In need of some retail therapy? Instead of contributing to the unethical fashion by purchasing cheap, conventional clothes, why not do your part and support the sustainable fashion designers who produce clean, comfortable organic clothing for you to wear. To add on to the brands I have already mentioned at the Fashion page, here are several more eco-fashion brands I’d love for you to shop till you drop at:
– Etrican
Available at their own online boutique, Singapore’s pioneer sustainable fashion brand also has their beautiful organic apparel up on ZALORA. The Etrican designs are fun and flirty, perfect for a lady wanting to feel comfortable in Singapore’s humid weather while knowing she did her part for the greater good. Etrican also ships worldwide!
Contact: 6526 0265 / contact@etrican.com
Website: http://etrican.com/
– Touch The Toes
A more niche eco-fashion brand is Touch The Toes, focusing mainly on creating odour-controlling yoga apparel made from only organic and upcycled material. I’d like to think of TTT as Singapore’s own sustainable Lorna Jane sportswear for women, but with more to offer — they carry some casual designs, accessories, and household items, as well as organic clothes for men!
Address: 31 Arab Street, Second Floor, Singapore 199730
Contact: 6396 5025 / hello@touchthetoes.com
Website: http://www.touchthetoes.com/
Opening hours:
Mon to Fri: 12:00PM – 8:00PM
Sat & Sun: 1:00PM – 7:00PM
*Closed on Public Holidays
– H&M Conscious
H&M is leading the eco-fashion scene among other big fast fashion retailers like Zara and Victoria’s Secret; both of which have promised to go green. It not only has increased its apparel made purely from organic cotton, but they also have a clothing line made from upcycled material called H&M Conscious Collection, offering sustainable designs for both men and women. To add to that, H&M is now also a part of the Fair Wage Network, which establishes that the company workers are all treated well.
Visit the H&M website and use the store locator to find the closest H&M to you, opening hours and contact details.
Website: http://www.hm.com/sg
– Levi’s Eco
Levi’s has created its own line of eco-clothing, offering certified organic versions of its famous Levi’s Jeans for both men and women. More than that, Levi’s also ensures that recycled buttons, rivets, zippers, and natural non-toxic indigo dye will be used in production of the Levi’s Eco line.
Visit the Levi’s website to find the closest Levi’s Eco to you, opening hours and contact details.
Website: www.levi.com/
– Nike
While Nike has yet to go completely green, Nike’s claims of regularly increasing its usage of organic cotton in manufacturing clothing has been a positive sign for this leader in the sportswear industry. It was stated that Nike’s goal was to keep a minimum of 5% organic cotton in all cotton-containing products while continuing to offer more and more 100% certified organic cotton goods.
Visit the Nike website to find the closest Nike store to you, opening hours and contact details.
Website: www.nike.com/
– Gap Inc.
Gap Inc, although not exactly a leader in the sustainable fashion movement had openly stated that it would explore the use of organic cotton for all its subsidiaries which includes Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Gap itself. Several Gap retailers offer men’s tops made from purely organic cotton. Moreover, Gap also focuses on another aspect of sustainable fashion, namely the ethical work conditions of its employees. Gap introduced the P.A.C.E. Program which aims to better the lives of the women who make the clothes and have pledged to educate one million women across the world through the program.
Visit the Gap website to learn more about the P.A.C.E. Program as well as to find the closest Gap store to you, opening hours and contact details.
Website: www.gap.com/
– Walmart
This may or may not come as a surprise to you, but Walmart is in fact the largest purchaser in the world of 100% organic cotton products, offering organic fashion for babies, teenagers and adults. This is all part of Walmart’s comprehensive environmental action plan to be a pioneer global retailer that is taking the necessary steps to go green and lessen its environmental footprints. Unfortunately for us here in Singapore, Walmart does not ship to destinations outside the US. But do take note and try to make a trip to Walmart if you ever find yourself visiting the States!
✿ P.S, wondering what to do with your old clothes? Don’t merely throw them out. Here are several places you can sell or donate your old clothes to:
– Salvation Army
At the Salvation Army, one can donate pre-loved items or even new items to any one of the Donation In Kind booths listed at this site. They will look through all donated items and sell those that are still in good condition at the Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores located islandwide. This is a wonderful way to recycle not just your old clothes, but anything else ranging from furniture to household appliances to electronics to toys and even books.
Website: www.salvationarmy.org/singapore/
– GOONJ
GOONJ is a Non-Governmental Organisation based in India that recycles discarded clothes and household goods (eg. blankets, winterwear, rugs, bags, etc.) into useful products for the poor. This is especially helpful because in India during the winter, many homeless people end up freezing to death from a lack of clothing to keep them warm enough. Another reason why one should consider donating to GOONJ is because some clothes are kept aside then disinfected, washed, and recycled into washable sanitary pads for village girls and women where commercial sanitary pads are inconvenient to use.
The last collection drive for GOONJ was held by the Indian Women’s Association Singapore on 22nd November 2014. For more details on any upcoming collection drives or how one could go about donating to GOONJ, please check out this website for the person of contact: www.iwasingapore.org/
– eBay
A convenient method to sell one’s used clothes and other items is to patronize the online website retailer eBay where one can easily and directly connect with interested buyers from all around the world. Although online shipping and bank transactions seem like quite a hassle, eBay is like a treasure chest. You may never know, your old clothes could be treasure for someone and the highest bid for the auction may be more than you imagined you’d get for your old tatters.
Website: www.ebay.com.sg/
– Etsy
Etsy is another online global marketplace similar to eBay however specialises in handmade or vintage items. You could use your old clothes or jewellery and transform them into a unique handmade craft, or choose to sell them as they are for those on the site looking for material to work with.
Website: www.etsy.com/sg
– Carousell
Carousell is the local Singapore version of both eBay and Etsy combined, in my opinion. It is the medium that offers those in Singapore the chance to be both buyer and seller, selling anything that falls under the categories of “For Her”, “For Him”, “Design & Craft”, “Beauty Products”, “Lifestyle Gadgets”, “Vintage & Antiques”, “Luxury” and many more. As this is just for users in Singapore, there is no worry regarding shipping costs and payment details as buyer and seller can easily meet up to do the exchange instead. Download the Carousell app today and give it a try!
Website: https://carousell.com/