Q&A. Green Business Suits
by Warren McLaren, Sydney on 12.22.05
Q. “Hello. Love the site, check it a little obsessively. I'm 21, and a senior in college. Obviously, I anticipate several job interviews in the near future, but my wardrobe is not properly equipped. Can you provide any information on "green" business suits, shirts, ties, shoes, etc? (A suit is my primary concern.)” Matthew K.”
A. Great question, Matthew, will probably bring out lots of leads we haven’t reviewed before. Should you need a suit mostly just for occasional interviews or similar formal events then consider borrowing one from family or friends. Or hire one for the day. This gets maximum use of minimal resources. A suit that spends 95% of its life gathering dust in a wardrobe, even if made of hemp, is still a poor use of materials. (see our related post on Product Service Systems). However, if you figure your chosen career dictates wearing a suit, then read on.
The first port of call would still be a pre-loved suit. If one matching your needs already exists, there is no need to create a new product. 'Opportunity' and 'Thrift' shops can often have high quality suits available. Or ask a suit rental business or ‘formal hire’ business if they have any ex-rentals for sale.
Failing this approach, you do have several options in new product. Hempworld offer a suit jacket, (shown at top) with matching pair of dress pants in 100% hemp. Although available in either natural or black, you’d most likely already have that job, because this combo is about $700 USD. Fortunately their hemp ties in 6 block colours, including purple (yeh!) are just $13 USD. But when I first spied your enquiry my immediate thought was of the 100% certified organic hemp jacket that Rawganique offer. It even has Tagua nut buttons and is a more modest $116 USD. Plus they have plenty of pants that will match in style and colour (natural or black). For a bit more colour choice we found another Canadian firm, Sandstone Designs (via a Co-op America link), They have jackets in Ivory, Royal Blue, Hunter Green, across two weights of 55% hemp/ 45% cotton for $150 CDN. Matching slacks are $95 to S100 CDN.
(Hemp suit from Sandstone Designs)
At the more upmarket end you could go the Giorgio Armani route. A ‘Made in Italy’, 100% hemp, single breasted suit in navy or cream (seen here). Overstock have limited quantities (one size only) reduced from $650 to $300. From memory Woody Harrelson wore one of these to the Oscars or somesuch event. Apparently, according to some reports British eco-apparel pioneer Katharine Hamnett is bringing a line of suits to market that will be from pesticide-free Tasmanian merino wool, with coordinating organic cotton shirts. but we can't find the product itself online just yet.
Of course, we could look at this from another angle. Research has shown it's not the construction of apparel that causes it's greatest environmental impact, but the care and feeding thereof. So, if you feel you'd need to be regularly dry cleaning one of the above suits, then maybe something like the Rohan Globetrotter II jacket (£180) and matching pants (seen at left) might be the ticket. A blend of 44% wool, 52% polyester and 4% Lycra the jacket and pants are machine washable, negating those nasty chemicals and odours. Pants (£75) in stone or ink, as per the jacket.
Were you a woman, Matthew, we’d have much more to say, but the eco-office options for guys are more limited. We’ve focussed mainly on suits here, but don’t forget to try Boll for your white organic cotton business shirts. Maybe you could team the shirt with some recycled content cufflinks. But personally I’d pass on the tie. A silly accessory, in my very humble opinion. If you must, then try Rawganique again. They, like Hempworld, noted above, offer ties in a wide selection of colours in 100% hemp ($16 USD). But better yet get back to your favourite Op Shop. They have the biggest range of pre-loved ties under the sun.
Shoes? Well, that's more than we have time for now but might want take a peek at Terra Plana (shown here, but alas many models currently sold out), Footprints or ShoeswithSoul.
Hope this helps a little, Matthew. All the best with the interviews. In whatever bag-of-fruit you wear, may you wow them.
