen Z, other age demographics have started revisiting classics like ‘90s footwear. Sneaker brands like Converse and Reebok, along with the iconic Doc Marten boots, are seeing a resurgence. In addition to being on trend, these pieces are generally well-structured and built to last — something all ages can appreciate!
Linen
When the weather goes from sunny to sizzling to stifling, linen pieces are an absolute lifesaver. Linen, of course, is well known for its incredible breathability — its very structure allows more airflow, keeping your body cool and dry despite humidity’s best efforts — but did you know it’s an eco-friendly choice, as well? Made from a natural, biodegradable fiber with a lower environmental impact than cotton, it also happens to be incredibly durable.
This summer, we’re really loving the way linen is being elevated to work with business casual looks. Whether a button-down shirt, wide-legged trouser or simple dress, linen can be paired with almost anything to make your professional wardrobe beat-the-heat-friendly.
Sheer Layers
Sheer layers have officially made their way from the beach to the street! Wafty, sheer layers are topping the trend lists this summer for being both stylish and sensible. Whether you want to be covered up for work or add some protection from the sun, sheer layers allow you to do so without feeling like an extra layer.
Ready to go sheer? Effortlessly dress up a skater dress with a maxi-length sheer kimono or stay cool and covered by throwing an oversized sheer tee over a form-fitting tank or bodysuit.
Whether you’re feeling electric in neon or breezy in linen, these trends will help you breeze through the hottest of seasons. Ready to punch up your wardrobe without your bank account taking a big hit? Check out a local thrift shop in Destin, FL, near you.
7 Ways to Have a Sustainable Thanksgiving Celebration
Just because Thanksgiving looks a bit different this year, practicing COVID-19 preventative measures, doesn’t mean it can’t still be fun, festive and eco-friendly!
Accordingly to Take Care of Texas, “Thanksgiving is a leading holiday for food waste and trash, higher energy usage, and other negative impacts on our local environment.”
To have a more mindful and sustainable holiday, here are seven easy-to-implement tips that you can add into your Thanksgiving traditions for years to come.
1. Craft some sustainable décor.
One of my favorite things about the holidays is the decorations! I love setting up my house with my family and making everything feel more festive. Having decorations made from up-cycled and sustainable materials is the icing on the cake. This year I am decorating my thanksgiving table with a flannel garland that I made from thrifted flannels shirts I bought from a thrift shop in Destin, FL.
2. Ditch the disposables.
Thanksgiving is a time when we should all be more thankful. We should be thankful for the beautiful world we live in and give back to it by not using any type of disposable dishes or utensils. So what if you have to wash a few dishes? At least you won’t be adding to the landfills.
3. Bring reusable shopping bags when buying groceries.
When shopping at the grocery store, its always a great idea to bring reusable shopping bags for the items you buy. Right now, some grocery stores are restricting reusable bags due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If that’s the case where you shop, be sure to save your plastic bags and bring them to a plastic bag recycle location which many grocery stores offer.
4. Use cloth napkins and dish towels instead of paper towels/napkins.
Setting a Thanksgiving table with a linen table cloth and napkins adds an element of elegance to your dinner event (that you just cannot achieve with paper napkins and tablecloths). Now all you need is some up-cycled candlestick holders and colorful candles to finish off the look!
5. Travel smarter and get outside more.
This year because of the pandemic, we all need to be staying close to home and celebrating in small, safe groups. While it is disappointing to have to forego Thanksgiving travel plans, especially when that means not seeing extended family and close friends, we all need to stay well and safe.
As an alternative, once the turkey is in the oven (and someone is at home keeping an eye on it), take a walk outside to a nearby park to admire the autumn leaves and spend some time in nature. You can also video conference with your loved ones and still enjoy the meal together!
6. Rethink Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
My plan this year includes cutting down on the number of gifts I give to each of my family members in an effort to reduce my conspicuous consumption. I know the time and effort I spend searching for thrifted gifts will be much appreciated by my family and friends.
7. Eat the leftovers!
When it comes to Thanksgiving, I actually like the leftovers more than the main meal. After cooking for the entire day and eating along the way, by the time we sit down to the meal, I’m almost too full to eat. By the next day, all the food we cooked seems to taste way better since the ingredients have had time to set and my stomach is empty and ready to relive the Thanksgiving feast.
Wasted—What Happens to Our Garbage in the Landfill?
