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7 Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Ideas to Embrace Your Fashionable Side, Without a Big Budget #Ethicalfashion #Fashion #Sustainability #Environment #Eco

25 Thursday May 2017

Posted by Bay and Harbour in Blog, Celebrations, Environment, Ethical Fashion, Ethical Lifestyle, Fairtrade, Fashion, Fast Fashion, Slow fashion, sustainability, Sustainable Fashion

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#Fairtrade, changing fashion trends, eco fashion, eco-friendly, environment-friendly, Environmental awareness, environmental consciousness, environmental impact, Environmental initiatives, environmentalism, environmentally responsible, ethical consumerism, Ethical consumption, ethical fashion, Ethical lifestyle, Ethical Living, Fashion, fast fashion, recycle, reduce, reuse, sustainability, sustainable, Sustainable consumption, sustainable fashion, sustainable lifestyle, sustainable living

Written by Sohini Dey for http://www.thebetterindia.com/

In this blog, the author has written an excellent piece on steps that you and I can take to support a movement towards slow and sustainable fashion:

Full article from: http://www.thebetterindia.com/98881/slow-sustainable-fashion/

“Promoting fair wages and minimal waste, slow and sustainable fashion demands change in the way we perceive clothing”

A friend of this writer once said, “I will just have to reconcile with children in sweatshops making the clothes I wear; after all, who can argue with cheaper prices more affordable.” Needless to say, the listener was horrified. With increasing awareness, more people are now making an effort to live less wasteful lives—yet we sometimes fall woefully short when it comes to clothing choices.

This is the age of fast fashion—trends change every few weeks, or less, and brands keep up by churning out new designs at alarming speed.

Sustainable_fashion-4.jpg

Fashion has, over the years become associated with excess and frivolity but beneath the surface the simple fact is that clothing is essential to our lives. There is much to value about fashion (and that is a subject for an entirely different article) but some of its trends and practices can certainly be changed for the better.

Slow fashion is slowly (pun intended) taking over, and its principles are simple—fair wages, eco-friendly fabrics and practices, and minimal to zero waste. But it does demand change in the way we perceive clothing.

From keeping your shopping habits in control to knowing about the supply chain of your favoured brands, a conscious interest in your clothes—and their makers—not only has a positive impact on the environment but also the communities engaged in the production of clothing. Here is what you can do to be part of the slow and sustainable fashion movement.

1. Reduce your wardrobe to only what you need and love

To begin with, keep your shopping habits in check. Retail therapy may be happiness-inducing, but its long-term effect usually includes a pile of unused clothes in our wardrobes. Instead, shop with discretion and buy only what you need or like enough to wear often.
If an occasion demands an ensemble that you will never wear otherwise, consider borrowing or use clothing rentals, an emerging trend that some suggest will pose a grave threat to fast fashion brands in the future.

2. Your choice of materials makes a difference

Sustainable_fashion2.jpg

Take cotton for instance, a crop that is both water- and chemical-intensive. In the ongoing drought across numerous states of India, cotton farmers are among the hardest-hit.

However, organic cotton is gaining ground—not only does it require less water but also substantially less chemicals. On the other hand, Ahimsa or vegan silks are becoming popular as conventional silks raise questions about boiling silkworms to produce the threads. Handspun khadi and traditional techniques are being revived and internationally, bamboo, recycled fabrics and hemp are becoming popular over synthetics.

3. Say no to sweatshops, breeding grounds of labour exploitation

Cheap clothing always a welcome addition to wardrobes, but it often comes at great human cost. In 2013, Rana Plaza in Bangladesh collapsed in a heap, killing 1,134 people all of whom were making clothes for international brands under strenuous conditions. And this is not a stray incident—news reports frequently bring the exploitative working conditions in sweatshops to light.

If a brand, no matter how aspirational or abounding in gorgeous clothes, is repeatedly in the news for malpractices, ditch them for fair-trade labels or factories that conform to regulations for workers safety and other standards.

