In light of recent events, I thought it would be important to dedicate an article of my blogs to Covid-19. For the past three months, the citizens of America have been quarantined, and all social life was encouraged to stay alive virtually. Schools and offices changed their curriculum and took on the idea of virtual learning, therefore encouraging the practice of staying indoors. Restaurants were closed down and public places such as parks and malls were empty. For the rare occasion when you would have to go out, you could not go anywhere without a mask. For people who had jobs which still required leaving the protection of their house and physically being in the workplace- chances of getting affected by Covid-19 were much higher. These people had to wear masks every day, and the sudden rise in usage of masks caused a near wipe out of face masks in all stores. 

Wearing a mask is imperative, but it is also important to keep in practice of using eco-friendly masks. This translates to dropping the use of disposable masks and switching to reusable masks. Switching from disposable masks to reusable masks will not only lessen the threat of coronavirus spreading to oneself, but will also lighten the load of trash, therefore, helping the planet. 

Why Choose a Reusable Face Mask?

Reusable Face Masks Last Longer

Some reusable face masks contain a plastic filter shield, which would be secured to a silicone face mask. Together the filter and the shield can last 2 years.  The plastic filter shield holds the filter cartridge which can be replaced over time. Even masks without the filter cartridge and shield last much longer than disposable masks and are more durable. This allows for a longer life and more usage to get your money’s worth. 

Reusable Face Masks Save Money

A reusable face mask in a lower-risk environment can be reused a number of times, with no limit, as long as it is properly disinfected after each use. Reusable face masks which require filters due to their use in higher-risk environments can save a great deal of money as well.  A reusable mask with a single filter is equivalent to 20 disposable masks. Although the initial price of reusable masks are higher than that of the disposable ones, the mask will pay for itself very quickly once you consider how many disposable masks it replaces. 

Reusable Face Masks Put You At a Lower Risk of Being Infected

Disposable masks require a lot of adjusting, due to the cheap quality. Every time you adjust your mask, you are touching the outside of the mask which is protecting you from all the germs. Once your hands have been in contact with the germs, they can unknowingly touch your face and the germs will be absorbed, therefore only putting yourself in more harm’s way. The outside of each mask is dirty and is likely contaminated, and while reusable masks will be sturdy and allow you room for breathing without difficulty, disposable masks simply cause more distraction. 

For those concerned for the outward appearance, reusable masks can also be personalized and fit for one’s personal taste. In addition to reusable face masks being sold in stores, another way to let your clothes live long, is by making your own face masks. Take any old piece of clothing (make sure it’s clean!) and re-vamp it so it can be turned into a face mask.

You can sew your own mask, and donate them to the hospitals that are in need of them. Here is a list of locations that are accepting hand-sewn masks. If you are bored and have time during quarantine, make sure to check it out!

How To Make Face Mask Donations

Check out this website to learn how to sew your own face mask:

How To Sew Your Own Facemask

Silk is a generally utilized material in the top of the line attire industry. Considered an extravagance texture for its non-abrasiveness, wrap, and sheen, silk likewise has breathable and warm properties (keeping you cool in the late spring and warm in the winter) settling on it an extraordinary decision for an assortment of clothing things. Ethical brands use silk in their attire lines consistently rather than manufactured, synthetic materials.

How is normal silk made?

Once silkworm breeders have harvested silkworm cocoons, they usually expose them to high heat to prevent the mature worms from emerging. Some animal rights activists protest this practice; they contend that it’s possible to harvest silk without killing silkworms. The intact cocoons are boiled, and during this process the silkworm dies. This is where the idea of Peace Silk comes in. 

Ahimsa (Peace) silk is a silk that is bred and harvested through non-violent processes. This allows the silkworm to complete metamorphosis in order to allow it to reach completion and turn into a butterfly. This encourages the idea that no animal should die in the name of fashion. Once the silkworm leaves the cocoon, the empty cocoon is then used to produce silk. 

Silk is considered to have a very low water footprint and has almost zero percent waste, and is biodegradable within only a few years, a much better option compared to synthetic materials which take hundreds of years. 

“By bringing silk production back to local regions of the world experiencing drought and poverty like Meghalaya, a country in the north-eastern region of India, we can help create a new livelihood for women and their children while generating a larger market for natural peace silk” (O’Brien). The production of peace silk will not only be beneficial for the environment, but also provide new opportunities for regions living in poverty by proving to be a source of sustainable income. 