We’re drowning in waste! Yes, you read that right. The fact is that, all over the world, we create more than 3.5 million tons of trash… every day! And, sadly, that number is growing. And it is 10 times greater than it was 10 years ago.
I think too many people never take a moment to think about what happens to their garbage once they throw it out. We kind of live in a society of “once it’s in the waste bin, it’s gone.” Unfortunately, our waste will be hanging out in a landfill long after we’re gone — and some will cause lots of damage.
The problem with the amount of rubbish going to landfills is that they are quickly filling up: some of the largest landfills and dumping sites receive up to 10,000 tons of waste per day.
A major disadvantage to burying trash in landfills is the potential to pollute surrounding soil and groundwater with toxins. When trash decomposes, it releases methane and other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, and may also cause health problems to humans and animals.
So, what happens to all this rubbish once it ends up in the landfill? Not designed to break down garbage, landfills simply are places to store waste. The problem is that lots of waste — like plastic, for example — is very durable and takes too long to decompose.
It’s estimated that some plastic items can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. Simple plastic bags, which have a very short life span but are used (usually only once) by many every day, take from 10 to 1,000 years to decompose. A plastic bottle can take 450 years.
Because garbage in landfills ends up sealed in the ground, it doesn’t decompose much at all. But bacteria still will reach the rubbish, especially organic materials like food rot, and starts to produce harmful gases like ammonia, sulfides, methane and carbon dioxide.
Methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Furthermore, toxins and chemicals from garbage rotting in landfills also pollute the local environment, including the water and the soil.
Some cities, like San Francisco and Seattle, as well as the country of Sweden, Finland and Denmark are able to recycle more waste than they send to landfills. The majority of the U.S. and rest of the world send their trash todumps.
So, what is the solution? Making the extra effort to recycle and compost has a positive impact on the world and environment. Because waste negatively impacts the natural environment greatly, we all have to start recycling and composting much more.
When we throw rubbish away, we risk releasing harmful chemicals into the landfill sites, which then will leak into our natural waters and environment, harming animals and us. Instead of throwing clothes donate them to thrift shops in Panama City Beach, FL.
The fact is that what we buy and consume does not have the greatest impact on the environment: how we discard these items does. The very best way to reduce waste is to reduce, refuse, reuse, recycle and rot!
Sustainable living can seem daunting. Things like changing habits, finding new brands you like and trust, and building a new eco-friendly routine can either be overwhelming… or a whole lot of fun! It all depends on how you choose to look at it.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions out there that are causing people to hesitate before jumping on the green bandwagon with us.
We’re here to correct those myths once and for all.
Myth #1: Sustainable Living Is Just Too Expensive
You hear this one the most, right?
It makes sense given that switching your lifestyle up may make you think you’ll need to buy all sorts of new eco-friendly gizmos and gadgets, but that’s not the case. In fact, there are several ways to go green that will actually save you money.
Your Electric Footprint
Simply programming your thermostat and turning off the lights at home when you aren’t using them are two of the easiest money-saving actions you can take to start living an eco-friendly life.
According to Mr. Electric, one incandescent bulb costs $6.60 and lasts over 1,000 hours (41 days). The longer you can stretch out that 1,000 hours, the more you’ll save.
Say hello to a smaller electric bill and a bigger bank account.
Natural Cleaners
According to the National Resources Defense Council, the average home uses up to 25 gallons of toxic chemicals every year, many of which are store-bought cleaners.
Trading in some of these harmful products for green alternatives is easier than you might think. Rather than buying expensive brand-name disinfectants with nasty chemicals, use natural alternatives like vinegar and lemons for cleaning.
Eco-Friendly Appliances
One of the main objections people get caught up on is how pricey eco-friendly appliances are. Yes, it’s true that they’re often more expensive upfront than their wasteful counterparts, but the long-term savings are way better for your bank account.
The savings you’ll reap down the road are worth the investment, plus you’ll be doing a big part to help save the planet. Your future self will thank you (for a bigger wallet and a better environment!).
Myth #2: It Takes Too Much Time & Effort
Some people have it stuck in their minds that sustainable living is synonymous with inconvenience. Not so!
You can live a green life even when it feels like you’re always strapped for time.
The best thing you can do is start small. Pick one thing that you can do to help the environment and do it consistently for a month before adding anything new.
That one thing doesn’t have to take a ton of time or cost a lot of money or drain your energy to make an impact. You can contribute in a big way by making little changes.
