Green Living Stores

My younger sister is an environmentally and politically conscious young lady.  She is a longtime vegan and I really celebrate her strong convictions.  I also know that because she lives in a small town, she has difficulty finding fair trade and organic clothes.  I’m certain she’s been wearing the same clothes for the last year and a half.

I was surfing the web and I found this great stylish track-inspired jacket for her.  Best of all, it’s an organic coat, so it fits my sister’s clothing requirements.  I’m getting ready to send it out to her, but there isn’t a doubt in my mind that she’ll love it – not only because it’s a great jacket, but also because no chemicals had been used in the process of production.

I’ve been vegan for a number of years but I didn’t temper my dressing habits until recently.  Up until two years ago, I wasn’t even aware that finding animal-friendly, organic clothes were so easy.  For example, I had a rather difficult time finding vegan shoes that weren’t expensive or uncomfortable (I realize that Converse and Vans are canvas, but they are murder on my feet).  Then I made a trip to my local skateboard shop and found a pair of ridiculously comfortable skate shoes that I’ve been wearing since then.

Now my lifestyle is completely vegan and environmentally healthy and I though the transition took a bit longer than I would’ve liked, I’m finding that my lifestyle seems far more plentiful than before.

Wearing organic clothing isn’t about attaching yourself to a movement or, to some, a popular trend; it’s also about being aware.  Chemically-treated cotton contains several pesticides and can be harmful to both adults and children alike.  Also, you have to wonder what becomes of the chemicals that aren’t full absorbed by the cotton.  They’re found in our air, water and soil.  Destroying this planet for fashion seems rather counterproductive, if not a tad bit selfish.

Finding eco-friendly clothing isn’t difficult nowadays and it’s even more common that you’ll find textiles that haven’t been in a sweatshop environment.  The next time you’re thinking about buying a cheaply made shirt from a store, think about all the harm that that article of clothing may have caused and think about the benefits – both environmentally and to your personal health – of buying an organic counterpart.  You may feel a little bit better about it.