Clean Conscience

May 17th, 2014 admin

I like to think of my mom as one of the pioneers of recycling. She was very enthusiastic and committed to the cause back in the 1980s (a feature that earned her the nickname “Captain Planet” in my household) and I fully absorbed the recycling obsession.  This might seem counterintuitive, considering my profession (personal shopping) and the stigma surrounding the fashion industry (unnecessary production and waste). Luckily for me, it is not. I can love the fashion industry, love planet earth and love helping people with their wardrobes. The three don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

While it is not realistic to swear off of buying clothes entirely (especially living and working in NYC), there are ways to lessen your impact on the earth while still looking fabulous. Here are three:

• Do your research: buy from eco conscious labels and brands that have a transparent supply chain.
• Be specific: buy only what you need by sticking to a detailed purchase plan. If you focus on keeping your wardrobe lean and filled with things you absolutely love, you will always love how you look.
• Clean out your closet: donate or consign items that no longer suit you to put more product into the secondhand pipeline. Or, for even more fun, organize a clothing swap with friends (and wine!).

By avoiding fast fashion, buying from conscious labels, participating in second hand resale and client-to-client consignment, we are promoting conscious consumption. Saving the earth one closet at a time – I think Captain Planet would be proud.