Green Is The New Black

For all you fashion conscious Greenies out there I have decided to make your life a little bit easier. Previously, when it came to clothes, I practiced sustainability by buying and wearing less clothes. Trying to do my part for the planet I would forgo as many items of clothing as possible. This meant that on most days I would end up wearing just my trench-coat. I felt proud of what I was doing and I am sure mother nature was equally pleased. Unfortunately, this obviously less-than-environmentally-friendly woman and her two little brat kids were not as pleased with my efforts. It turns out that when I reach into the inside pocket of my trench-coat, where I keep my wallet, the buttons have a tendency to come undone. After they screamed bloody murder, I was tackled by an off-duty sheriff's deputy and eventually hauled off to jail.

I explained to the judge how I was the hero for doing my part to protect our planet for future generations. He informed my that I had severely scarred two children belonging to those future generations and needed to pay for my crimes. My plea for clemency had fallen on deaf ears. Consequently, I was fined a few hundred dollars and had to spend the night in jail. To further the injustice, as a condition of my release I am now court-ordered to be "fully dressed upon leaving my residence." So there began my mission to find environmentally conscious clothing companies.

Some Green Companies For You To Support:

Simple Shoes - This company uses eco-certified leather and suede, recycled inner tubes, hemp, organic cotton, and many more green materials to keep you on your feet.

Patagonia - Follow all the destruction you cause when you buy one of their products using their "footprint chronicles" and then think of all the damage you would be doing if you were buying products from companies who didn't give a ____. Be sure to check out their Common Threads Recycling Program.

Nike - For Nike, sweatshops are a thing of the past. Now the only one sweating for Nike is you while training for that marathon or shooting hoops at the local gym. And with their Dri-FIT fabric, the fight against sweat goes on! Nike envisions a "closed loop" future where the clothes you discard today will be the clothes you buy tomorrow. Nike also spent over seven years and $6 million developing the Environmental Apparel Design Tool. Learn more at environmentalleader.com.

Nau - Re-defining quality as "the combination of beauty, performance, and sustainability."  If you get sticker-shock when looking at their prices just remember the cost of not buying sustainable products.

The North Face - I couldn't say it any better so I won't try; "Sustainability and conservation form the core of The North Face pledge to advance the well-being of the planet, its citizens and those who enjoy exploring it."

The North Face is also actively campaigning to reduce global warming by supporting 350.org and BICEP, two organizations fighting climate change.

Rapanui - At Rapanui, they make clothes using organic fabrics and renewable energy powered factories. among the awards they have earned for their efforts are the RSPCA 2010 Good Business Award and the 2009/10 Sustainable Business Award.

While it is best to buy less clothes, when you do decide to update your wardrobe keep these companies in mind. Remember, if you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem. And because you have been a pain in society's side since you learned to walk it's time to quit being a problem child and make your momma proud! Do your part and support sustainability-focused companies.