Plastic Free July Day 7

I spent yesterday with Mike.  It was our 30 year wedding anniversary.  And we have been trying to take Mondays off anyway, so it worked out perfectly.

We went exploring in our community and I bought a lovely summer camisole...much needed, since I am not a typical consumer, and sometimes my clothes become quite threadbare before I find what I want/need.  You should see my shoes!!  (And some of you have).

I am finally learning where to find things.  I was pretty excited to find a comfortable garment, made from organic materials, that I could actually afford.  The tag states Sustainable & Ethical Apparel since 1992.  So thanks Maggie's and thanks to Traditions (Olympia) and other retailers who carry this brand.

 


But it did take the glow off just a little, when I realized that the tag was fixed to the camisole with plastic.  And really, all garments are tagged the same way in this country, with rare exceptions.

This doesn't mean that I have to stop buying things that I need.  And it doesn't mean that I have to accept that there is simply going to be disposable plastic around--like it or not.

No.  I think there is something I can do about it, which requires some effort.  Whenever I find disposable plastic on a product I buy, I am going to start communicating with the company to ask them to consider using a different material on the product they sell.  It shouldn't be too much of a paradigm shift, considering these companies are already dealing in ethical, sustainable products.

I was also considering a campaign to ask the major garment retailers to change their habits around this issue, but when I began researching it, I read that clothing retailers are using the presence of plastic garment tags to discourage people wearing once and then returning the item.

So as an editorial aside, I wish to say this:

Although it is unethical to buy a garment so it can be worn to a function and then returned, I feel that unethical behavior has long been a dysfunction of the garment industry.  The whole industry is corrupt and so they are actually creating a culture of consumers without ethics.  

To the garment industry, I would say, lead by example.  You know where you're falling down. Stop sweat shop practices. Pay a living wage.  Stop attacking self esteem and creating unhealthy expectations of body image in your marketing.  Focus on service.  Focus on creating beautiful clothing for all body types which promote self esteem and empower people.  

Focus on making the world a better place.  Support sustainable practices.  Use authentic natural fabrics, which feel good to wear, rather than using textiles which pollute the planet.  Be authentic and then use that in your marketing.  Teach people to be ethical, by the example you set.  The world mirrors back to you, what you are.  Your customers are a reflection of you.  This goes for any business.

This is a job for bigger brains than mine, but perhaps the time is ripe to make this demand of manufacturers and industries.  Be authentic.  Be ethical.  Oh, and while you're at it, stop polluting, and for Planet's sake! Please stop putting plastic in everything.