I have sensitive skin, so can only wear natural materials, such as silk, cashmere, cotton and merino wool. However, even with natural materials, which have an ecological advantage because they biodegrade faster, we must be very mindful of our consumer decisions.
LEATHER
I abstain from wearing leather coats because I imagine that it will cost the lives of more cows to produce them. I do own a few leather shoes, but this is only because polyurathane or plastic material for waterproof footware is very difficult to bio-degrade and they also don’t last long, so there is a need to buy more and pollute more. The leather shoe decision is one where I had to choose a lesser evil. Perhaps one day there will be more afforable, ecologically produced leather shoes. In the mean time, I do not purchase excess leather shoes than I need because it is not worth the lives of animals for vanity.
FUR
I do not wear fur at all because there are just too many alternatives to stay warm, which don’t require killing animals.
WOOL
Wool is more humane than fur and leather as the sheep are not killed to obtain fur, but of course, purchase only as few as necessary. Also, I was disturbed to find out there are inhumane practices in some countries. For instance, as this article on PETA.com notes, Australian wool producers engage in museling (the removal of wool and skin near the sheep’s rear end to prevent fly-strike). The link will provide an address to write to the Australian PM to stop this practice. You can also, of course, boycott by not wearing Australian wool. All it takes is taking a look at the garment tag as to where the material was made.
Organic wool is also on the rise. Organic wool production does not expose sheep to pesticides and hormones, and does not engage in inhuman practices. You may check this link if you want further detail. I am sure that it is more costly than regular wool, but for a minimalist lifestyle, you ideally only buy items once in a blue and only on a need basis, so perhaps you can see it as a worthy purchase rather than buying lots of cheaper, less ecological materials.
SILK
I love the feel of silk because it is the least irritating of all fabrics on my skin. However, I was distressed to find out the inhuman practice of silk production. As this site explains, moths/silkworms are killed to prevent them from breaking the silk thread as they leave from their cocoons. The cocoons are from where the silk threads are reeled. It takes 1000 cocoons to produce a silk shirt, as noted in this article. Some are trying to produce silk organically now, but it is quite expensive. Sadly, I cannot afford the organic silk, and since I can't wear wool and am often cold due to anemia, I do buy silk, but only for utilitarian purposes of staying warm, and not for trend or excess.
If you live in a warm climate, and can do without wool and silk or if you can afford organic cotton, wool and silk, please do so.
For those of us who don't have either of those luxuries, purchase thrift items (in natural materials) to be ecologically conscious as I do. I also try to upcycle clothing by sewing and making them into new garments, such as dresses and tops or household items, such as bedding, window blinds, etc.
For those who would can afford mid range priced organic clothing, check out this post for 5 affordable eco-friendly retailers.
5 Affordable Eco-Friendly Retailers
Below are the links for the stores.
Rawganique http://www.rawganique.com/
American Apparel http://americanapparelorganics.com/buy.html
Jonano http://www.jonano.com/
I welcome any other suggestions as well to help me and other readers.
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aparigrahasthairye janmakathamtasambodhah
One who is not greedy is secure. He has time to think deeply.
His understanding of himself is complete. ~ Yoga Sutra II.39
One who is not greedy is secure. He has time to think deeply.
His understanding of himself is complete. ~ Yoga Sutra II.39
“The more we have, the more we need to take care of it. The time and energy spent on acquiring more things, protecting them and worrying about them cannot be spent on the most basic questions of life. What is the limit to what we should possess? For what purpose, for whom and for how long? Death comes before we have had time to even begin considering these questions.”
(Translation and commentary of translation of Yoga Sutra II.39 by TKV Desikachar)
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