Reusable Products
You could choose to brew coffee at home, use a reusable mug instead of buying a plastic cup every day on the way to work, keep a reusable straw in your car or office desk, or use reusable flatware to eat your lunch rather than grabbing a plastic disposable set.
As often as you can, choose the reusable option rather than buying something you’ll have to toss out later. Not only will you be helping the environment, but you’ll also be saving money.
Cloth Bags
Another easy way to go green is to use a couple of reusable cloth bags for groceries. Keep your reusable bags on your coat hanger so you remember to grab it on the way out the door before you go or keep a stash in your car.
You’ll never have to worry about wasting grocery bags again. As an added bonus, reusable bags are much stronger than plastic so you’ll never have to worry about your eggs or other valuable groceries falling through the bottom of the bag.
Trade-in Your Paper Products
According to the University of Indiana, “Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S.” Luckily, there are many alternatives to paper products that are easy to swap out.
Thanks to modern technology, you can easily trade-in paper notepads and journals for typing out your notes and thoughts onto your computer’s word processor or smartphone’s notepad. If you like to keep notepaper around the house, reuse any sheets that still have a blank side. Cut them into quarters for smaller scratch pads, if needed.
Rather than using paper towels to clean your home, switch to reusable microfiber cloths. They’re soft and won’t leave harmful scratches on your surfaces, and they can be easily cleaned with your regular laundry again and again.
When you do have to use paper products – whether for work or school supplies, cleaning, or hygiene – make sure to choose sustainable, recyclable, compostable materials. Bonus points if you then toss those paper goods into your own composter!
Sustainable Hygiene Products
Another easy eco-friendly win is to use bamboo toilet paper rather than regular toilet paper made of virgin wood pulp.
Reel Paper delivers eco-friendly TP automatically to your door, making it easy for you to be a hero to the environment while saving you time and effort.
Myth #3: I Won’t Make a Difference
One of the biggest misconceptions people face when thinking about going green is… “I’m just one person. How can I possibly make a difference?”
Many people believe the problems facing the environment are just too big to fix on the individual level.
Wrong!
You have the power to create change. What our planet really needs is for each individual person to commit to making a difference. Only then will we start to see real, lasting change. And it all starts with you.
The biggest difference you can make is doing your part with the little things. Eventually, small, seemingly insignificant actions create a ripple effect which can lead to massive change.
It starts with buying eco-friendly products, shopping at a thrift shop in Panama Ciy Beach, FL, reducing your electrical footprint, and choosing a reusable container rather than a paper cup. These small actions turn into habits. Habits turn into a lifestyle. And your lifestyle impacts and inspires the people around you.
Before you know it, by making the little choices every day that help the environment, you’ll become an eco-hero.
Our environmental footprint reached a tipping point in the 1960s when Swedish company, Celloplast, acquired a U.S. patent for the “T-shirt plastic bag” – what we now call the grocery bag. Since then, our use of plastic has extended beyond a simple bag to containers, toys, and household items.
Today, landfills around the world are overflowing with waste and filling our oceans with island-sized masses of plastic products.
Plastic is hurting the environment, killing wildlife, and drastically increasing our environmental footprint. So the question is, to heal Earth, can we live without plastic? Can we reverse the impact of the last several hundred years and improve our environmental footprint for the future?
The answer is yes, we absolutely can improve the health of our planet. And replacing our plastics with sustainable, earth-friendly items is one of the easiest places to start. Also one more way to reduce landfill overflow is to donate old stuff to thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL. Whether it is clothes, shoes, home decor items, kitchenware, furniture etc, you can donate to these stores.
Here are five plastic swaps you can make right now to decrease your environmental footprint.
Stainless Steel Straws
The average American uses 38,000 plastic straws during their lifetime. Klean Kanteen aims to reduce that number to just one with their stainless steel straws.
Klean Kanteen uses high-quality stainless steel and food-grade, removable silicone flex tips (in really fun colors!). This family-owned company carries other simple household swaps, too: reusable water bottles, food canisters, and even baby bottles.
Beeswax Food Wraps
Beeswax food wraps have taken the stage as a sustainable alternative to plastic food containers and cellophane.
Vermont-based Bee’s Wrap makes their wraps by pouring a mixture of beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin over a sheet of organic cotton and letting it harden. Not only are beeswax wraps simple to clean (just rinse and air dry), but they’re also easy to dispose of: You can either compost your wraps or use them as fire-starters.
Whether you’re keeping veggies fresh or wrapping up treats for your kids, beeswax wraps help reduce your environmental footprint!