In addition to the obvious positive environmental factors, peace silk is also extremely durable. Despite the myth that it is a fancier fabric that only requires dry cleaning, it can actually be machine-washed or hand-washed. The only possible downside are wrinkles that may form during the drying process- but these can be steamed out and this is a very simple process.  

Peace silk is full of positive factors, pertaining to the environment, the material’s sustainability and duration and the quality of the fabric against the skin. Make sure to check it out and always be on the lookout for more sustainable versions of your everyday materials!

When clothes shopping, it is important to keep in mind what type of fabrics are being used. Clothes made from fabrics that are created through the usage of natural energy can have an overall better long term effect. Clothing production involves the usage of unsafe chemicals, freshwater shortages, overbearing energy consumption, and the eventual overfilling of landfills. Using more eco-friendly materials allows you to reduce your impact on the environment and invest in safer practices. 

Today, I will be listing sustainable and vegan fabrics that are 100% recommended to add to your wardrobe. Going vegan is at an all time high, so what better time will there be to begin investing in vegan fabrics?

Animal agribusiness is one of the main sources of ozone harming substance emanations, water utilization, and deforestation around the world, inventive options in contrast to customary materials are being discharged constantly in a market that is endeavoring to stay aware of moving patterns. Gone also are the days while going vegan implied being veggie obsessed. As progressively cognizant buyers are understanding that they can no longer legitimize the heap negative effects that animal use has no matter how you look at it, the interest for sustainable vegan fabrics is at an unequaled high.

Next time you go shopping, take a look at this list of fabrics and keep an eye out for more sustainable purchases.

Organic Cotton

It is made from non-genetically modified plants that are grown without the use of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilisers or pesticides. This makes it better for the environment, the climate and the health of the people involved.

Linen

Growing flax requires less water than cotton. There is very little waste with flax; other part of the plant, like the seeds, can be used to produce linseed oil or flax seeds for consumption. Linen typically requires fewer pesticides, herbicides and fungicides than cotton. The fibres are porous, and it’s great at keeping you cool in the summer but it can also be insulating in colder temperatures. 

Hemp

As a crop, hemp is exceptionally environmentally positive. It requires around 50 percent less water to grow per season than conventional cotton and can grow in a range of soils at high yield. The plant is also extremely durable and requires low to zero pesticides. Hemp fabric is produced from fibers taken from stem and stalk of the cannabis plant which are softened in water, broken up and spun or woven into fabric. Hemp is an incredibly versatile and durable material with a texture very similar in look and feel to linen. Weight depends on how it’s processed and what it’s mixed with.

Peace Silk

Silk has extraordinary properties that make it an entirely reasonable, eco-accommodating common fiber. Silk production is considered to have a low water footprint and produce right around zero percent waste. Peace silk or cruelty-free silk, otherwise called ‘Eri’ or ‘Ahimsa’ silk is a procedure that permits the silkworm to rise up out of their case and the silk fiber is thusly gathered and spun from opened casings. Permitting the silkworm to finish their normal life cycle. This procedure is very work escalated however it gives business advantages to the weavers and their families. Peace silk is hotter and milder as it is spun as a fiber instead of as a string. Peace silk is additionally said to have temperature controlling properties which help the body to hold heat in chilly environmental factors and remove heat when it is warm.

Cashmere Wool

Cashmere Wool is the best reasonable and inexhaustible fiber with ethics to shield the client from the encompassing basics. Be it sew or woven, woolen strands make durable array. Fibres from these pieces of clothing won’t strip and will hold its structure for a long time, in any event, for generations.

Honorable Mentions:

Cork

Cork is viewed as an inexhaustible or reasonable material in light of the fact that the collecting of cork doesn’t require the chopping down of any trees; rather, the trees grow and can be reused and remodeled. 

Pinatex

 The leaves of the pineapple plant have recently become one of the most sustainable vegan leather alternatives on the market.

Futuristic Fabrics:

Econyl

Econyl is a type of nylon that is made completely from waste items. It is produced using a scope of post-shopper squander including relinquished angling nets, floor coverings and rigid materials and intends to be a green option in contrast to the first item which is produced using a derivative of oil. Particularly utilized in swimwear.

Spider Silk

Regardless of the name, spiders are not utilized in the creation of this material. The organization that concocted spider silk, Bolt Threads, contemplated insects and their DNA to figure out how the fiber was delivered and work out an approach to build up their own rendition. No insect DNA is utilized in its assembling and the final result is completely synthetic. The fundamental contribution to the fiber-production process is sugar from plants that are developed, gathered and replanted. The sugars from these plants are matured and this creates a protein that is then spun into a fiber; spider silk. The extraordinary thing about this material is that it is produced using renewable resources so the environmental effect is additionally lower.

