CT Green Scene

Clothing: Recycled or Vintage?

by Eileen Weber

All too soon, the crisp weather of fall will be upon us. The kids will be returning to school. And before you know it, we’ll be celebrating the holidays ending with a hoot and holler at New Year’s.

Lots of folks choose the fall as a good time to clean out their closets before the onset of a chilly winter. Old clothes are sorted, packed up, and often dropped off. While donating your clothes (and getting the tax write-off) is a great idea, some of those drop boxes may not be so legitimate—or charitable.

In late 2004, State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal sued the American Recycling company of East Northport, NY. They placed as many as 73 drop-boxes across the state, particularly in the Seymour and Waterbury areas, that advertised charities the clothing would be donated to.

Unfortunately, the company sold the clothing for profit and only 10% of their proceeds actually went to the charities listed on the drop boxes. This past June, a judge ruled in Blumenthal’s favor and the drop boxes are no longer allowed in the state.

You want to do the right thing by recycling, but not everyone’s heart is in the same place as yours.

Goodwill Industries International, Inc. has been taking your old clothing and reusing it for decades. “We’re the original recyclers,” said Dorothy Viets, the Director of Community Relations. “We’re keeping the materials out of the landfills, that’s for sure.”

Green Underpants

by Eileen Weber

Sometimes silly ideas pop into my head and I feel a great urge to pursue them. I’ve written about organic wine and farmers’ markets. I have toyed with climate change and water pollution. Now for a truly gripping topic: eco-friendly underpants.

While I can’t say that I spend countless hours contemplating the fabric on my bum, it turns out other people have. There are plenty of options out there for those seeking a little green on their posterior. With fabrics made from corn, soy, hemp, bamboo and recycled plastic bottles, there’s something for everyone.

And that’s particularly true for men’s briefs and boxers. A New York Times article dated April 27, 2006 stated, “Many men will recognize their underwear as the most environmentally friendly piece of clothing they own, given their proclivity, as Jerry Seinfeld once noted, to wear it until it disintegrates.”

Clearly, the trend to go green has been gaining momentum in a range of areas, not least of all clothing. A number of online shops sell organic cotton apparel. But lately, the biggest craze has been with fabrics made from bamboo. A sustainable crop, bamboo is a sturdy and reliable material.

Out with the New, In with the Old

by Eileen Weber

Spring is in the air! Time to bust out those cute little tops and a nifty pair of open-toed shoes. One place to visit for great designs is a little shop in Fairfield. Lauren DiNardo Boutique, owned and managed by designer Lauren DiNardo, has taken eco-fashion to new heights.

Originally selling her wares to other boutiques, she now has a shop of her own. Her signature style is recycled denim. Skirts, shorts, and halter top dresses for the summer. She even has eco-friendly cowboy boots. Made from recycled denim and recycled leather, these little beauties will keep you doing the two-step.

Her silk tie skirts are a consistent standard. “They can go in any season,” said DiNardo. “You can wear them with leggings and boots in the fall or slip on a pair of flip flops in the summer.”

Many of her skirts and dresses are made from recycled denim and a combination of recycled silk ties and Swarovski crystals. The crystals give it just that little bit of bling she looks for.

“I used to live out in Oregon,” said DiNardo. “I loved that home-grown, raw look. But when I moved to New York City, I added the glitz and glam. I love the embellishment the crystals give.”

Designing the clothes she sells is not the only thing DiNardo gets a kick out of. “I love doing custom work,” she said. “It’s really fun. I love working with antique pieces or just about anything that tells a story.”

DiNardo will often refurbish a favorite pair of jeans for her customers. “You can personalize them for about $50 and it’s like having a new pair of jeans. I can do it for jackets, too. It’s eco-friendly and economical.”

Revenge, The Environmental Way

by Eileen Weber

You know the old adage, “Love is…never having to say you’re sorry.” Honestly, I can’t think of a single time someone done me wrong in which I wasn’t expecting an extra sweet apology at the end. Some flowers and a bottle of wine might be nice, too.

But take that same quote and change it to “Revenge Is…” Now apply it to the environment. That’s what Marilyn Barrett did with her company of the same name that sells T-shirts and reusable bags made from recycled plastic bottles. To Barrett, Revenge Is…wearing your plastic instead of throwing it out. She bases her company on the belief that the “best revenge is living well.”

