What is upcycling?

Upcycling is refashionng old garments. Designers* are designing garments often from previously worn clothes and / or left over fabrics. Many of these clothes cost as much or more than used clothing. Making these garments can be labor intensive and time-consuming having the end result of being a one of a kind fashion justifying the cost. New jeans made from old jeans can sell for$1500. a pair. Fashions that are upcycled are sustainable, environmentally friendly, and help reduce waste.  Some companies such as Eileen Fisher will give customers a credit to use in their store when they return worn Eileen Fisher fashions. They remake these clothes into one-of-a-kind designs—and save the scraps. They also have a gently worn clothing line called Resewn that sells for 25% – 30% less than new items.
*Some Designers and labels that upcycle are Victor & Rolf, Missoni, Gabriela Hearst,  Vetement and Polo Ralph

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Clothing: Tomorrows Toxins?
Fashions have a short-lived trend cycle. Many garments end up in waste bins in a season or two. Some fashions end up in landfills without even having been worn at all. These fashions from last year can end up being tomorrow’s toxins (around 1 million tons of textiles end up in landfills each year). It takes clothing a long time to decompose. Because of the use of bleaching, dying and printing processes in manufacturing, they can percolate deadly toxins /or chemicals and gases.

New Generation of Eco Fashion
Chic, fashion forward, and sustainable; what an incredible fashion concept that is. Earth conscious clothing (eco fashion) and accessories are defiantly part of the fashion norm these days, but as the fashion industry changes so does our perception of sustainability. An earth conscious shopper’s choices are expanding to new levels in the fashion world and our earth friendly practices are expanding as well. Our earth friendly practices involve addressing social issues such as poverty and health, expanding are vision of sustainability, and practicing ethical and fair trade.