Journey to be Almost-Zero

I have been a designer for a long time.  I have said this before but I always felt it was my calling.  Every experience I have had has shaped me both creatively and ethically.  

In my 20's, I loved flying around the world working with different people. It gave me a chance to see how the "Industry" worked, or rather didn't.  That experience, which was seeing people who did not have plumbing or some of the basics we take for granted, guided me to start my own business with my husband Dennis.  I was determined to pay a REAL living wage.  

I always say, I fell into sustainability because I wanted control over the process so I kept it pretty local.  Now I feel I was guided to that as I was guided to start saving every scrap I had because it just seemed wasteful to throw it out.  

After collecting it for a while, I looked at what had accumulated and was horrified.  If I had so much as a small designer, what did the big companies throw away!  I started taking my "scraps" and putting them together into yardage which I then used to make things.  The first piece I ever made was a wedding dress that I gave to a very special friend when she got married.  

At this point in my journey, I have started to really think about what I am doing and why. I know that I need to create to fill my soul.  The things I have been doing are finally starting to get to the mainstream of peoples consciousness. I also know it is important to buy fabric and create new from an economic standpoint for others to work.  

I am reading a book called The One Thing by Gary Keller.   In trying to figure out my One Thing.  Maybe this is it. There is no such thing as Zero Waste, but I can say I am Almost Zero.  

On last thing....I did a focus group a while back and learned that my customers do not throw the clothing I make out,  They consider it to be timeless, heirloom clothing.  That really knocked my socks off because I always wondered about that.  Never wanting to be part of that Fast Fashion world of throw away clothing so they have helped me carry the message.  With Gratitude.

Submitted August 31, 2019 at 05:51PM by steelponystyle https://ift.tt/2PxBIk3

I started a YouTube channel about Sustainable Men's Clothes + Sustainable Fashion

https://youtu.be/6-hSxJjZXgE

Submitted August 29, 2019 at 06:56PM by EcoStylist https://ift.tt/30LtIx1

You can now rent your clothes instead of buying them!

I read about this really cool thing where you can rent clothes instead of buying them. Obviously the fashion industry is one of the top polluters so this would be a great way to combat waste.

Although I think this is a really cool idea, in theory, but it does seem quite expensive. Done a bit of research and can cost up to $100 just for a few items of clothing that you rent and then have to send back at the end of the month. Think as a student it's not a viable option for me right now but thought I'd share the love as it's a super cool idea!

Submitted August 29, 2019 at 08:47AM by key-va https://ift.tt/2UcrW5B

The Best Alternative To Cotton and Synthetic (plastic) Clothing

Hello kind reader,

Based on over 1.5 years of my own research, I have found the best material for conscious apparel to be a blend of hemp and bamboo fibers. Please keep reading to find out why and don't mind the link to my project's blog at the end of this post, it includes the original sources of the facts stated in this post. I hope to get your opinion on this :)

We should slow it down with the cotton and polyester, the conventional clothing that all the fast fashion brands are selling. The reason we need to move away from cotton is mainly that it costs huge amounts of water to grow, which is why a t-shirt ends up costing 2700 liters. The reason we should avoid wearing polyester and other synthetic materials is the plastic microfiber pollution it causes every time they are washed.

An alternative which is both water-efficient and natural is a blend of hemp and bamboo. This material is not just eco-friendly, but also of superior quality in several ways. Please find a sum-up of some of the ecological and functional benefits of blended hemp-bamboo clothing below.

• Eco-benefits:
  • Costs up to 75% less water to make than cotton apparel, because the crops are non irrigated
  • Hemp and bamboo effectively combat climate change, absorbing large amounts of CO2
  • 100% biodegradable, so no synthetic microfiber pollution
  • Crops grow without pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, or fertilizers. Instead, they are good for the health of the soil
• Functional benefits:
  • Extremely soft, comfy, and hypoallergenic. Non irritating to sensitive skin
  • No body odor due to antibacterial and antifungal properties of both hemp and bamboo fibers
  • NEVER shows sweat stains, due to high absorbency and quick dry ability
  • Insulating, yet highly breathable. As a result, the garment keeps one warm in cold weather and vice versa

In case it interests you, here is our blog http://www.leandropcc.com/en/sustainability/

Thank's for reading!

Submitted August 29, 2019 at 06:00AM by thomasfromamsterdam https://ift.tt/2UcWa8i

Stop Wearing Plastic!

https://ift.tt/2LePcfc

Submitted August 29, 2019 at 06:20AM by thomasfromamsterdam https://ift.tt/2ZpmlOU

You're probably wearing plastic…

https://ift.tt/30FxjMN

Submitted August 28, 2019 at 09:11AM by alearcmil https://ift.tt/2ZuQawL

Eco Alternatives to 5 of the Most Popular Men's Sneakers

https://ift.tt/2MD6eGN

Submitted August 26, 2019 at 01:57AM by EcoStylist https://ift.tt/2L6ry4t

Sustainable Machine Washable Shoes?

So probably around end of last year I was on Instagram and I had an ad pop up for a new small company that was creating machine washable shoes. I was interested but couldn’t afford it at the time, plus I still had my current shoes that I was wearing.

I know of Rothy’s and Allbird’s but in always willing to support new companies that are creating a positive impact!

They were very similar concept to Rothy’s and I believe they were based in California? I searched through Instagram and the internet to try to find this company but no luck!

Does anyone know/recommend a good brand that is sustainably made, preferable with machine washable shoes?

Thank you!

Submitted August 25, 2019 at 08:41AM by kamekaze318 https://ift.tt/31Z5a3N

Future of sustainbility

https://ift.tt/2ZliAJC

Submitted August 25, 2019 at 01:09AM by Yashshree970 https://ift.tt/2ZqntRF

We're New and Trying.

Hi. I started WHITL with my partner and his parents after running for Texas congress last year. I needed something to throw myself into creatively. One evening after talking with my partner's mother about how earrings caused her pain I got the idea. Considering how earrings are trending larger and larger and the need for handcrafted items is on the rise I saw an opportunity to help. WHITL's mission is to create a fashionable, lightweight, and sustainable look that anyone can afford.

We source eco-conscious engineered wood produced in the USA from sustainable forests, vegan leather alternatives, and fabrics to create handcrafted jewelry that is made right here in Texas. In fact, I am so committed to sustainability that I weekly go to our local big box store and take the packing slips from their paper towels to make our earring cards.

We are also committed to our local community. My background was previously in nonprofit working with disabled people. That is why we have partnered with our local state school to help produce our jewelry instead of using large manufacturing companies that would increase our carbon footprint and cause unnecessary damage.I want to make sure that we are doing the right thing while starting off so we can grow and develop as a conscious, sustainable brand. That is why I'm reaching out to Reddit. Thank you for any feedback you have. :)

https://www.whitlwoodworking.com

Submitted August 23, 2019 at 12:00PM by samuelhatton100 https://ift.tt/2TZp9MW