Mitumba Trading

Ever wonder what happens to your clothes after you donate them?

I recently stumbled upon this interesting “Witness Special” documentary on Mitumba trading. Mitumba in Swahili means "bundles", which represents the packages of used clothing that are wrapped in plastic and then shipped off to countries in need. This documentary just shows how globalization links different countries together even more than you would have thought!

Recycled clothing in Africa is not about ecology; it is more about a necessity. For example, the documentary states that another popular recycling method is making shoes out of used tires. However, these shoes are mainly fabricated for the African people and are rarely sold to western consumers. This needs explanation: why are they doing this? Is it for themselves or western consumers?

In Africa, recycled clothing is also considered a luxury. The consumers of Mitumba enjoy the fact that they can wear brand name products such as Nike at reasonable prices. Mitumba has brought Western styles to Africa and people like to buy “Mitumba clothing” because they feel as though they are the only one’s wearing that specific article of clothing.

Mitumba trading has helped lots of African countries economically since it generates many jobs. Mitumba trading has helped many Westernized countries recycle their waste while giving to someone in need. However, currently, many under-developed countries are finding it cheaper to buy “western” clothing straight from China instead of buying second-hand “Mitumba clothing.” The problem is, if the African population stops purchasing recycled products and starts purchasing only new products, will that create even more waste that our environment will have to deal with? What will the countries in need do with their unwanted items? And what will we do with our waste?

Watch the documentary here: Mitumba Documentary

Levi's Vintage Clothing Brand

Recently, WWD posted an interesting article about Levi’s “Vintage Clothing” brand. I had absolutely no idea that this division of Levi’s existed. The brand is all about reproducing pieces that the company has an archive. The brand is not about creating fashionable product but rather “simple, American product.”

The article continues to talk about the transformation of a specific Levi’s Concept store in Tokyo that was not doing so well. In addition to incorporating vintage merchandise (such as T-shirts from the 60s and 70s, the visual fixtures were also found objects found at flea markets. Everything in the store is all natural, including the wood and piping which is all recycled material. The designers even chose to use an oak wood since it is believed to be "equivalent to denim in the way it beautifies as it ages." 

Read the article: donadi-a-new-approach-to-premium-at-levi

Macy's Recycled Hangers

Starting this fall, Macy’s Inc. plans on replacing their “standard clear plastic hangers that incorporate pretroleum-based resins” with “matte black hangers made from recycled plastics.”

Along with the hangers, Macy’s Inc. plans on incorporating many more “green” efforts into their business practices such as installing more LED bubls, eliminating foam packaging, increasing the number of solar power systems at stores and encouraging credit customers to receive bills online rather than by paper.

Credit: macys-to-go-green-with-eco-friendly-hangers

Newlymaid.com

Visit Newlymaid.com to recycle and donate your old bridesmaid/prom/evening dresses in exchange for a discounted new black dresses.

In order to recycle your dresses, it’s super simple! All you need to do is to watch a short video on how to package and mail your used dress to the Dessy Group. All garments should be in perfect conditions with no pulls, tears/stains and working zippers.

Once the the Dessy Group has received the dress, you will be notified by email of the special savings you have obtained. Savings typically range from 30 to 50 percent off of six different style dresses, priced under $200.

All donated dresses will be given to Clothes4souls.org (a charity that distributes reused garments to people in need). Newlymaid has also partnered up with Unifi in order to recycle polyester dresses.

So instead of clogging your closet with dresses that will probably never see the light of day again, donate to Newlymaid.com!

Credit: dessy-to-recycle-bridesmaid-dresses

Ecoist.com

Visit the ecoist.com for all sorts of recycled fashion products. The website is primarily known for their recycled candy wrapper handbags.

The ecoist offers products for consumers with all different styles: M&M's for colorful, bubbly personalities, bar codes for the more retro individuals or metallic for the chic girl.