If enough people refuse to invest in such brands, the industry will be compelled to regulate the measures for workers’ welfare.

4. Ask this: Who made my clothes?

The previous point naturally leads to this one. Remember that prices aren’t the overriding factor in determining whether your clothes are sustainable or not — a great deal of luxury products aren’t always ethical and many surprisingly cheap products often are. It is important to check the supply chain of the brand you purchase from and most importantly, pose the question, “Who made my clothes?”

5. Buy local, and support fair-trade and craft clusters that practice sustainable techniques

Sustainable_fashion-3.jpg

Buying local keeps your carbon footprint lower—after all, your clothes haven’t travelled the world to reach your wardrobe. Second, it is a means of sustenance for local weavers and artisans. India is home to countless handlooms and crafts and unfortunately, many of them are dwindling. These karigars need patronage and support for their craft traditions to continue. Many shoppers are ditching big brands for handlooms and old techniques are being revived by designers and organisations to be relevant in contemporary times.

6. How you use your clothes affects your carbon footprint

Washing and drying your clothes might keep them clean, but also increases your carbon footprint and reduces the lifespan of your clothes drastic. Now the solutions: use non-toxic detergent, hand wash as much as possible and remember that air drying is better than the spin tub.
Most of all, wear your clothes more than once before washing. In a tropical country, this can be challenging especially in the heat, but choosing airy fabrics and air drying them can solve the problem to some extent.

7. Finally: recycle, upcycle and donate

Sustainable_fashion-3-1152x768

While many of us are increasingly conscious about the immortality of plastic, landfills are also choked by immense quantities of clothing.While organuc fabrics are bio-degradable, synthetics may not be so. There’s also the questions of plastic and other non bio-degradable items that make their way into clothing via buttons, zips and other fixtures.

Instead of tossing old clothes, considering repairing them or donating to someone in need. A number of NGOs and other organisations can make use of old clothes in crafting refurbished products as well.

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[Repost] Earth Day Everyday: Tips on How to Celebrate Earth Day #Earthday2015 #Eco #Environment #Ethicalfashion #Sustainable

19 Thursday Mar 2015

Posted by Bay and Harbour in Blog, Celebrations, Ethical Fashion, Ethical Lifestyle, Fashion

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#buyethical, Buy Local, Change, Earth Day 2015, Earth Day Everyday, Earthday Celebration, eco fashion, eco-friendly, Environment, environmentalism, environmentally-friendly, ethical consumerism, ethical fashion, ethical products, ethically-made, recycle, Recycled Fashion, reduce, reuse, social impact, sustainability, sustainable, sustainable fashion, sustainably-made

Earthday15As a throwback this Thursday and in honour of earth day which is about a month away, we thought we would dig up this old post to share some thoughts on how you can make Earth day, everyday:

“As we celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, we thought it would be great to look at interesting movement in the environmental space.

Today we thought we would draw up a list of excellent ways to celebrate Earth Day. Here goes:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Perhaps it’s time for some spring cleaning. Go through you old clothes, accessories, and athletic products and consider how you can recycle or reuse products you haven’t used in a while.

Shop Smart: Use reusable bags at grocery stores, shop local, shop ethical, avoid products with packaging that isn’t eco-friendly and shop smart.

Find Green ways to entertain yourself: Instead of going on an energy-sucking treadmill, go for a run outside. Instead of using the gas-guzzling car to go out, consider walking or using public transportation. Make the most of the good weather by doing things green.

Dress in Ethical Clothes and Accessories: Consider the clothes you wear and how they impact the lives of the artisans that produce them and the environment. Buy products made of recycled materials, sustainable fabrics, sustainable production processes and in fair trade conditions. Check out our lines of ethical products at http://shopanthropic.com.”

