Buying vintage or used clothing is, possibly, more sustainable than buying new goods, whether made from green fibers or not. Finding the time to browse scores of second-hand stores can take up a whole weekend afternoon - something that most people simply cannot spare. Both Craigslist and eBay can be quite touch and go when it comes to fashionable finds, so what is a greenie to do!?

Never fear, Swango is here! Started just last year, this online shopping site has become a favorite among sustainable shoppers of all ages:

In an effort to decrease the environmental impact of consumer waste and fast fashion, 15% of Americans choose to purchase their clothes at consignment and resale stores. This saves around 2.5 billion pounds of postconsumer textile waste from entering US landfills. Swango is dedicated to furthering this trend of clothing and shoes recycling. Join us in battling the inalterable consequences of needless textile waste and helping to preserve our beautiful planet.

Always looking for the inside scoop, I recently chatted with one of Swango’s co-founders, Jeff Poulton, to get the real info on this new online fashion superstore. Keep reading for all the juicy details from our interview, including Swango’s non-profit partner, green fashion’s role in the eco-movement and more!

How did the idea for Swango come to be?

It’s almost impossible to quantify the thrill you get when you find the perfect piece of clothing at a swap meet or thrift store. Is it the price you [didn’t] pay, the fate that brought you to find an item so uniquely you, the guilty pleasure that you somehow got more-for-less? We can remember these feelings as far back as junior high when we’d exchange clothes with a friend; the whole rest of the day felt empowering, like you knew something that nobody else knew.

When kicking around the thought of quitting our day jobs, a couple of us fell in love with the idea of developing an online clothing swap that would let users tap into a huge, virtual swap meet. We were shocked when our research revealed that there wasn’t a single, easy-to-use, genuine clothing swap website.

The few sites that existed (and that continue to pop up) got it wrong by requiring their members to contact the seller and negotiate a deal or pay cash for the item. Swango is patterned after a real-life clothing swap – no negotiating, no bartering, no endless email chains. Simply put items into your shopping cart and you’re done. Swango handles the details of contacting the seller to ensure prompt shipment.

Since its creation, what kind of traffic has Swango seen? How many buyers and sellers do you have on the site?

Swango launched the week of Thanksgiving 2007 – an interesting time for a second-hand store to hit the web. It was a bit pokey before the holidays, but Swango has seen an excellent growth pattern since the first of the year. It’s fun to see Swango becoming a hobby for many of our most active users.

Our biggest hurdle is quickly building up a diverse enough inventory to excite the majority of the people who come to the site. So far, the trends we have seen are very promising as each day our inventory grows and the number of sales increases. We continue to be amazed by the quality of the items posted and have to confess what we order items from the site with as much enthusiasm as our other members.

The 99 cent transaction fee for each purchase is said to go to supporting the Dignity U Wear non-profit? What about this particular organization made you want to support them so extensively?

We are firm believers that what comes around, goes around (especially true for a swap site!) Swapping clothes is all about participating in a co-op environment where all parties involved benefit. But what about the people who don’t have extra clothes to swap? We thought it was an excellent fit to associate Swango with a charity that dealt with providing new apparel to families who have had serious losses. Dignity U Wear has clothed over 260,000 children and families in need and has spent over $44.8 million buying new clothing for those who have lost everything. Working with Dignity U Wear allows our members and us to continue the circle of giving and receiving.

Should people shop only at Swango instead of eBay/Craigslist/vintage stores, or should it simply be a key part of their sustainable shopping plans?

That’s a great point to clarify. We think Swango is an excellent complement to the venues you mentioned and provides some significant advantages with which they simply can’t compete. For example, Craigslist and local thrift/vintage stores are geographically limiting, whereas Swango lets members grab items from all around the country. Why not shop at your local thrift store and Swango?

More importantly, Swango members aren’t out to make a profit on their clothes. Rather, they are more interested in living within their means, exercising resourcefulness, and spreading the word that swapping is a desirable alternative to always buying new clothing from mega department stores and big-box retailers.

Green fashion has often been seen as a frivolous part of living a sustainable life. What is your take on that?