The website offers 16 different wrapper styles (coca-cola, twix and newspaper for example) and over 7 different handbag styles. The website also offers jewelry (such as bracelets, necklaces and earrings) as well as home decor.

Not only is the brand concept all about being socially responsible, but the website also promotes other environmentally friendly factors such as planting a tree with every purchase that a customer makes. In effort to make the brand more “fashiony,” the website demonstrates certain products that celebrities have been seen wearing, or products that were endorsed on certain movies.

Plastic Design

Look at this design Christina Kim created for Dosa entirely out of recycled plastic bottles and muslin:

Credit: http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/one-word-plastics/?scp=4&sq=recycled%20fashion&st=cse

Eco-Trend: High on Green

Look at these different designer's looks made entirely out of recycled plastic or reclaimed metal:

Eco-Trend: High on Green - WWD.com

Photo Shoot of my Receipt Necklace!

Photo Credit: Paige Westberg
Model: Alli Harlow

Make Your Own Recycled Accessories!

On this blog, I've been writing a lot about the use of recycled newspaper which has been manipulated to make many different types of products (bags, accessories, bowls, etc.) But why not save some money and make your own "product" out of recycled newspaper?

I recently stumbled upon a blog and discovered these beautiful hand made beaded recycled newspaper necklaces. Click this link to find out how to make your own: The Budget Fashionista

This blog actually inspired me to make a necklace of my own. I was gathering up all of my receipts I had accumulated over the past couple months and realized how much paper was being wasted in every purchase I had made. Instead of just throwing out my old receipts, I decided to make my own necklace out of them (I used marker to add a bit of color!):

Green Iphone/Ipad Apps!

With more and more people today buying smart phones, I decided to look up an "green" iphone/ipad applications and to my great surprise there are actually many different apps to chose from!

The following apps are all free apps that might give you inspirational tips on how to live "greener":
1. Go Green
2. Green Tips
3. The Green Lemur

All 3 of these are pretty similar. Whenever you click to open the app, you are given a tip on how to be environmentally friendly. What can you really expect from a free app? The Green Lemur however is slightly more complete in that you can actually search for different eco-friendly tips based on a category and then chose to add certain tips to your "favorites."

The following apps are all about recycling:
1. iRecycle (free): this app helps you find near by recycling locations


There are also a few free "green" shopping apps:
1. 3rdWhale: finds nearby local "eco-friendly" businesses through the use of the GPS in your smart phone
2. Yowza!: provides you with digital coupons from near by businesses so retailers can just scan your coupon straight from your phone without having you waste paper!
3. Locavore ( $2.99): this app indicates which foods are being grown near you and which ones are in season so this way you know what to purchase next time you're at your local market
4. The Good Guide (free): by scanning a products' bar code, this app helps you find healthy and sustainable products while you shop

The following are by far my favorite. Here are some ways to measure your carbon footprint (most are not free however):
1. MeterRead ($2.99): use this app to log your how much electricity you are using. On the plus side, this will help you determine your electrical bill...!
2. greenMeter ($5.99): "Uses the accelerometer to determine the drag and resistance of your car/driving habits in real time"
3. shopgreen (free): The app will ask you a series of questions on how you maintain your life. Based on your answers, the CO2 amount you save is calculated. Based on the number of points you receive for being "green", you may be given discounts at local businesses
4. carbon tracker (free): this app tracks your carbon footprint for free while you travel/commute


Credits: 
http://gigaom.com/apple/go-green-8-iphone-apps-to-help-save-the-planet/
http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/five-great-iphone-applications-to-help-you-get-green/

Swap your clothes online!

Online Swapping Clothing has become the next big trend! And why shouldn’t it be? It’s free and it’s an easy way to get rid of something you don’t want anymore in exchange for something you do want!

