Lexington, KY - Trying to wade your way through all the sustainable practices in every given sector can be a tad daunting, not to mention time-consuming. We asked some local experts to chime in on their area of expertise.
Fashion: Green Is the New Black
In recent years, due to the climate change and all the situations that it has caused, there is a lot more to consider when buying a car, a house, food and the clothing we wear.
The popularity of natural and organic fibers is growing, and even though that might make a positive impact to the environment, the process of manufacturing and transporting clothing still has a negative effect on the environment. A large portion of the current inventory in clothing stores has traveled thousand of miles to get there.
There are a lot of things we can do to reduce global warming and still look smashing. Here are some of the things to considered before buying a garment:
Synthetic vs. Natural Fibers
It seems like buying natural fibers would be better than synthetic, right? In actuality, cotton is one of the most water and pesticide dependent crops around. Most of the time cotton is produced in one place, transported to another location to be turned into fabric, then to a different location to create the final garment, and finally another trip to the retail location. This leaves behind a big carbon footprint. Instead, consider hemp, or even bamboo.
A better option would be natural, organic, fabric - from a local clothing provider. If local is not available, then that which travels the shortest distance (throughout the entire process) is preferable.
Considerate Shopping
A lot of people want the latest styles, and associate terms like "classic" or "timeless" with "boring," but trying too hard to keep up with the trends causes a big impact to the environment. In the fashion industry there is a new term being used: "fast clothes." This is roughly the equivalent to fast food; it describes trendy, cheap, disposable clothes.
The best option is to build a wardrobe that can last for a long time. Consider quality over quantity when shopping and go for cuts that flatter your body shape instead of going around experimenting with trendy clothes that have a short lifespan (in terms of being in style) and are going to end up staying in your closet or being thrown away.
Other considerations: