Clothes Swapping and Second Hand Clothes - Eco Fashion on a Budget?by: Ceri HeathcoteThere has been ...

1. Clothes Swapping and Second Hand Clothes
Clothes Swapping and Second Hand Clothes - Eco Fashion on a Budget
?by: Ceri Heathcote
There has been a huge surge in the purchase of eco fashion lately fueled by publicity and greater
consumer awareness of the ethical and environmental impacts of clothing manufacture. But eco
fashion is often considered the more expensive alternative to conventional clothing, will it survive
during a recession?
The term encompasses a wide range of different clothing types. Generally speaking it is used to
describe any type of clothing that is manufactured in way that has a reduced impact on the
environment. Eco fashion includes clothing that contain all or some recycled materials, those made
from organic cotton and other alternatives like hemp, bamboo wimpernserum.info or soy.
Most eco fashion is more expensive than conventional clothing as it is more costly to produce. This is
often partly because it is produced on a smaller scale and also because cultivation of organic fibres
can be more costly. Use of recycled materials can also be a more expensive option than using raw
materials.
Whilst the cost of many types of eco fashion have reduced as more efficient production methods are
found and the industry grows, there is still a difference in cost between eco and conventional
fashion. Many consumers will not worry about the slightly higher price of eco fashion as they have a
strong belief in minimizing their impact on the environment.
But for those who want to do their bit for the environment, but cannot or will not pay a premium for
green clothes, swapping and buying second hand clothes is the perfect alternative. It is probably the
ultimate in eco fashion. As the clothing has already been manufactured these is no environmental
impact associated with manufacture of recycled clothes. It also helps to solve the problem of textile
waste and disposing of used clothes.
Second hand clothes are much cheaper than their brand new counterparts and are often in excellent
condition with many years of wear left. Clothes swapping is a sustainable and free way to refresh
and update a wardrobe without resorting to the cheaply manufactured and environmentally
damaging 'fast fashion', the quality of the clothes are also likely to be of a higher quality than the
very cheap clothes that you can buy in the shops.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/environment_and_going_green/article_182.shtml