Visit the following websites and choose which one you want to start swapping at: 

1.     Swapstyle.com

Pros: -Easy to navigate

         -Several categories -wide price range (mass-market products to low end)

         - Swap or buy

         -Registration process is easy

                        Cons: -If you want to list items for sale, you must pay a yearly fee

2.     ClothingSwap.com or clothingswap.meetups.com

Pros:  -Meet members in person before swapping

           -Search by city/zip code

            -Host events (cocktail parties, spa days) for people to come and swap clothing,    unwanted items are donated to local non-profit organizations

 Cons: -Mainly in large cities

3.     MyFashionSwap.com

                         Pros: -Pretty website

          -Free membership

          -Wide selection of higher end products

Cons: -Small fees will be applied when looking at certain category features

           Pages load extremely slowly

4.     Rehashclothes.com

 Pros: -Large selection

-Possibility to create forums where members can meet and talk about common interests

             Cons: -Members manage their own shipping arrangements

 

5.     Zwaggle.com

                       Pros: -Registration process is easy

                                -Swapping is made easier since each member is given points (or “zoints)” given on the quality of a specific product a member has put on the website

                       Cons: -Only for kids/maternity clothes and products

                                  -If the item does not sell, the website will remove it off the site

6.     ChanceXChange.com

Pros: -Free membership

         -Several categories (except for fashion items)

Cons: - Cannot swap clothes

7.     DigNSwap.com

Pros: -Easy to navigate

         -Several categories

                        Cons: -Swap only

                      -Limited high end products

                                  -Membership is only free for a limited amount of time

                                  -Members a charged 99 cents for each swap

                      -Members manage their own shipping arrangements

8.     MakeUpAlley.com Pros: -Swap hardly-used makeup and beauty products

                   Cons : -Sounds gross…

 

Credit: http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/top-online-swap-sites/

http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/five-best-clothing-swap-sites/

Urban Renewal

Urban renewal, a 20+ year old collection at Urban Outfitters, is a unique collection made entirely out of vintage, deadstock and surplus materials found more manufacturing companies around the world.

Urban was definitely way ahead of its game in terms of launching a green line. On their blog, director of Urban Renewal, Dayna Haley explains how this collection has given the brand a clear competitive edge.

The line first began as just a "bad costume" selection for Halloween. Then the designers starting collecting men's shirts, sheets, Levi's denim, vintage t-shirts, 70s/80s dresses, blouses and 80s "career lady" clothing. On the blog, Haley explains that all those items "works brilliantly for reconstruction" and then the designers "update them through new wash and dye treatments as well as incorporating new trims".

Creating the collection can sometimes be difficult since the designers need to find vintage or deadstock in large amounts of quantity in order to "mass-market" the merchandise.

Finally, one thing that amazes me the most about the Urban Outfitters brand is their ability and willingness to incorporate and engage the consumer into the final production of their collection. I witnessed this first hand during a workshop at Anthropologie where customers were encouraged to help create the visual displays. Similarly, Urban Renewal asks their store employees and their customers to hand customize a vintage item, which the brand then offers for sale in the stores.

Check out these current Urban Renewal products:

H&M's Conscious Collection

Go visit your local H&M now to see their newest brand: Conscious Collection! H&M's Conscious Collection brand is all about producing more sustainable and ethical garments (such as creating items out of recycled plastic bottles are simply by using less water during the manufacturing process). Not only are the textiles used super soft but the clothing is right on trend for Spring 2011!

Watch this video for more information about H&M's Conscious Collection

Barnes and Noble Goes Green

Don't just leave it to the fashion apparel retailers to sell recycled products. Popular bookseller, Barnes and Noble, recently began selling recycled products such as bowls, totes, pencil pouches, notebooks and more.


This pencil pouch made entirely out of made from recycled newsprint is only $7.95:








This recycled newspaper twine multi-color handcrafted bowl is only $14.95:

And finally my favorite, the recycled hand-crafted paper elephant journal for only $8.95.




Not only are these recycled products extremely cheap and excellent gift ideas, but they're super cute too! So visit your local Barnes and Noble or barnesandnoble.com and check out the eco gifts section today!