Reusable Food Storage Bags
Silicone bags are a wonderful solution to the thousands of plastic bags we go through for food storage. Stasher Bags are durable and dishwasher and freezer safe. Plus, they come in various colors and sizes to suit your needs.
Silicone, made from silica, is a non-toxic, odorless, BPA-free natural resource. So you can pack your or your kids’ lunches knowing Stasher Bags are a safer, longer-lasting alternative to plastic bags.
Rocketbook Everlast Notebook
Constant notetakers can rejoice at Rocketbook’s eco-friendly alternative to the traditional paper notebook. Shark Tank may have rejected the $30 smart notebook, but anyone looking to reduce their environmental footprint will swear by it.
The Everlast Notebook works with a FriXion pen that allows you to scan notes into PDF or JPEG and save files to email, iCloud, or your phone via the Rocketbook app. When you’re done, wipe down your pages with a damp cloth to start fresh. You have 36 pages to work with, but most users find they don’t need more than five.
If you’re concerned about lowering your paper waste and decreasing your environmental footprint, we encourage you to give Rocketbook a try.
Reel Paper
Instead of rushing to the store every time you need to restock on bathroom supplies, consider subscribing to Reel Paper. You can rest assured that you’re lowering your environmental footprint because our toilet paper is 100% bamboo.
What makes bamboo so special? Bamboo grows about three feet every 24 hours and uses 30% less water than traditional hardwood trees. Plus, Reel Paper is three-ply and just as soft and durable as your average toilet paper – without the plastic packaging.
For every roll you buy, we also donate to SOIL, an organization working to clean up waste in Haiti and support locals with a revolutionary, Earth-friendly business model. You can feel good knowing with every Reel Paper purchase, you’re helping those in need while doing good for the planet.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if clothes lasted forever? Unfortunately even after normal wear and tear from washing and drying, most clothing eventually gets worn out. But when it comes time to dispose of old, ratty clothes that you no longer wear, stop before you toss them into your garbage bin and consider recycling or repurposing!
Donating is an easy choice for clothes that are still presentable. But what about clothes that are far past their prime? Read on to learn about how to recycle clothes and shoes that aren’t in good condition.
Why You Should Recycle Your Old Clothes
The EPA reported that “the main source of textiles in municipal solid waste (MSW) is discarded clothing, although other smaller sources include furniture, carpets, tires, footwear, and other nondurable goods such as sheets and towels.” Textile waste in 2015 totalled to 16 million tons or 6.1% of total municipal solid waste in 2015. That equates roughly to 100 pounds of textile waste per person that year!
Clothing alone represented 4.5% of total municipal waste in 2015 and less than 1/3 of that was recycled (source: EPA).
The good news is, it isn’t difficult to do our part to reverse this trend because most clothes and shoes can be easily recycled if we dispose of them properly.
How To Recycle Old Clothes
There are 5 simple ways that you can recycle old clothing and shoes. From textile recycling to your local thrift store, it’s easy to do the right thing.
Textile Recycling:
If you’re not familiar with textile recycling, it can feel daunting when you don’t know where to start. Start by searching for clothing recycling bins in your area. Many of which will take clothing in any condition, and allow you to drop off your items for free. American Textile Recycling Service is a company that will collect donations at drop-off locations and sort through your textiles.
Websites like Recycle Now can help you locate an appropriate bin in your area. Terracycle is also a cool resource that will send recycling boxes to your home, office, or school to collect donations. Once the box is full, you just ship it back and they will recycle the contents for you!
Donate:
Donate items that are still wearable/usable. Contact second-hand stores near you such as thrift stores in Panama City Beach, FL to see what recycling programs they have in place.
Go Retail:
More and more retail stores have started to accept old clothes in an effort to encourage proper recycling. Madewell, Levi Strauss & Co., H&M, and The North Face stores will accept your used clothes and shoes, recycle them, and even give you a reward for it.
Compost:
Fabrics made from natural fibers can be composted so long as they aren’t blended with synthetic fibers (like polyester, spandex, rayon, or nylon). Compostable fabrics include:
Cotton
Silk
Wool
Cashmere
Hemp
Bamboo
Linen
Two steps to properly prepare your clothing for compost include:
Shred – Cut your fabrics into smaller pieces that will more easily break down when scattered in a compost bin.
Remove non-biodegradable materials – These can include zippers, buttons, tags, synthetic fabric trims, etc.