We’ve heard of more frivolous green acts, such as celebs proposing the use of only a square or two of toilet paper per restroom visit! That said, we know that the little things are the big things. Swango’s contribution is clearly focused on the continued usage of perfectly good clothing and slowing the rate at which clothes go to the landfill.

The objective behind swapping clothes on Swango does not lie entirely in green fashion, nor does it focus solely on the movement towards producing and distributing environmentally friendly clothes (although these are great objectives). Swango provides a platform for people of all levels of environmental awareness to play their part in evolving towards living a sustainable lifestyle.

What do you say to the folks that still believe global warming is just a myth?

We tend to be more interested in evangelizing our website than getting into global warming debates. The cool part is that regardless of what people believe about global warming, they love the idea of swapping clothes. We try hard to spread the philosophy that exchanging clothing is an effective way to help the environment by slowing the large amounts of post-consumer textile waste, but often it’s simply our enthusiasm for swapping that entices people to join Swango.

Do you have any other nifty, secret projects/expansion plans in the works that you could hint at?

Gosh, we thought it was nifty enough trying to become the web’s favorite clothes swapping website! Like most ambitious websites, we have an endless list of features and enhancements that we would love to implement. Right now, however, we’re spending most of our efforts on building brand awareness and increasing site participation.

In the future, you’ll likely see the ability to participate in private virtual swaps, advertise your posted items on Facebook, and interact directly with real-world clothing swap meets. Until then, we will continue to demonstrate that Swango is the most user-friendly and intuitive way to get stylish, fashionable clothing for ultra-super cheap!

If having a gift-free holiday is not something your family would go for, why not get them something sustainable? Just by looking through the eco-links collection on my website, one can easily see that there are cornucopia of green stores to choose from. For the next two months, I'll be featuring some of the freshest shopping destinations the world wide web has to offer, helping you get to the bottom of that twice-checked list faster than ever.

Trying to decide who to feature in my first Green Shopping Spotlight was a darn tough decision, but the answer came to me in a snap, or an e-mail as it were. Two days ago, I got a delightful message from Jennifer, half of the two-woman team that started Max and Zane, the other half being April. I'd never heard of the online outlet before so I quickly clicked on over to see what the scoop was, and boy (or girl, haha) was I in for a treat!

Dr Adam Best, project leader and employee of the CSIRO Energy Technology Division "predicts that the first power shirts - or flexible energy devices- could be developed within five years," states a Sydney Morning Herald report. Their concept includes the technology of piezoelectrics as the energy generating material. This popularly researched material produces a charge displacement when it is flexed. It naturally occurs in soft chrystalline structures like quartz, and Rochelle salts.

The idea is to develop a fabric woven with piezoelectric material so that any movement on, in, or around your body would stimulate the fiber to generate power. The clothing would be woven with flexible batteries that could act as storage unit series for your devices. The next step is to figure out how to wirelessly transmit that power collected in your t-shirt to your mobile phone without damaging your body due to intense exposure to electro-magnetic fields.

At Little Marmara, we believe in simple things. That we should treat the environment as we would treat ourselves. That nothing should go next to our children’s beautiful skin that we would not place next to our own. That clothing for little people can and should be as artful and well made as clothing for big people. And that at no point from the cotton fields to our customers should the earth or any of its inhabitants suffer in the slightest for our cause.

Founded in 2005, Little Marmara just recently launched its website and online store in July of this year. Unable to find anything she liked (and her two kids felt comfortable wearing), Ackerman started Little Marmara to solver her own clothing conundrums as well as those of other parents and their kids. Made from 100% organic Turkish cotton under fair labor practices, all of Little Marmara's creations are printed with low impact dyes, featuring gender-neutral Turkish designs from the Ottoman Empire era. The designs, and the brand itself, is a nod to Ackerman's children's Turkish heritage, with the line taking its name from the Marmara Sea and the ancient Middle Eastern trade routes that used to follow its shores.

As a new parent, I was very concerned about swaddling my newborn in synthetic, petroleum-based polyester blankets. Conventionally grown cotton baby blankets are not much better, as they are grown and produced with pesticides and chemicals. The solution: organically grown baby blankets. Unfortunately, six years ago the only organic fiber blanket I could find was a dull green color and unattractive. Today, babies can be swaddled in stylish, luxurious organic baby blankets by Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics, the perfect gift for baby.