Her passion about the environment has been heartily focused on reusing plastic bottles in her merchandise. The RPET bottles, or recycled polyethylene terephthalate, are broken down into chips and melted into molten polyester. It is then pushed through what looks like a showerhead and made into filament. The filament is then spun into fibers that are woven into fabric. All of this is done without using any further oil or oil by-product in the process.

Not surprisingly, the company’s biggest seller is the plastic bottle T-shirt. “We get a lot of feedback from people who love the material,” said Bill Schlueter, a public relations representative from LaunchPad PR Inc., a fashion focused marketing firm for Revenge Is… and other companies that use recycled polyester. “It’s made from plastic bottles yet it feels ultra-soft like cashmere.”

More Than Just a Reusable Bag

by Eileen Weber

Looking for that classy little clutch or a funky Hobo? Look no further for your eco-chic handbag. There are some great shops online that have made the old new again.

Just a short drive down the East Coast, New Jersey-based Vulcana® handbags base their business on one simple question: Why buy new material when there’s plenty of it just lying around in landfills?

According to their web site, the car tires taken from landfills are transformed into rubber sheets. Vulcana manufactures the rubber sheeting, called “rubbRE”™, once the wire and fibers have been extracted from the tires.

 “People want the runway look with the earth-friendly aspect,” said Aline Denommee, a Vulcana representative. “The key is trying to combine them.”

The company also has a line of handbags with a layer of hemp on the outside of the rubber material. “Hemp has a different aesthetic,” she said. “There’s a little more strength to it.” Denommee also said the company is planning a new line using recycled plastic bottles, recycled fabrics and water-based dyes.

Trash in Fashion

by Eileen Weber

Do you ever look in your closet thinking you’ve got nothing to wear? Don’t despair! Grab a pair of scissors, last week’s newspaper, and a handy roll of duct tape. You, my friend, will have yourself a snappy little get-up that saves the planet!

In high schools around Connecticut, fashion has been taken to new heights. Students from Lauralton Hall in Milford, Weston High School, and Stonington High School have made clothing out of recycled material in the past several months.

Last night at Stonington High School, students from the National Art Honor Society hosted a fashion show in the school commons. The designs include dresses made from supermarket paper bags and old newspapers. Other designs like skirts and tops are made from tin foil, cardboard boxes and old fabric.

Green Weddings on the Rise

From organic caterers to gowns purchased from consignment shops and email to replace wasteful rsvp cards, brides to be are choosing to make their magical day one that has conscious, meaning and a message.

Event planner Kia Martinson-Wenzel, owner of Connecticut-based ESTOccasions 
got her first request for a green wedding last summer. "The couple wanted to get married in a state park and when we started planning, one thing led to another. The bride asked if her flowers could be gathered from the park, if the invitations could be printed on recycled paper, and she asked for recommendations of consignment shops that had a nice selection of previously owned gowns," Martinson-Wenzel says. 

In fact, a good majority of gowns on the racks of consignment shops have never been worn. Wildflower seeds embedded in recycled paper, donations to environmental organizations and brides maids dresses that can be worn after the special day promise to be lasting trends as consumers become more conscious of the impact their purchase choices have on the planet.

With spring around the corner, you'll enjoy expert tips, advise and resources for greening your events and parties from Kia Martinson-Wenzel. Check our "Parties and Special Events" category for more useful information on greening your special occasion.

 

From Junk to Funk

aGaiN NYC’s products are made from rescued or repurposed materials (junk) and transformed into stylish accessories for modern life (funk). From laptop bags to yoga mat holders and one-of-a-kind clutches, aGaiN products are made in the United States, and a portion of profits are donated to environmental charities.

Environmental advocate and designer Allison Teich scours thrift stores and garage sales for unusual vintage fabrics, buttons, ties and belts to create her unique line of handbags. By creatively transforming materials from bygone eras into reliable, hip bags and accessories, beautiful materials that may otherwise be headed to a landfill are revived into functional and fashionable accessories for everyday life.

Call aGaiN NYC 212-744-3912 to schedule an appointment at their NYC studio, or visit their website to order online.