So by buying vintage is one making an eco friendly fashion statement? Well, in so many ways yes: Overall, it embraces the reuse of existing materials. And there are also many other reasons: because of the individuality of one of a kind statement pieces you can transform many of your existing wardrobe pieces. Not to mention that well selected and cared for vintage pieces are of higher quality than many bargain brands, by choosing vintage you are often buying quality rather than disposable clothing.
I've always been drawn to vintage naturally so all the environmentally friendly benefits were additional perks to what I always saw as sheer fun and a way to indulge my love of fashion. Jaynie Van Roe's Here's Looking Like You, Kid Twolia blog addresses an excellent ad campaign from Ebay's Green Team endorsing vintage as the ultimate eco. Jaynie Van Roe and Things Your Grandmother Knew Blog also include their following quote from Marie Claire's April Issue:
"Choosing new-to-you leather shoes saves more energy than an average household uses in a day.
Buying a pre-loved silk dress saves 95% of the CO2 needed to make a new one.
Choosing a previously owned leather clutch saves as much energy as not watching TV for 3 days straight."
I particularly like that by highlighting their point with clear examples, Ebay's Green Team powerfully gets their message across and this message is what really inspires me most about the eco movement: consumer responsibility in our choices and the fact that each action has an impact on our environment. Jaynie Van Roe raises another interesting question: how does this effect sales?
That's always a trickey question especially nowadays. Although, it's a refreshing twist on trends, to actually enjoy that the eco movement is becoming increasingly mainstream. (Actually refering to eco as trendy, makes my stomach want to turn because it does not flow with its spirit, but I will say the movement is growing and doing so rapidly.) Vintage while being an eco minded choice, only occupies one facet of a much larger group. And it is exciting that there are so many choices that we can all feel good about making while being fabulous and fashionable! I do love it, but vintage is really a niche and Eco Friendly Fashion is a movement. While the popularity of vintage may rise and fall, only a certain type of person is really drawn to vintage, many may dabble here and there but it doesn't seem natural to me that a consumer would choose a vintage piece for purely environmental reasons, no matter how idealistic I'd like to be.
I do get the idea that the best way to save resources is to reuse what is available; therefore following that logic vintage would be the ultimate eco friendly choice. I also think it's equally important to establish fair trade practices and innovating production to ensure the future of our planet is also essential. We are envolving creatures and it is not in our nature to stand still but we must change our direction as to be conoscious of our actions, accept responsbility for our choices, seriously work to stop our destruction and find solutions.
And after this topic came up I decided to check out Ebay, which I haven't in ages and ages. And I was very inspired to learn more about the Green Team and to see that they endorse so much more that buying preowned items on Ebay and are generating a great sense of community involvement and call to action. Check it out at www.ebay.com.
And besides bidding to get low prices for designer handbags etc, I'd like to point out some really hot vintage pieces from retailors that also sell their goods online on Ebay. Noirohio Vintage and Meat Market Vintage Clothing, I was really blown away by their selection and affordability and don't forget a truly socially responsible fashion choice :)
Vintage 70's Trench Coat with Mod Stitching from Noirohio Vintage: Vintage is the New Black
Vintage Victorian Lace Empire Waist Mini Dress 60's from Meat-Market Vintage Clothing
Sapphire Whisper Hearts Ebay!
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