Choosing repurposed or vintage clothing gives you access to a repertoire of fashion you might not otherwise be able to afford, so it is good for your wardrobe and your wallet. It’s also good for the environment.
How good?
One British study found that recycling one ton of polyester clothing used only 1.8 percent of the energy required to manufacture the same amount in the first place. However, recycling one ton of cotton clothing used just 2.6 percent of the energy need to make those garments from virgin materials.
The energy spent recycling clothing mainly came from transporting clothing to a place where it could be made available for reuse.
If you think about it in practical layman’s terms, eco-fashion (or salvaged fashion) saves the energy costs associated with growing, harvesting and processing raw materials (i.e. cotton, silk or wool), as well as the energy need to manufacture a garment.
Toting a dress or jacket that you do not wear anymore to the nearest vintage clothing store is also considerably less costly from an energy perspective than shipping a new garment from a factory to a store and from the store to the customer’s home.
In today’s society, so many things are disposable. That means a lot of poorly made things are used once and discarded, to the detriment of both our landfills and our dwindling natural resources. Salvaged fashion is an excellent way to do your part to reduce our national whirlwind of unchecked consumption and look great while doing it.
If you’re looking to start your eco-conscious & ethical fashion collection, check out Nikita & Vesper at nikitaandvesper.com.
Three Ways to Engage Teams and Clients to Maximize Your Recycling Program Engagement 
How to Integrate Accessibility Into Your Sustainability Planning 
Why Park Benches Can Promote Workplace Well-Being 