Re-Purpose:
Put that old t-shirt to work! You can easily convert your softer fabric clothing items into cleaning rags. This will save money, keep your home clean, and you’ll be doing the right thing by reusing old clothing. I keep recycled cotton fabric under our sink to use like “bar mops” when cleaning up after meals. I finish surfaces with DIY cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth.
How To Prevent Clothing Waste
Back in 2017, I committed to not buying any new clothes in 2017. After watching the documentary The True Cost, my eyes were opened to the negative impacts that too many of the biggest fashion brands have on our world. So instead of buying new clothes from my favorite brands that year, I simply looked for them at second-hand stores.
Opting to buy second-hand is a fantastic way to reduce your personal clothing waste. If the idea of shopping second-hand makes you uncomfortable, read my tips for how to find great pieces at thrift stores. Your wallet and our planet will thank you!
Alternatively, you can shop for new clothing from brands that care about sustainability and focus on purchasing items made with compostable materials.
No matter how you choose to shop, do your best to discard unused clothing responsibly!
Thinking of buying second-hand clothes for your Child?
Not so long ago, the prospect of buying second-hand clothing for your child wasn’t exactly appealing. Mention the words ‘pre-loved clothing’ and most people would have envisaged mothball-scented cardigans and faded t-shirts, not exactly everyone’s cup of tea!
As pre-loved clothing has become increasingly accessible online (thanks to the likes of eBay and Facebook swap and sell groups), more and more people have opted to buy second-hand clothing for their little ones. Whether it’s for financial, ethical or environmental reasons, if you’re interested in buying pre-loved clothing for your Little One read on for our top 5 reasons why we think you should.
1. It Saves you Money
There’s one very obvious reason why people shop at flea markets, thrift shops in Destin, FL and online second-hand clothing retailers; quite simply because second-hand shopping means you can grab a bargain at a fraction of the retail price. Buying new children’s clothes can be expensive, particularly when you consider how quickly children grow!
You would be shocked if you calculated price per wear on those cute jeans you purchased just a few months ago that now no longer fit your toddler. Buying pre-loved for your Little One not only allows you to pay less at the cash register but it also gets you a better price per wear as your child grows!
2. It Fights Fast Fashion
Fast fashion brands are tempting when you’ve got a little one; they’re affordable, on trend and for the most part, quite reliable. But many popular fast fashion retailers produce irresponsibly in foreign markets, potentially exploiting workers, and are generally not very environmentally friendly.
By nature of being FAST, the fabrics and techniques used are not designed to last, resulting in poor quality clothing that ends up in the bin and eventually as landfill.
On the other hand, buying new clothing from eco-friendly brands can feel expensive as usually these brands run at a much higher price point than their mass-produced fast fashion counterparts. Buying pre-loved items from these brands can be more accessible than buying new and still fights the fast fashion machine.
Buying pre-loved clothing that has been carefully crafted by ethical brands using high quality materials means you end up with pieces that will survive countless trips to the park, dropped ice creams and scraped knees until your child grows out of them and they can be donated or sold on again and again.
3. Pre-Loved Kid’s Clothing is Usually in Better Condition than Expected
They say to cherish every moment with your Little One because they grow up so fast, and we know first-hand that no truer word has been spoken; children grow very, very quickly! In fact, often babies grow out of those outfits lovingly purchased for them by aunties and uncles before they’ve even had the chance to try them on.
When it comes to pre-loved clothing though, this is only a good thing as it means the second-hand items are likely to have only been worn a handful of times and are therefore often in near perfect condition.
4. There’s More Variety
Ever wandered into a second-hand clothing shop and seen rows upon rows of the same brand or style? Didn’t think so. Buying pre-loved means you get to explore a whole range of different items in a choice of styles by a variety of different brands.
You can’t go wrong with classic styles like adorable dungarees and smart shirts for your Little One but shopping pre-loved also allows more room to choose on-trend looks without paying above the odds.
These days, there is also more variety in where you can find pre-loved clothes for your Little One. Some people love the thrill of trawling through the racks at their local charity shop hunting for something amazing but as online shopping continues to grow in popularity, there are many places where you can grab an amazing piece of pre-loved clothing online without ever needing to leave the house.
This is an especially attractive scenario when you’re caring for small children and it’s not quite so simple to just dash out to the shops!
5. It’s Good for the Environment
The wellbeing of our planet is a huge issue right now (as it should be) and understanding the environmental impact of the decisions we make in our day to day lives is something many of us are becoming more and more aware of. Buying pre-loved is a great first step toward doing your bit for the Earth.
