Checking In

After a trip to Colorado; my eldest daughter graduating; packing up an RV and storage shed; having a moving sale; cleaning an 1800 sq ft house from top to bottom; and packing up my car; we set off to Oregon to travel with my husband. Now a month into a new traveling lifestyle we are settled as much as possible, and are enjoying having the family intact once again. I thank my regular readers for your understanding and patience through all the life changes. Keep your eye out for a new article I am working on - Organic Children's Clothing Resources.

Organic Kids Clothing - Creating a Sustainable Market

For many years I have been shopping for organic kids clothing. I have found few companies who make organic kids clothing. I think one problem is that the costs for producing organic goods at a fair wage price are much higher than most can pay. You can find organic baby clothing pretty readily, but I believe that is because babies don't wear out their clothing, and they can be reused/resold. After toddler age, kids become much harder on clothing, especially boys! The knees on my son's pants usually have holes within 3 months. They also become stained and worn quickly. If an organic pair of pants cost $40 or more but only last for 3 months, then that is not an option for most families.

So how do we make a sustainable and organic kids clothing market? First, I believe we need a switch in thinking; How many clothes do we really need? If we buy quality products, how much longer do they last? What price do we pay environmentally, socially, and health-wise when we buy conventional products? What about learning to repair clothing instead of throwing them away when they have a rip, tear, or hole? For those who have the time, what about making the clothing ourselves? I think that if we get back to the basics it would be much easier on our pocketbooks to purchase or even make organic clothing.

If we purchase from organic companies, the demand will increase. If the demand increases, there will be more options and resources. If we make it a point as much as possible to only buy used or organic clothing, we take the first step to creating a sustainable market.

Let's start with an idea of a basic, seasonal wardrobe. Buying items that will mix and match will help the child to put outfits together themselves. For kids, I think that this would suffice:

Boys:
2 pair play/school pants or shorts
1 pair sport pants or shorts
1 pair Sunday pants
2 short sleeve tee shirts
2 long sleeve shirts
1-2 button-up shirts
1 sweater
1 pair pajamas
1 bathrobe
6 pairs socks
6 briefs/boxers
1 swimsuit
1 warm hat, 1 sun hat
1 pair gloves (seasonal)
1 scarf (seasonal)
1 sweatshirt or jacket
1 coat (seasonal)

Girls:
2 pair play/school pants or shorts
1 skirt
1 pair sport pants or shorts
1-2 dresses
2 short sleeve shirts or tees
2 long sleeve shirts
1 sweater
1 pair pajamas
1 bathrobe
6 pairs socks
6 panties
1 swimsuit
1 warm hat, 1 sun hat
1 pair gloves (seasonal)
1 scarf (seasonal)
1 sweatshirt or jacket
1 coat (seasonal)

You would also need:
2 pair play/school shoes
1 pair Sunday shoes
1 pair boots

The next step is to take inventory of what your child already has. If they have to many clothes, donate the ones that are not used, or if they are in good condition, they can be brought to consignment stores or sold in lots on ebay. If your child needs an item/items, search for used or organic options. I will soon be writing a post on organic and sustainable children's clothing resources, so stay tuned!

~Sonya

photo credit: <a href=""></a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a>

Exercise in Sustainable Fashion - The Uniform Project

I wanted to share a link with you about the Uniform Project, created by a woman named Sheena Matheiken. This woman pledged to wear a Little Black Dress for 365 days - as an exercise in sustainable fashion as well as a fundraiser to support the Akanksha Foundation— a non-profit organization providing education to underprivileged children living in Indian slums.

The rules were that she had to wear the one dress each day, but could accessorize with vintage, handmade, reused, or donated pieces.

Now, I think this is quite a feat, and kudos to her! Wearing the same dress for a whole year would have been something that our great-great grandmothers maybe would have done due to necessity, but never really done by choice. Especially in the United States, we live in a time of excess. When I watch the show House Hunters, it always amazes me how some women say that the walk-in closets are not large enough to fit all of their clothing or shoes. What?!! Mine certainly would. I love fashion, but there is a limit to what you actually need and what is excessive.

I think the Uniform Project is a wonderful example of charity, sustainability, and resourcefulness that can inspire us all.