So yesterday I bought this month’s Mare Claire (UK edition). I sort of wish I hadn’t. It’s the “green issue” encouraging all of us to be green-concius when buying fasion. It recommends Stella McCartney, John Smedley and some other very exclusive (ie. expensive) brands some of which are entirely organic/green/sweatshop-free, some only have green sub-lines. As for people who cannot AFFORD the high end the only recommendation was buy in Charity Shops, and customise. Great. I’m into fashion, and do a lot of creative work apart from my hatlings too, but surely we cannot expect people to ALL go down that route? I felt that Etsy with it’s hand made ethics would have been such a fittingly good example and also affordable for all of us. Surely we cannot hope for the word to go green if being green is the privilage of the wealthy? Anyway, sorry for ranting 
Here is an amazing example of the greenest of Etsy sellers, Vintage Vacations is based on the Isle of Wight and makes the most amazing, funky clothes of vintage fabrics, even upcycling vintage table linen. I just adore her style, and the caravans too 
Go green?
May 2, 2008 by kankalinhats
Its your blog, rant away
Nice start to the blog.
“being green is the privilege of the wealthy?” it does seem like that sometimes. But its kind of a catch 22. Rich people buy more because they can afford it and that creates more waste. And if its hard to get people that don’t have a lot of money to recycle and reuse things I cant imagine how hard it would be to get someone who has a lot of money to recycle and reuse things when people don’t want to be caught dead wearing last years fashion. :/
Thank you for the comment Fuzzy (or Jennifer, rather
) I think it’s all a very disturbing subject! Loads of arguments pro and contra like what’s more green: organic cotton (which in turn takes up loads of land when we are already on the verge of a food-crisis) or man-made materials, whic are at least recyclable. But for a magazin which makes it’s profit out of encouraging all of us to BUY BUY BUY to play lip service to the green movement was a bit rich (SIC actually 
)
Great blog, Kanka and good subject! One people need to pay much more attention to overall.
(Vintage is fab too!)
wow – thanks Kanka!
*humbled*
I bought Marie Claire and thought the same- however if it makes a few people think differently about what they buy then maybe it’ll do some good. So much irony though that a fashion magazine that encourages us to spend and buy and wear the latest fashions can then try and encourage us to be “green” ( a bit like the Apprentice the other night when they were trying to promote a “green” greetings card!)
It can be quite overwhelming to know what to do for the best when it comes to ethical/eco/organic etc. these days- organic cotton vs crops and so on as you say. I love how you have shown there’s an alternative with Vintage Vacations clothes (and the many other sellers on Etsy). Of course, we all know this, how do we get everyone else to realise?
Re: your Apprentice comment – EXACTLY!!! I was thinking, if you want to be REALLY green you don’t buy fashion magazines, surely ;-D (alas you can wait till they turn up in your local Library!) I’m glad many of you found the subject interesting, I just heard of a great initiative tying in with this issue really well, I will keep you posted!
I agree they missed an opportunity. Why not write in to them? Grass roots reply, and all that.
One of my favourite companies is Howies, in Wales, and as wonderfully ethical as they are I am limited in how much I can spend with them. So I usually do 2-3 Howies items a year (or a season if I’m bored and have a credit card!) and top up with charity shop or Uniqlo (which is probably terrible but they fit me and are in my price range).
Hello ! I love your hatlings. I totally agree with you about the green/wealthy issue as I feel exactly the same about organic issues .. if organic food is for the good of EVERYONE then why is it so expensive and why is it always aimed at the so called “upper end” of the market .. grrr… Glad to have found your blog.
x