Green is The New Black

The clothing industry is the second largest industry in the world. It is also the second most polluting industry. Americans alone throw away at least fourteen million tons of clothing every year. Many Americans decide to send their used clothing to local charities like GoodWill, Salvation Army and other nonprofit organizations in hopes to be re-worn by somebody else. Truthfully, only a small percentage of the clothing ends up getting sold and re-worn. Most of the donated clothing is dropped off into landfills. Much of the material sitting in landfills are made up of synthetic fibers that could take a thousand years to biodegrade. Even natural fibers like cotton and silk have been soaked in unnatural toxins like, dyes and bleaches that will harm not only the environment but our health.

The fashion industry has taken on the challenge to find ways to put an end to this growing epidemic. Encouraging men and women to wear sustainable clothing and to reduce, reuse and recycle. Upcycling clothing is one of the most important and affordable environmentally friendly options in sustainable fashion. Turning thrift store jeans into shorts, cutting old t-shirts into cropped tops, or simply adding embroidery to denim are all on trend and extremely affordable ways to reuse clothing. Not only is this responsible, but this new look of eco-elegance has found its place in some of your favorite clothing companies.

Many fashion companies today have taken the initiative to start their own line of sustainable fashion in hopes to seek a cleaner and greener future. Big companies have created their own upcycled clothing lines like ASOS Edit, Eco-Reformation, and Urban Renewal in response to the growing concern. These lines stay true to their standards, only selling clothing that are natural, organic, recyclable or reclaimed.

These sustainable materials along with energy conscious companies like Patagonia and TOM’S seek ways to produce clothing that lessens your carbon footprint. So whether you choose to recraft your own product or support one of the many companies that strive for more sustainable goods, it is clear that green is the new black.

Below: Emma Watson at the Met Gala wearing a dress that is made of only recycled water bottles.