So there it is, the list of 5 readily available substances as the world takes a step away from harmful fabrics like nylon and polyester to more sustainable, eco-friendly ones. 

Always be on the lookout and remember, using sustainable fabrics can go a long way. 

The Corona Virus outbreak has impacted every life on the planet. People are living their lives under a new set of rules and are stopped from doing basic things that were previously openly allowed.

Covid-19 has also shined a light on the difference between essential and nonessential items, as there are now restrictions in stores and rules placed by the government; closing popular locations, limiting items purchased in stores and so much more. Through this pandemic, people can begin to see how many items we felt were necessary for survival, have really just manipulated us into believing they were a lot more important than they actually are. 

Here, I will be formulating a list of items that I have learned were either essential or nonessential during my experience of Covid-19. 

Essential Items:

• Cloth face masks.

It is recommended to wear one every time you leave your house, to protect others in case you unknowingly have the virus. Cloth masks would be most preferred because they can be reused.

• About 3 weeks of food. No more than 4 weeks. 

There is no reason to hoard all the materials in the shopping aisles. Make sure to take as much as you need to keep you away from grocery stores for as long as possible, while at the same time being courteous. 

• First Aid Kits/ Over-The-Counter medicine. 

It is better to have these items in your home, for easy access in case of any emergencies. But once again, do NOT hoard supplies. 

• Soap and hand sanitizer.

Currently, it is difficult to get a hold of either of these items, but once they are available it would be beneficial to purchase it. 

Reference  WIRED’s guide to making your own hand sanitizer !

Nonessential Items:

• MEDICAL GRADE FACE MASKS. 

There is a shortage of face masks. Any of these that are available should be saved for the use of medical personnel only! Any N95 face masks you have purchased should be directed to a healthcare facility as soon as possible.

• EXTRA toilet paper and paper towels. 

There is a major shortage on these two items, do not buy an unnecessary amount. Those who already have purchased large amounts, do not waste it. Wasting these products will not only hurt the planet, it will also hurt your waller.

• New Clothes. 

I have seen an endless amount of clothing hauls from people who are purchasing new clothing out of boredom. Do not do this! There is no reason to buy new clothing during a pandemic! Nobody should be leaving their house for recreational purposes, so there should be no need to buy 15 sets of new clothing to keep up with the current trends. Instead, try revamping your closet by restyling old clothes.

Advice on the purchase of nonessential items include recognizing the money you are also spending on these items. In addition to the possibility of nonessential item purchases putting warehouse and delivery workers at risk, it is also known that the economy is unpredictable. Therefore, spending money on products with little intention of use would not be recommended, considering the possibility of an unstable economy; especially keeping in mind our place in the global pandemic. For example, regarding families who receive stimulus money, if the extra money from the government is not needed for bills, it is recommended to put the cash in reserves, in case of an unfortunate situation where the economy does not recover quickly. 

Making wise purchases is just as important as wise actions during these times. Stay safe and healthy.

5 Easy Ways to Make a Change to Sustainable Fashion 

Currently, the majority of the world is living through a global pandemic. While being locked up in our homes, forced to stay in a shelter-in-place position, there are always more ways you can change small things in your life to live more sustainably. Here are some tips and tricks that I have been inspired by. They are easy, quick and beneficial!

1. Choose Ethical Brands 

As consumers, it is important to pay attention to how your clothing is made, and then disposed of. One way to make sure you do not encourage Fast Fashion brands is by paying attention to which brands are transparent about their process of making/ disposing clothing and their circular story. Even if the stories are not perfect, knowing that these brands are honest, depicts that they have the right intentions. If you understand the story of each product you purchase, then you are a “conscious consumer.” “Do your research, as some companies pose as being ethical/sustainable but actually they’re not. Also, before you buy anything, really try and think about if you’re going to use it and wear it enough. I like the 30 wears idea and try and adhere to that.” @englishlassinla

The 30 wears idea brings us to our next tip, choosing quality over quantity through classical pieces.

2. Opt for Classical Pieces 

Classic fashion is something that lasts for years and is widely accepted by a range of people. They are the clothing pieces that can be worn and re-worn, styles and restyled in countless numbers of ways, all while looking as fresh as though it were your first wear. Here, it is also important to drop the mindset of quantity over quality. When shopping in fast fashion stores, you may find the price of four pieces of trendy “in” clothing matches the price of one piece of more traditional clothing from a more ethical store. Think about all the shopping you do in a year, and how much of it is the result of poor-quality clothes or items that have gone out of style and need to be replaced. While buying quality clothes might require more of an investment, they also last much longer – both in time and in taste – meaning you’re going to get your money’s worth.

