Paul is dressed entirely in second-hand clothes here

Besides eating organic food, a fabulous way to express our eco-mindedness is by wearing organic and/or sustainable clothing.  About a year ago I made the decision myself to no longer purchase new clothing that was not organic or sustainable.  Initially I began slowly accumulating hemp pants and hemp jackets and other sustainable items.  One of my favorite sustainble lines is Livity.  In the OrganicGreenMommy Shop, you will find Livity items and many other examples  of sustainable clothing options.  Be sure to keep checking back as we are adding more and more “mommy and daddy” items as we expand.

But what if you need a dress shirt for a formal function?  Or how about if you have a weakness for a certain designer?  Do you compromise your values to satisfy these needs and urges?  Perhaps not…

Besides those of us who purvey green goods exclusively, on the “outside” there are many designers and mainstream clothing brands who are now incorporating “green fashion” into their clothing lines.  While these initiatives should certainly be applauded because the mainstream wields massive buying power and can swiftly increase production of organic fibers and other sustainable raw materials, sustainable clothing generally remains more expensive than conventional clothing.

While I believe we should “put our money where our mouth is” and financially support the green movement as much as possible, knowing that these extra dollars are not only helping to save the planet and pay workers living wages, but they will also serve as “market forces” contributing to lower prices through higher demand, the fact remains:

It still takes a lot of “green” to be green!

Unfortunately many eco-minded working Americans with families who would otherwise buy only organic clothing cannot make the switch entirely to sustainable clothing due to the prevailing price discrepancy between conventional and organic.

So what do you do if you want to change your buying habits but don’t have the capital to make the switch?

Well, if you are reading an article on this site, then you’re probably familiar with the adage: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Well, the “Three R’s” don’t just refer to recycling cans and bottles!  As Organic Green Mommies and Daddies, we can apply this mantra to all aspects of our lives, especially our clothes-buying habits, by doing one simple thing:

Thrift Store Clothes-Shopping!

While I’ve certainly checked out the offerings at local Salvation Army stores and other traditional thrift shops, it can sometimes be a frustrating experience to find something fashionable and chic in those places, like searching for a needle in a haystack.

But more and more, “coutre thrift stores” are popping up and if you live near a major metropolitan area, you’re probably in luck.

When we lived in New York City we would frequent several shops on the Upper East Side that stocked only high-end coutre items.  Now that we live near Boston, we absolutely love a chain of stores called Second Time Around, which features nothing but top designers at rock-bottom prices.

And it’s not just about wearing low-cost high fashion to stroke our egos.  By buying reused items, we are doing our part to reduce over-consumption and over-production.  Another old adage is also true: “You get what you pay for.”  Generally speaking, high-end clothing is constructed to last many years so we get more bang for our buck, even at thrift-store prices.  In addition, we tend to take better care of high-quality items, extending their usefulness and utility for many years to come.

Very often I will dress for work from head to toe in reused clothing.  About 75% of my work shirts were either purchased in a thrift store or are otherwise reused.  (When my grandfather passed away a few years ago, I was fortunate enough to receive the contents of his wardrobe, comprised of about a dozen designer dress shirts, trousers, jackets, and shoes).

I am proud to wear reused clothing.  For one, I’ve saved a tremendous amount of money.  Second, I know I’m doing my part to reduce consumption.  And three, I can be a tree-hugger without having to look like I spend my day actually hugging trees!

Happy shopping!
(Note: In the attached photo, Paul is wearing a reused Brooks Brothers dress shirt, a reused Alligator skin belt, and a reused pair of trousers).

Paul is the founder of OrganicGreenDaddy.com and can be reached via email by clicking here.