(I wrote this before realizing there would be no new episode tonight, and decided to put it up anyway. Use the thread to commiserate.)
Face it, you've got to wear something. But future generations may very well need something to wear too, not to mention something to eat and somewhere to live. How will they look back on us?
Below the eight dots, which thanks to you I have come to think of as two minimalist Angela fleurchons, a few links to the world of fair-trade, organic, and sustainable clothing. some of the companies mentioned donate a fraction of their profits to various progressive causes. Somewhere in this jumble of goods, along with the bamboo and soy fabrics, is the future.
These links were just gathered up in a half hour search and thrown together, somewhat in the spirit of PR, and are offered merely as a spur to discussion and imagination. Many were found through the truly fabulous
hugg. I offer no guarantee as to the quality of any merchandise mentioned or the reliability of any claims. I think we all know there is much greenwashing to come; we might as well start calibrating our bullshit detectors now.
Many of you know much more about this than I. Please chime in. The other day a wise man said it's going to take all of us working together.
(And please don't think this is a sop to the twit critics of these threads. I just felt like it.)
Fair Indigo High style to this eye, with the emphasis on fair.
From Sweden, designer camilla norrback
As a total contrast to the current dispensable mentality camilla norrback has chosen to produce the major part of the garments in ecological or environment-certified natural materials.
Because no diary is complete these days without YouTube,
a clip of one of her recent shows.
Great Green Goods is a fun blog devoted to "Green Shopping for the Greater Good."
LotusOrganics Standards are slowly emerging for sustainable clothing and for organic clothing that will help everyone understand what is expected and acceptable for sustainable clothing and for organic clothing.
Earth Vegan Footwear
Each shoe in the Earth VeganTM collection is fully certified by the Vegan SocietyTM.
Co-op America offers an analysis of many of the biggest names clothing America:
Responsible Shopper reports on global research and campaign information in order to alert the public about the social and environmental impact of major corporations, while providing opportunities for consumers and investors to vote with their dollars for change.
If you find yourself in Paris next month, why not explore the Ethical Fashion Show? Or in the spirit of the food miles concept, you can explore it online.
Loomstate Can the clothing possibly be as beautifully designed as the website?
Clothing of the American Mind
Since Clothing of the American Mind's launch in March of 2004, we have donated nearly $20,000 to the following organizations: (a truly impressive list follows -melvin)
You will love this. Kindred souls to Project Runway: TreeHuggers Umbrella Inside Out competition is in full swing. You can still vote in the final four competition for the best designed umbrella! The competition is in the spirit of, and inspired by, the McDonough Braungart Product Certification scheme and ultimately by William McDonough's brilliant, prophetic Cradle to Cradle, which you must read. They chose to try for an environmentally friendly umbrella precisely because so many now end up as hard-to-recycle waste.
And of course there is Bono's much-ballyooed AIDS-fighting enterprise: Project Red
A serious analysis of Consumer Social Responsibility. What makes projects like Bono's succeed or fail? Highly recommended.