Did you know that by extending the life of a piece of clothing by a further 9 months, it reduces water, carbon and waste footprints by up to 30%? Not only does buying pre-loved keep perfectly wearable items out of the bin and therefore out of landfill, it actively decreases the demand for further manufacturing, which is a really positive thing for the planet since the fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world!
‘Fast fashion’ is a term that has come to be synonymous with everything that’s currently wrong with the fashion industry. It refers to the system of design and manufacture that values quantity over quality, low prices over proper wages, and speed, trends and profits over people and the environment. The fast fashion model allows clothes to be produced cheaply and quickly in order to reflect continually evolving trends.
Over the past few decades, this has allowed mainstream consumers to buy on-trend clothing at an affordable price. It’s reported that in comparison to twenty years ago, we now purchase 400% more clothing. All this is taking its toll on the environment. The production and sale of clothes is the fourth largest pressure on the UK’s natural resources, coming after the demands of housing, transport and food.
So how exactly does fast fashion affect the environment?
Carbon dioxide
It may not surprise you to learn that fashion is a huge emitter! It’s estimated that clothing accounts for over 5% of global CO2 emissions. In 2015, the industry emitted a whopping 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined .
Water
Significant amounts of water are used in the growing, refining, and processing of fibres. Cotton – one of the most widespread non-food crops in the world – is a particularly resource-intensive crop. According to the WWF, it takes roughly 2,700 litres of water to produce the cotton needed for just one shirt (not to mention the land required to grow it!).
A lot of this water is taken from ‘blue’ sources – surface-level bodies like lakes and rivers. Over time, this can have damaging effects on the water supplies of local communities, and has even led to the partial disappearance of the Aral Sea. In general, it’s estimated that as much as 200 tonnes of water are used per tonne of fabric in the textile industry – a lot of this is necessary for finishing processes like dyeing.
Polluting chemicals
The fast fashion industry also releases many dangerous and polluting chemicals that are damaging to the health of farmers, factory workers and the surrounding environment.
Pesticides, insecticides and herbicides are relied upon by farmers across the world to produce high yields of in-demand crops. Cotton is a prime example of this – According to the Pesticide Action Network UK, “[non-organic] cotton crops cover 2.4% of the world’s cultivated land but use 6% of the world’s pesticides, more than any other single major crop”.
The over-use of these chemicals threatens biodiversity (especially amongst pollinator species), ecological balance, and the health of nearby communities.
Dyes are another culprit; Fashion Revolution describes how “thick, ink-like water flows through rivers surrounding garment factories; a toxic soup of chemicals discarded from the industry’s synthetic dye processes, filtering into the water systems of the planet”.
Waste
The huge quantity of clothing produced worldwide creates millions of tonnes of fabric wastage, at all stages of the product lifecycle. Only 20% of textiles are currently recycled, and fewer than 10% of garments are made into new clothing each year. It’s estimated that the fashion industry creates approximately 13 kilograms of waste for every person on the planet per year – equating to a landmass larger than the size of France!
Clothing is also largely responsible for the less visible but equally worrying problem of microfibre pollution. When synthetic fabrics are washed, they release millions of hair-like strands that pass straight through wastewater treatment plants into the sea.
What can we do as individuals?
Consider quality over quantity – buy less! It’s best to invest in fewer, better-quality clothes! If the idea of a capsule wardrobe is too extreme, try the 30-wears test next time you’re in the shops.
Shop second-hand: Shopping second hand is a way in which the life of our clothes can be extended! Thrift shops in Destin, FL are the perfect place to do this as clothes are not being wasted.
Support sustainable/ethical businesses: Supporting these businesses will allow you to feel more positive about where your clothes come from. Choose the ones that give you a clear picture of where their clothes originate– from the materials to production!
Get curious: When buying clothes, take a second to consider: how are the clothes I am buying being produced? Look up the background of the company and how they organise themselves, from the materials used to the ways in which they are produced. You can always check out the brand’s rating on Good On You.
Look out for greenwashing: Always look out for certifications from reputable organisations if brands are making claims over the sustainability of their products. Don’t be fooled by clever packaging or wording!
And it doesn’t have to be expensive! There are many ways to embrace sustainable fashion on a budget. A lot of important steps can be made through simple mindset changes, a re-adjustment of the way in which we approach shopping for, caring for and disposing of our clothes.
Steve Clark 