 Some examples of Timeless Fashion Include:

• Black Pumps
• Trench Coats
• Dark Wash Jeans
• Classic Button Up Shirts
• Classic Blazer
• Little Black Dress
• White Tee

Here, remember “quality of quantity.” In this situation, and any other, you must keep this in mind:

Purchase clothing that can be paired with more than 30% of your closet.

If the piece of clothing you are looking at can be styled with at least 30% of your closet, then that will guarantee multiple uses, which makes the clothing worth the money being spent on it. Often, clothing that are fads, do not check off this box, because they stay in fashion for one season, and then find themselves disappearing. It is important to stay away from such clothing, because they cannot withstand many uses, and do not stay trendy for long enough to make the most of it. By following fast fashion trends, you create more waste than necessary, ultimately harming the environment through the disposal process of these garments. 

3. Clothing Must Sustain Washes 

The better quality the clothing is, the longer it stays looking fresh and crisp. Many fast fashion attires do not make it through ore than 5 washes before looking as though you’ve had it for years. It’s not a good look. The bad quality will cause you to throw out the clothing, therefore creating a larger pileup of trash in the landfills. Additionally, if your clothing cannot sustain more than 30 washes, then it is a wasted purchase. Be wise, do not waste your money on clothing that cannot sustain washes. 

4. Avoid Impulse Buying

If the clothing you are looking at checks off the first two boxes, then you are on the last, and final checkbox. When the clothing catches your interest, it is best to leave it, sleep on it, and then come back the next day after sleeping on it, and see if you still feel strongly about it. If you sleep on it and the next day you have lost interest in the garment, then you know it would have been an impulse buy, and wasted away sitting in your closet. If you are still interested in the purchase the next day, then, by all means, go buy it! 

5. Make sure to have a Sustainable Mindset

It is important to remember that making the change to a more sustainable lifestyle will have more long term effects than immediate benefits. When purchasing new clothing, you will be tempted to keep up with the trends and follow along with your friends, but you need to remind yourself that long term, you will be making a better difference, both on the wellbeing of your own wallet and the planet. It may be a change that will take time to adjust too, but in the end it will be worth it. 

These 5 tips will automatically move you in the right direction and promote a more sustainable and fashionable lifestyle!  

Be sure to check out your local, more ethical clothing stores and brands, rather than large factory businesses!

Since the 1990’s, many popular clothing companies such as Zara, H&M, and Forever 21 have begun to take part in the infamous trend, known as “Fast Fashion.”

What is Fast Fashion?

The fashion industry and its impact on the environment has become an increasingly larger problem.  Every year the world as a whole consumes more than 80 billion items of clothing, and these clothes will eventually play a large role in resource and waste pollution. People are consuming more and they want it for cheaper prices; companies producing these cheap items (who make large profits) want the clothes as fast as possible, this creates a trend called fast fashion. The idea is that fast mass production will require the use of cheap labor, which makes the cost of the clothing cheaper. The cheaper the item is, the larger success it will have from the buyers, ultimately maintaining the companies’ economic status.

The very concept produces a cycle filled with negative outcomes, starting from the way the clothing is made, all the way to it’s disposal. Fast Fashion goes hand in hand with the idea of cheap labor. Since the basis of fast fashion is essentially creating clothing that lasts a few weeks and even fewer wears, companies need to constantly be ready with new designs, for the factories to quickly produce. Speedy mass production and cheap labor makes clothes cheaper for the customers, thus promoting the brand even further and leading to more economic success. The constant need to produce more and more clothing results in factories producing even more waste, which will eventually be disposed of in even more harmful ways. Only ⅕ of discarded clothing and waste products will be recycled, while the remaining 80% goes to waste disposal streams. From there, 70% goes to landfills and 30% gets incinerated. With landfills filling up, there is only so much space Earth can provide for trash disposal, and overtime new forms of disposal must be discovered. Incinerators cause more air pollution than the factories do, and together it hurts the atmosphere and Earth’s ozone layer. To keep up with the constantly changing trends, people have begun buying clothing more regularly than necessary.  The average person in 2014 owned 60% more clothing items compared to the average consumer in 2000, while wearing the clothing for half as long. Americans bought five times the amount of clothes in 2014 as they did in 1980. Newer clothes, made with less expensive and short lived material, leads to only being able to wear those clothes a couple times before being forced to replace them. Waste numbers will keep building, and the cycle will continue to harm the planet.