When buying from rawganique make sure you allow plenty of time for returns. When I was looking for a suit earlier this year for my wedding I found that the fit for many of the products made by ecolution was very strange. The small pants were WAY too SMALL on me, and the matching small jacket WAY too BIG. This was after carefully looking at the sizing information and finding what should have fit me.
In the end I went with a nice tibetan shirt made from tibetan refugees and hemppants from the hempest. Their pants fit exactly as they said they wood, and I didn't need to hassle with shipping back and forth across the border.
This isn't to say I don't like Rawganique, I've bought several of their other products and have been happy. The hemp dress shirt I bought from them is /very/ nice!
rlotz:
With all due respect, I just can't agree with you that your shirt "made from tibetan refugees" should be considered eco-friendly.
;-)
I'm pretty sure that I'm not color blind, and I'm pretty sure none of those suits are green.
Just sayin'.
OK, nice new navbar, Treehugger. Now, when can I use ellipsis in comments? Or is that too spammy?
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Writer's Note:
Pleased to see folk are imbibing the Christmas cheer early. Though sorry to spoil the joke, as Sandstone do offer Hunter Green as one of the shades in their hemp suit.
Ellipsis? That's for the Three Wise Them (Graham, Nick and Lindsey) to explain.
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Just a rant --
Funny you should mention the tie. I was just compelled to answer because an acquaintance from the Geneva office of the UNDP had just remarked to me the other day: What is a tie? For it is simply just a silly little piece of silk noose wrapped around a man's neck.. -
- I had to agree with him. Sometimes it is much more sexy to see the top buttons open, in my own opinion.
I'd have to disagree with cotton/hemp suits. They will need much more upkeep to keep them looking nice. Get a regular wool suit. It is made with a renewable material. It will hold a crease and look sharp for a long time. You can hang it up after wearing to air out many many times before it needs cleaning. If you can be neat, you will not need to get stains out of it, so get it pressed in between getting it dry cleaned.
A standard two button suit with proper care will last many years. The design is classic so that it won't be out of style in a business environment. Several companies make trio suits that have two different pants with a jacket. This gives you two suits for the price of 1.5. Wait and you can find them on sale for a significant discount.
You need to look at what others are wearing in the profession you are going into. Dress like them, get the job, make the money get out of debt, and tithe some money back into groups or causes you like.
"Were you a woman, Matthew, we’d have much more to say..."
Do you know where a female college student of the same age as Matthew might be able to find a nice 3-piece suit?
I am a young, enviro-conscious, female attorney in need of suits as well. I am finding quite the opposite - that men have more suit options when it comes to 'green' businesswear. I'm surprised you did not include information for my sex in your report! Also, where can I purchase conservatively colored suit and dress shirt fabrics to have pieces made? Many thanks for your assistance.
RULE OF THUMB WHEN BUYING MEN'S SUITS
When both slacks and sport coat come together, the pants are sized six-inches smaller than the coat.
For example: I wear a S42, "42 short." The pants that come with the sport coat are 36" waist.
also
- Suit pants are always long, and intended to be hemmed.
- The pockets are always sewn-shut.
- Don't put things heavier than a BART ticket in the side pockets if you want the coat to keep its shape, otherwise over time you will stretch the pockets.
- when getting the pants hemmed straight-leg cut, I recommend requesting a one-inch folded hemline. That gives the hem more body, thus making the pants stay straighter.
- To practice sustainability, buy from your local privately-owned suit store. Keep in mind, that it is best for one to buy clothing manufactured in North America, or at least the Western Hemisphere--less ecological footprint.
Love All,
green real estate finance person
I am in the process of moving. Over the years I have had many fine quality business suits still in very good shape. I would like an organization who could help the right person to a slightly used suit. These suits are of high quality. I want nothing for them Just hoping they could be put to some good use. Otherwise in the garbage they go. Thank You.
What are your tips on buying green women's suits?
"Otherwise in the garbage they go."
Please never throw your old clothes out. take them to Good Will, Salvation Army, or any local thrift store.