In today’s ever so shifting and trendy ways to spend your dispensable income, spending your green on green has become the new movement. Eco-friendly, organic, and sustainable products are rapidly becoming less of a trend and more of a necessity for our environment. With the increasing growth of landfills, trash barges, and the North Pacific Gyre, (area of floating garbage in the Pacific Ocean between California and Hawaii twice the size of Texas, see page 14 for story.), how can anyone not recycle? Consumerism has become the American way, so why not focus our spending on items that will last longer and leave less of a carbon footprint on our planet…and take a re-useable bag to bring those purchases home when you do it!
One way to stop depleting Mother Earth of her natural resources is by shopping responsibly; and doing a little research on brands before spending those precious dollars can go a long way. Important things to look out for are companies that use the “less is more” concept in their packaging, as it creates less waste. The old adage of “reduce, reuse, recycle” comes in handy when consuming on every level, whether at work or play. It can make a difference!
Green fashion and sustainable apparel is also on the rise! The first thought on everyone’s mind when shopping is, “How do you know if a clothing line is truly eco-friendly?” People also wonder, “Why should I buy organic clothing? It costs more!” True, in most cases eco-friendly clothing will cost you 20-30 percent more, but think of it as an investment in the future of everyone’s offspring. With all the damage that humankind has intentionally done to the earth for our own benefit, don’t you think it’s time to give back a little so there is something left for our future generations? Clothing incorporating bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, charcoal, and recycled and sustainable materials are great beginning purchases into the world of sustainable fashion. Bamboo fabric is one of the softest fabrics out there; it’s naturally anti-bacterial, absorbs odor, and regenerates quickly with the least impact on our ecosystem. Looking for the organic certification stamp is also a big help. Generally, if a clothing brand has it, it is proudly displayed on a hangtag where it is completely visible.
So if you truly care about our planet and its current and future inhabitants, be responsible and buy responsibly. Support our organic farmers and manufactures so that the demand for more sustainable and organic products will drive the need higher and the costs lower. Pat anyone you know on the back for taking a step in a direction that creates a better future. Go to coolgreenfashionforforests.org and calculate your carbon footprint and do something to offset it, such as reforesting on a beautiful sunny California day in the Santa Monica Mountains. Shop locally, carpool, or use public transportation whenever possible to lessen our dependency on oil and gas. Use alternative eco-friendly solutions whenever possible, and help create a better future. Peace.
Mikey Koffman is founder of The Gallery Los Angeles Public Relations and Marketing, and produces the Green Initiative Humanitarian Fashion Show.