 

 

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Earth Day Everyday: Tips on How to Celebrate Earth Day #Earthday2013 #Eco #Environment

18 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by Bay and Harbour in Uncategorized

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#buyethical, Change, Earth Day, Earth Day 2013, Earth Day Everyday, eco, eco fashion, Eco-conscious, Eco-lifestyle, Environment, environmental impact, environmentalism, Environmentally conscious, environmentally responsible, environmentally-friendly, ethical consumerism, ethical fashion, ethically-made, fair trade, Green living, recycle, reduce, reuse, socially-made, sustainable fashion, sustainably-made

Earthday2013As we celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, we thought it would be great to look at interesting movement in the environmental space. Stay tuned for our article series titled “Earth Day Everyday” for stories, tips and trends related to sustainability and the environment.

Today we thought we would draw up a list of excellent ways to celebrate Earth Day. Here goes:

  1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Perhaps it’s time for some spring cleaning. Go through you old clothes, accessories, and athletic products and consider how you can recycle or reuse products you haven’t used in a while.
  2. Shop Smart: Use reusable bags at grocery stores, shop local, shop ethical, avoid products with packaging that isn’t eco-friendly and shop smart.
  3. Find Green ways to entertain yourself: Instead of going on an energy-sucking treadmill, go for a run outside. Instead of using the gas-guzzling car to go out, consider walking or using public transportation. Make the most of the good weather by doing things green.
  4. Dress in Ethical Clothes and Accessories: Consider the clothes you wear and how they impact the lives of the artisans that produce them and the environment. Buy products made of recycled materials, sustainable fabrics, sustainable production processes and in fair trade conditions. Check out our lines of ethical products at http://shopanthropic.com.

More tips: Responsibility for the Planet

earth-day-2012-infographic

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Earth Day Everyday: How to Make Earth Day Everyday #Earthmonth #Earthday2013 #Environment

05 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by Bay and Harbour in Uncategorized

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Buy Local, eco fashion, eco-friendly, Environment, environmental impact, environmentalism, environmentally-friendly, Green living, recycle, reduce, reuse, Save Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Power, sustainable, sustainable fashion, sustainably-made, vegan alternatives

Earthday2013

As we celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, we thought it would be great to look at interesting movement in the environmental space. Stay tuned for our article series titled “Earth Day Everyday” for stories, tips and trends related to sustainability and the environment.

make-earth-day-everyday_502911abf19b2

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Earth Day Everyday: 40 Super Easy Ways to Go Greener At Home #Earthday2013 #Earthmonth #Environment

03 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by Bay and Harbour in Uncategorized

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Change, Earth Day, Earth Day 2013, Earth Month, earth-friendly, eco fashion, Eco-conscious, eco-friendly, Eco-lifestyle, Environment, environmentalism, environmentally-friendly, ethical consumerism, Going green, Green alternatives, Green living, recycle, reduce, reuse, social impact, sustainability, sustainable, sustainably-made

Earthday2013

As we celebrate the upcoming Earth Day, we thought it would be great to look at interesting movement in the environmental space. Stay tuned for our article series titled “Earth Day Everyday” for stories, tips and trends related to sustainability and the environment.

Source: http://simplemom.net/tips-to-go-green-at-home/

“This post was first published in April 2009, but I find it fascinating how these simple, everyday things are still important for caring for the planet. And it’s also a good reminder that “going green” really isn’t all that hard.

I’m not into politics, but I am into good stewardship.  To me, being intentionally eco-friendly has more to do with celebrating God’s creativity, being wise with what He’s given us, and passing on those values to the next generation than it does with pressing some government agenda.

The thing I love most about practicing green alternatives in my home is that nine times out of ten, they are the more frugal option.  And I love being frugal.  Being environmentally-friendly is just good economics—in our home and budget, and with the earth God gave us.

There are many little things we can do in our homes to play a small part in reducing landfill waste, cleaning the air, and preserving the natural landscape.  But we double our efforts when we get our kids involved, helping them understand the why to our what.

