Fashionable, Functional, and Light on the Earth: Green Clothing

Jessie Houlihan
Do It Green! Minnesota

Making clothing, like any other product, has an impact on the environment. In order to reduce the negative impact, buy reused clothing from thrift stores or good quality, long-lasting new products that are made from recycled content or unconventional fibers. Organic cotton or alternative fibers, such as bamboo or hemp, don’t require as many chemicals to grow.

Seven-year-old Kasia Bednarski of Minneapolis is wearing the REI Terra Tee ($24.50) in violet, which is made from 100 percent organic cotton, and the REI Fairhaven pant ($32.50) in sesame, which is made from 66% organic cotton and 34% recycled PET. REI’s children’s eco-clothing line is available online and at REI stores throughout Minnesota.

Five-year-old Staś Bednarski of Minneapolis is wearing the Patagonia Tree Friends T-shirt ($25) in fresh clove and the REI Slickrock pant ($32.50) in sesame. His outfit is made entirely of organic cotton. REI’s children’s eco-clothing line is available online and at REIstores throughout Minnesota.

Nicole Ford, 23, of St Cloud is wearing a white, 100% organic cotton Global Girlfriends gathered scoop tee ($24, made by an all-women’s non-profit in India), the Effort’s Naturally three-quarter-length bamboo cloth pant ($32) in black, the Perfectly Imperfect 100% organic cotton Shoshana Vest ($129) in navy, a fair-trade beaded scarf ($66) by Amia’s Project in eternity, an Ecoist Botero bag ($110, made from recycled newspaper), a Worldfinds fair trade ring ($38) and Splaff flip flops ($42, made from recycled tires, used bicycle inner rube straps, chipped tire foot bed and natural hemp fabric). Her outfit was created at Birch Clothing in Minneapolis.

Nick Bingen, 24, of Minneapolis is wearing the 100% organic cotton Good Society men’s straight-leg jean ($90), an Effort’s Naturally t-shirt ($26) in celery (70% bamboo and 30% cotton), the 100% organic cotton Cottonfield dress shirt ($78) in white, a Splaff Bhoga Messenger Bag ($60) in black (hemp canvas and recycled bicycle inner tube), and Blackspot’s Classic Sneakers ($88) in black (100% organic hemp).

Act Locally

Places to buy green clothing in the Twin Cities metro:

Birch Clothing
2309 50th Street West
Minneapolis, MN
612-436-0776
birchclothing.com

Fast and Furless
2615 Franklin Ave East
Minneapolis, MN
612-333-2756
fastandfurless.com

My Green Closet (web store)
612-396-9025
mygreencloset.com

REI-Recreational Equipment Inc.
Locations in Bloomington,
Maple Grove & Roseville
rei.com

Green Clothing

Our Sponsors