How To Green Your Accessories
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA on 05.18.07
What's the Big Deal?
Humankind has adored adornment ever since Ogga the cavewoman popped the head of a prehistoric sloth between two very large rocks and paraded its pelt to the girls back at the cave. Whether as part of an exercise in creativity or simply because part of our reptilian hind-brain goes "Ooh, shiny," accessories often make the outfit. Here's how to put together a killer look without being destructive.Guide Navigation
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1. Pick a good vintage
The second of the three Rs, "reuse," is there for a good reason—granting an existing item a second lease on life, instead of purchasing brand new, means no new manufacturing resources had to be tapped into. As a bonus, we're spared from any additional pollution and carbon emissions.
2. Make it a fair trade
Shelling out for fairly traded gear supports fair labor conditions and workers' rights, especially in developing countries. Helping producers get a fair price for their labors and promoting self-reliance also empowers them to break the cycle of poverty they're often caught in. Just keep in mind that trade, not aid, is the answer to improving livelihoods everywhere.
3. Repurpose for a purpose
Because the mining of precious gems and metals from the earth is an environmentally ravaging process, some jewelry designers have been taking a different, more eco-friendly tack. Recycled metals have been making their rounds of late, including a form of silver that is reclaimed from used photographic film. For your green wedding: engagement and wedding rings made from recycled gold and set with repurposed or lab-grown gems.
4. Suss out sustainable
Accessories made from sustainably produced or recycled materials are lovely to behold and kind to the planet. On the fabric front, choose textiles such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and even soysilk.
5. Beg or borrow
Plunder the contents of someone else's closet—with permission, natch—instead of shopping for your own. One company, Bag Borrow or Steal, even lets you rent as many as five designer handbags, belts, or pieces of jewelry at a time for a flat monthly membership fee (plus an additional fee per borrowed item). You can sate your desire for straight-off-the-runway ensembles without overtaxing the planet's resources.
6. Buy conflict-free
Conflict or "blood" diamonds are sold, often illicitly, in war zones and used by rebel movements to fuel conflict and human-rights abuses in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone. Make sure your diamond retailer can provide paperwork or otherwise prove that the diamonds are conflict-free.
7. Take care of your wares
Repair a torn purse strap or restring a broken necklace instead of consigning slightly damaged goods to the rubbish heap. Treating your accessories with a little TLC will also go a long way to extending their longevity, which is kinder to the environment than running through a series of semi-disposable replacements.
8. Brevity is the soul of wit
Accessories are meant to complement your outfit, not take it over. And, anyway, wouldn't you rather be remembered for your sparkling wit rather than that blinding hunk of ice that was weighing your neck down? Jewelry that is simple and classic will stand you in good stead, regardless of the occasion—or decade, for that matter. Which brings us to our next point.
9. Don't go with the flow
Pilot your own fashion destiny and unchain your heart from the vagaries of fashion trends. Being a follower instead of a leader will only bring you to a dark place filled with tears and the gnashing of teeth, plus a closet and dresser full of dated gewgaws and doodads that have long fallen out of favor with the fashion gods. One word: poncho.
10. Buy indie
Think of "mall" as a four-letter word. Instead of shopping at a big-box retailer, which is likely to cut corners by purchasing from sweat shops, undercompensating employees, and cheapening quality, check out the offerings of one of the thousands of indie crafters bringing their creative talents to market. Because craft businesses tend to be small one- or two-person operations, their carbon footprints are infinitely smaller to those of multinational retailers such as Wal-mart or Kmart. By supporting independent artisans, you're also taking a stand against the onslaught of crass commercialization and unmindful consumerism. Viva la revolution!
(An Ecoist handbag made from recycled Luna Bar wrappers.)
1. Make your own
Swap meets, yard sales, and flea markets—even online marketplaces such as eBay and Etsy—abound with vintage and preloved jewelry and findings. Reinterpret them by taking them apart and creating something entirely new. Plus, by tapping into the plethora of materials already in circulation, you're not contributing anything new to the waste stream.
2. Organize a swap-o-rama
Get some friends together and arrange a swap of accessories you've tired of but are still in fine shape. That pashmina that reminds you of your cheating ex-boyfriend could be exactly what someone else is looking for to top off her new duds, sans emotional baggage. Eat, drink, and trade merrily.
3. Donate, not discard
Don't throw something away just because you've outgrown that particular style—thrift stores such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army will be more than happy to take items in serviceable condition. You're also likely to find takers by posting on Craig's List or Freecycle. Call it a win-win-win situation for you, the new owner, and the earth.