When they get it, it’ll be second nature to them when they’re adults—and that much easier to pass it down to their children.

Here are some small, easy, green choices we can make in our homes. Choose three that you’re not already doing, and make a point to do them this year. Perhaps they’ll become a habit.”

We found this article really interesting and decided to pull some of our top tips from the list of 40:

  • Plant an herb garden. It’s good to have a reminder around of where our food originates, and this one is super easy.
DIY Kitchen Hurb Gardon

DIY Kitchen Herb Garden

  • Switch all your lightbulbs to CFLs (or at least switch a few).
  • Switch one appliance to an energy efficient model (look for the “energy star” label).
  • Stop using disposable bags. Order some reusable bags…
  • Buy an inexpensive reusable water bottle, and stop buying plastic disposable bottles.
  • Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot.
  • Turn off lights when you leave the room.
  • Don’t turn on lights at all for as long as you can—open your curtains and enjoy natural light.
  • Drive the speed limit, and combine all your errands for the week in one trip
  • Better yet, walk or ride a bike to your errands that are two miles or closer.
  • Support your local economy and shop at your farmer’s market.
  • Pay your bills online. Not only is it greener, it’s a sanity saver..
  • Subscribe to good eco-friendly blogs (such as this one!)
  • Support local restaurants that use food derived less than 100 miles away, and learn more about the benefits of eating locally.
  • Fix leaky faucets.
  • Unplug unused chargers and appliances.
  • Repurpose something. It’s fun.
  • Use cloth instead of paper to clean your kitchen. Be frugal, and make these rags out of old towels and t-shirts.
  • Repurpose glass jars as leftover containers and bulk storage, especially in the kitchen.
  • Donate to—and shop at—thrift stores.  You’ll be recycling perfectly usable items, you’ll be supporting your local economy, and you’ll be saving money.

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Paper Dress & Eco-friendly Fashion

18 Wednesday May 2011

Posted by Bay and Harbour in Uncategorized

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consumerism, eco-friendly, enable change everywhere., environmentally-friendly, ethically-made, fair trade, Fashion, hand-embroidered, hemp, jute, paper dresses, recycle, reduce, reuse, Social Innovation, socially-made, sustainable, sustainably-made

An exhibition in the US titled Paper Dresses Fashion Exhibition is giving the world a sample of an ultra-sustainable fashion product: paper dresses. Cheap, pretty, and wearable – these dresses would reduce the millions of tonnes of textile clothing that is discarded into landfills every year. Now this is 100% guilt free shopping, since they are cheap, environmentally-responsible, biodegradable, and easily disposable!

The collection features pieces from 18th and 19th-century Japan and China, A-Line Souper’s from the 1960s and some modern creations.

It is an interesting fantasy – walking around in paper clothing. However, if paper isn’t your material of choice – consider creations made through age-old artisan practices. There was a time when we didn’t have mile-high landfills and the concept of artificial materials. In our collection, fashion products like these Hand-Embroidered cotton stoles and this ‘I am Fair Trade’ Bag display hand-crafted fashion that is made of natural materials. These are materials that are easily available, often times bio-degradable and therefore easily disposable.

So paper dresses may be a bit too extreme for you, but don’t fret, there are plenty of less extreme options (Check out our collection!) for you to buy pretty, wearable and environmentally-responsible fashion!

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The Bay & Harbour Blog

Bay & Harbour is the brainchild of a Toronto-based mother/daughter team with an eye for trend-setting, unique and high-quality fashion & lifestyle products.

The pair is inspired by different cultures, handicraft techniques, discrete designs, and fashion trends from their travels around the world. Bay & Harbour as their outlet to share that love of design with others.

The Bay & Harbour collections feature a variety of accessories & lifestyle products for both men & women.

The co-founders are passionate about fashion with a cause. Many of the Bay & Harbour collections also include pieces that are sustainable and / or ethically made.

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