H&M and Organic Cotton

The Swedish fast-fashion genius, H&M has decided to increase their use of organic cotton within their collections. The brand began using organic cotton since 2004 and by 2007, the brand had garments made of 100% organic cotton. Their goal is to increase their use of organic cotton by 50% each year until 2013 (when they will be using 15,000 tonnes of organic cotton). Each organically produced garment is labeled with a green tag so the consumer knows exactly what he or she is buying. 

In addition to promoting the use of organic cotton, H&M also tries to improve conventional cotton growing. 

So next time you walk into H&M, look out for those little green organic tags!

Information Content: http://www.hm.com/us/corporateresponsibility/environment/focusoncottonandtheenvironment__envworkarticle3.nhtml

Thrift Stores: an easy way to recycle your clothing!

Thrift stores or consignment stores are rarely given enough credit for helping with the “green movement” when really, donating to a thrift store is one of the easiest ways to recycle clothing! Shopping at thrift stores is becoming increasingly popular. You can easily find a thrift store near you that caters to whatever style you are looking for; whether it be a retro style, a punk style, a classic style or even designer products at a bargain!

In the past, many consumers avoided thrift stores because they had a preconceived notion that all thrift stores were just smelly boutiques with dirty, ugly clothing. Of course, you may have to dig around to find that one exceptional piece but it's not completely uncommon to find that diamond in the rough. Often times, you may even find brand new articles or designer products for super cheap! For example, a couple of days ago, I took a quick visit to the "New and Recycled" store "Civvies" in Savannah, GA's Broughton Street. Much to my amazement, I was able to find a pair of True Religion Skinny jeans (usually $250) for $25! I talked to one of the sales attendants, who explained to me that the buyer travels across the country to different thrift stores to find quality products that fit within the Savannah consumer demographic.

When you think about it, donating to a thrift store only has positive aspects:

First of all, you get to rid yourself of all those clothes you’ve been holding on to for years that you never actually wore. In all seriousness, did you really think those 80s style neon baggy parachute pants were ever going to come back in style?

Second of all, many thrift stores will give you some sort of compensation for donating (a percentage of the price of the product, or store credit to purchase anything within the store).

Third of all, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!”

So, instead of just throwing away your unwanted garments or storing them in your closet where they never get to see the light of day, join the recycling trend and donate to your nearest thrift store!

Denim Pencils!

Who would have thought your jeans could have more than one purpose? I recently came across these cute little blue pencils that are produced out of 20%-35% of recycled blue denim jeans.

The pencil contains absolutely no wood, the rest consists of recycled post-consumer paper. These pencils are innovative and cost-effective.  So next time you’re out purchasing a new pack of pencils, why not choose the eco-friendly ones?


Content Information: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/08/earthmate_penci.php

Plastic Shoes!

In line with the trend that TOMS’ has set, other shoe companies have also decided to jump on the bandwagon of joining social causes. After Crocs began their “Crocs Cares” campaign where 2.5 million pairs of shoes are donated to countries in need, Melissa’s M:Zero, an eco-friendly brand, has recently launched a small line of men’s loafers and oxfords made from 100% recycled plastic. The collection will include several different colors ranging from vibrant hues to more neutral grays and tans. 

The shoes made of pvc appear to be a bit too plastic-y, not to mention uncomfortable, similar to gardening shoes. I’m in love, however, with the charcoal suede oxford lace-ups. The shoes actually look like suede thanks to the designer’s innovative flocking technology.  

 Perhaps the company should look at two-toned designs and embellished surfaces.

And what with oxford’s shoes being in fashion for women right now, I’d love to get my hands on a pair tomorrow. I can definitely see it catching on. It’s an excellent way for you fashion trendsetters out there to make a statement and show that you care about the environment. Put your best foot forward!




content information: http://www.wwd.com/fashion-blogs/melissas_mzero_sets_up_shop_at-11-03/

Garbage Bag Handbags!

Carmina Campus' "Save Waste from Waste" that she created out of black garbage bags, treated into leather: