Clothing
Posted by Minke on Jun 04, 2010 · Member since Feb 2010 · 3503 posts
Please forgive me if there is already a thread for this, I have really just started talking on the forums.
I have been looking for organic cotton clothing, clothing made from recycled products, hemp clothing, etc but they're always insanely priced. Does anyone know of a website/store that has this type of clothing at a somewhat reasonable price? I understand that it's more expensive to produce these items but there is absolutely no way that I can buy a tank top for $80!
And just in case anyone is thinking about it, I already go to thrift stores but to be quite honest, everything there is ugly.
I definitely sympathize. It's hard to be both ethical and economical. Sorry I don't have any great suggestions for you, but I hope someone does. Have you tried eBay? If you know what you're looking for, you can find some good deals (yes, I AM that most hated eBayer, the last second sniper.).
In the UK quite a few high street shops now have an organic cotton range. You'd have to have a look at company ethics and so on but that's certainly a possibility if you're interested in the natural fibres.
You can try to buy secondhand. Its probably not organic but will definately allow you to tread lighter on the Earth. Its also much cheaper. Walmart and Target also sell organic cotton items. However, this may defeat the purpose.
I never thought of trying ebay. To be honest, I've only used ebay a few times and those times I knew exactly what I was looking for. Would I look up by the brand name or just type in stuff like "organic clothing" or "hemp clothing?" I've also been kind of nervous to order from places like ebay because of scammers.
It's good to see that others know how I feel!
If you're just talking about basics like tank tops, then Maggie's could be a good choice:
http://www.maggiesorganics.com/index.php
You can get into reasonable price ranges at Revive if you look in the sale section (if you can get over your irritation with the tiny pictures):
https://www.revivestore.com/index.html
Fair Indigo has a number of eco-friendly items and their sales can also be really good:
http://www.fairindigo.com/
More places to check out:
http://www.greenamericatoday.org/pubs/greenpages/results.cfm?category=CQ
Thank you very much!
I think American Apparel has several basic tops that are orgaince, and guarenteed sweatshop-free! I love the feel of bamboo i have bamboo sheets and pillow cases and LOVE them! The clothes feel the same way, but are very expensive.
Yeah, I think I saw that they had some tanks for under $20 and some other basic stuff. Thanks for reminding me!
I've noticed a huge difference in thrift stores in our area. Some just seem to specialize in ugly clothes, while others have really nice stuff on a regular basis. Our local Goodwill is excellent, but I recently visited one in a small town 3 hours away that had nothing but ugly. If there are some wealthier communities near you, check out the closest Goodwills and you may find better quality clothes there.
I love the whole idea of recycled clothing, and I love being able to buy a top for $3 and experiment with styles I'd have been afraid to buy for full price. Sometimes they don't work out, and I simply re-donate them. Other times, I have a terrific new outfit.
I do the same thing but seriously, the only things I have found are crap. I plan on looking up new/different ones and going to those this summer, hopefully they'll have better stuff at these. Everytime I go to a thrift store I either find extremely ugly clothing or something that doesn't fit me. At this point I'd rather just buy from a store.
I hear you, Minke. Try being in the larger sizes. It's like "oh, the big sizes don't count, they have to wear what we throw at them." It's like they make them ugly on purpose. I'm no longer obese but I am much taller and wider than most Spanish women so I get stuck with stuff that looks like a sack, cut out of material that nobody wants.
And most of the clothes that get given to second-hand shops should really have just been thrown away. Half of the "donations" aren't even clean when they get there.
That's the same problem I have! I am short so there's always about 5 inches of pant material under my foot that gets ripped up and makes me look scummy. A lot of the time I can't shop petites because apparently if you're short you must be stick thin too, which I'm not, I'm a size 12. I also have an hourglass figure so pants and shirts never fit me correctly because they're made for stick people. And all of the nice clothing is in smaller sizes. This is why I get so angry and depressed while clothes shopping, even thinking about it gets me down.
(((Minke)))
I know it's no comfort to you, but knowing there's someone else in this boat with me is a comfort to me...I don't feel so alone.
You're not alone! One of my friends has problems clothing shopping too.
related to clothing - target has organic cotton sheet sets for ~ $35 (pillow cases, flat, fitted). When I went to get some sheets they were actually the nicest feeling ones (satiny) that weren't a million thread count for $80.
it's also a pain to try to buy organic cotton yarn. There's regular cotton yarn, which is either ridiculously expensive (4-6 dollars for 100-150 yards), or cheap enough but rough and only suitable for washcloths (and it pills like crazy). I've seen organic cotton yarn once, and it was not so great and $7/skein.
One time I scored bamboo yarn on clearance, though it was still kind of expensive!
You're not alone! One of my friends has problems clothing shopping too.
try being 5'11 and wanting cute jeans that cost under $100
at least if their too long you can cut the bottoms off - I can't really sew any extra on....well, without looking like a weirdo.....
I have the same problem Minke! I am ultra short but still curvy...so many pants (particularly jeans) are cut in a way that only looks good if the full leg length is there, once you take them up 6 inches they look ridiculous. I have just made it my mission to remember what looks good on me and then deliberately search out things in that cut/style wherever I go. So I get lots of different clothes in just a few styles, and they all look great because I'm not trying to force my body into stuff designed for different shapes. I am at the point now where I can pretty much look at something on a hanger and know if it will likely suit me or not. Saves disheartening changing room trips :)
I basically haven't bought any new clothes that aren't a tshirt from a concert in... three or four years? Easiest way out to avoid annoying changing rooms haha.
You're not alone! One of my friends has problems clothing shopping too.
try being 5'11 and wanting cute jeans that cost under $100
at least if their too long you can cut the bottoms off - I can't really sew any extra on....well, without looking like a weirdo.....
I'm tall too and pants shopping is a bitch! Even the long sizes @ Express, old navy, and gap are too short for me! I always have to buy the expensive ones too, but at least they usually last awhile. Nordstrom will do free alterations if you find them with a enough fabric in the hem to legthen them, Alloy you can order cheap ones that are long, but they usually end up being, well, cheap... Sorry this is off the topic about organic clothes...I liked the ebay idea!
That's the same problem I have! I am short so there's always about 5 inches of pant material under my foot that gets ripped up and makes me look scummy. A lot of the time I can't shop petites because apparently if you're short you must be stick thin too, which I'm not, I'm a size 12. I also have an hourglass figure so pants and shirts never fit me correctly because they're made for stick people. And all of the nice clothing is in smaller sizes. This is why I get so angry and depressed while clothes shopping, even thinking about it gets me down.
I'm also very short and can never find pants that fit length-wise. Every pair I buy (new or used) I usually hem them up myself. It's very easy to do. If you don't mind spending about $10 more on your pants you could take them to be hemmed up at an alteration place.
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