How to Build a Green Casual Wardrobe

In a world that's going green with environmental consciousness in almost every faction of life, the possibilities for you to be earth-friendly are endless and can even extend to your wardrobe. If you want to take your wardrobe to the next green level, consider building a green casual wardrobe with all the basics, colors and styles of non-green clothing.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Explore the green clothing options by familiarizing yourself with the manufacturers and stores that offer them. Del Forte Denim designs green jeans and other denim items, while Gary Harvey, former creative director for Levi Strauss, started his own green line of couture dresses made from old jeans, baseball jackets and even recycled newspaper.

2. Know which fabrics are the best to use for green clothing. While purchasing clothing manufactured from things like bamboo, soy and wood pulp sound renewable and green, the bamboo and wood pulp fibers require just as much energy consumption as polyester and nylon to make. Instead look for denim, cotton and other natural fabrics utilized in green ways by recycling them into new products.

3. Buy green shoes, a.k.a. Vegan shoes, that are made of ethical leather and other green materials. Green Shoes is a company that sells all styles of shoes for men, women and children. Green socks are also available by manufacturers such as Teko and Gold Toe.

4. Shop online at stores like Green Tee Clothing Company, which has a huge selection of casual green clothing and offers deals most of the time. Also, check out Planet Earth, a green clothing company with stores located all over the US. Footprint Bamboo Ecowear offers a wide selection including T-shirts, socks, yoga wear, undergarments, ball caps and totes.

5. Reuse old clothes to create new pieces with quilting techniques and patterns. You can turn an old pair of jeans into a great handbag or hat. The same rule applies with most fabrics, regardless of their age. This is also a great tip for pieces that have been damaged or stained, as you can work around the damaged area and use the good pieces.

Resources

• Build a "green" wardrobe at Green Tee Clothing Company.
• Planet Earth has environment-friendly clothing.
• Visit Green Shoes for environment-friendly footwear.
• Footprint Bamboo has a large selection of casual green clothing.

[maraiya]

on 7/26/2009 Very helpful! I was wondering where to get green clothes, and the shoes information is particularly helpful as I had no idea anyone made vegan leather shoes! I like the idea of using old clothes to make handbags; I'm not much of a seamstress, but that might be fairly easy. Thanks!

[jpierre1]

on 6/15/2009 Visit www.BambooEarthBrands.com for a great bamboo blend sports shirt, only $30.00. Men and ladies styles. So stylish you would not think it was renewable!