(All Freitag bags and accessories are created from recycled truck tarps.)
1. Conflict diamonds represent 3 percent of the total rough-diamond trade, according to estimates from the diamond industry. Others put the number as high as 15 percent of the total trade.
2. In 2001, the diamond industry produced rough diamonds worth a market value of $7.9 billion. These were then converted into jewelry worth $54.1 billion.
3. Of the 2,500 tons of gold mined each year, 80 percent goes into jewelry, according to GreenKarat.
4. Women in the United States own an average of six handbags each, according to marketing research by The NPD Group. Ownership is highly correlated with age: four in 10 women age 55 and above said they own seven or more handbags each.
(A Swap-o-Rama-Rama in full swing. Image credit: Makezine.com)
Kenyan artisans use recycled-glass beads to make jewelry.
The Cork Cuff is 100 percent recycled and recyclable.
EcoKarat makes ecologically and socially responsible jewelery.
LED cuff links make for a well-lit night on the town.
A boatload of bags made from used sails: Here; here; here; and here.
Kirsten Muenster uses ethically mined materials.
Earrings made from reclaimed cans.
Recycled plastic makes fantastic jewelry.
Liana Kabel turns vintage knitting needles and Tupperware into funky wearables.
Unwanted items turn into treasures of the wasteland.
Dangle your breakfast from your ears.
Cartearte bags get the refurbished treatment.
Flatbags from Snowline Designs use reclaimed materials.
Verde is all about conscientious adornment.
From plastic bags to fashion bags: Here and here.
One reader wants to know what eco-friendly field bags are available.
Vintage Bakelite jewelry is always in style.
Get a charge out of this recycled-credit-card pendant.
Blissen's notecards can double as necklaces.
KASTd designer bags from recycled rubber.
This ring is definitely bad for your health.
Vintage barkcloth finds new life in custom bags.
Ashley Watson makes bags from used leather goods.
Katherine Hamnett goes for the green gold.
Old cashmere sweaters get turned into fresh-looking scarves.
Bags made from old billboards: Here; here; here; and here.
Who knew skateboards made great bags, money clips, and belts?
Recycled bike inner tubes get transformed into bags.
Bazura Bags are made from recycled materials. And again, again and again.
Recycled inner tubes + recycled seatbelts = Freitag bags.
Escama bags are sexy and scaly.
The Lenore Collection gathers news you can use.
Recycled PVC bags make vinyl slightly less evil.
Drink in these fruit-juice-box bags.
Make your own recycled tote bag.
A bag made from industrial waste.
Ecoist makes shiny bags from recycled wrappers.
Grist's Umbra Fisk gets matrimonial.
Ethical Metalsmiths aims to stimulate demand for responsibly sourced materials.
The No Dirty Gold campaign wants to end destructive gold-mining practices.
For our readers in the U.K., resources for fair-trade, natural, organic, and recycled accessories.
Learn how to make a recycled jeweled brooch.
Ideal Bite talks about eco bling.
The Green Guide to Accessories.
How to avoid buying conflict diamonds.
(The Jimi wallet, made from 100% recycled plastic.)
I love this site! I do environmental studies and have always wondered about the environment and the clothes I wear. Thanks, your web pages on fashion were an eye opener.
how are your jeans different to normal jeans and what mertials do you use to make the eco friendly
Hey, all these 'how to go green' things are really good, but unfortunately as a uni student in shared accomodation I can't afford many of the extra costs. Would you be able to make a 'go green' list for student budgets?
Cheers.
Stop Plastic Bags by Grabbing Free Reusable Bags from ReusableBagsGiveaway.com
While searching for some green tips to replace my bathroom faucet, I came across this site: ReusableBagsGiveaway.com. I was skeptical at first that wondering what company will giveaway reusable bags. Well, when I landed on their site, I was immediately blown away by the free reusable bags that they're giving away. Not only the bags are free, but the bags must be coming from the hands of designers, they're stylish and chic. I quickly order my free reusable bags, the only cost to me is the shipping fee of $5.99, and the shipping fee actually covers up to 4 bags, so I pick 2 more bags of other styles and finished my checkout.
A few days later, I received the package, and the reusable bags are so good that actually when I carry them to work, people are all asking me where did I get the bags.
Afterall, it's really eay to go green, stay stylish and cheap.