I hope this is of interest. Please contact me for more info...Jerry

 I hope this is of interest to all. please contact me for more info....Jerry
 

Years back (at least seven or eight by my count), Levi's used to offer a custom jeans program wherein you would visit one of their stores, get measured by a trained associate, try on some sample pairs, and order jeans that are fit just right for you. Unfortunately, I only got one pair made before they closed the program, which to this day is still quite a disappointment for me.

Imagine my delight when I stated hearing about Ontario-based UJeans, which offers a tellingly custom, 11-point fit that you measure yourself. On top of that, all their goods are made from sustainable cotton (not organic, but close) from a unique farming program in Pakistan. The cotton is dyed with natural minerals and enzymes, lowering the company's (and your wardrobe's) impact on the environment. All manufacturing steps are done under Fair Trade conditions, and a portion of all the company's profits are distributed through Kiva, offering micro-loans to small businesses in developing countries. Want more eco-involvement? Each pair of jeans is mailed in a denim envelop, made from remnant fabric from the manufacturing process. "The denim bag has been used for a make-up bag, pencil case and even a sleeping bag for stuffed animals," said Daniel Feuer, President of UJeans. An outline of the businesses' complete sustainable actions can be seen on their website.

Next, layers are key and making sure the extremities are covered (i.e. hands and feet). Buying a new pair of slippers has been tempting me for months, until I saw this Cut Out + Keep step-by-step project for making house slippers out of an old towel (we've all got some of those). Vegan and easily customizable, this project only take a little over an hour and is as easy as pie (oh, another good idea to warm up).

Cut Out + Keep is a nifty online community and collection of DIY project started by Cat Morley, a young journalist/filmmaker/photographer in Scotland. Cat's writing has been featured in both Venus Zine and ReadyMade Magazine's website; she also produces an online magazine called Snippets, which features "the most interesting, wonderful and weirdest from the worlds of fashion, music, technology, art, craft and entertainment." Snippet's latest issue, number 6, is all about fashion, even featuring an interview with Portland-based eco-style creator Leanimal (who will be premiering her new collection at the upcoming Portland Fashion Week).

Don't worry, I didn't forget us adults - we deserve to have as much fun as the kids, right!? The 8 No-Sew Costumes feature, first published in 2005, still has a host of great ideas and unique ensembles: "with supplies from the craft store, supermarket, thrift shop, and your closet, you can create fantastic disguises without a stitch." The great guises to choose from include a bubble wrap jellyfish, spider web mother and sock spider baby, garbage bag witch, tulle ghost, coffee filter godmother, umbrella bats, silk leaf swamp couple, and a feather and felt raven. Just reading the names of the costumes springs to life a host of green options, such as those socks in your drawer that you never found a match to (sock spider baby), that broken umbrella that you don't know what to do with (umbrella bat), and the last must-have item that you ordered online that came with [gulp] plastic packaging (bubble wrap jellyfish).

However, I do find the innovations in green clothing fascinating, and for that reason I plan on attending EcoNouveau this Saturday. Billed as LA’s definitive EcoLifestyle experience, the event is a precursor to LA Fashion Week, which begins October 14th.

The event will feature the Spring/Summer ’08 collection of eco-fashion designers in a non-traditional runway show (I’m really curious to find out what that means!) The show will spotlight innovative uses of organic materials and processes.

EcoNouveau will take place on September 29th at 8pm at the Architecture and Design Museum. The A+D, as it is commonly known, is an all-inclusive information and education center for design including architecture, interior design, landscape design, fashion design and product design. It is the only museum in Los Angeles where continuous exhibits of architecture and design are on view.

Preschool teachers and parents often complain that dress-up clothes are disorganized and difficult for children wear; however, all these dress-up clothes are not necessary. At a performing arts conference for teachers I attended, Play Silks were recommended as the only costume prop needed in the classroom or home. Children can make any costume using their imagination with Play Silks. Like blocks, they are truly open-ended, versatile, and limitless for play. In addition, silk is durable, soft, and aesthetically pleasing.

Play Silks are expensive, but you and your child get a lot for the money. At about $11 piece (you do get a discount for buying a set), their cost kept me from buying them for many years. I wanted to make my own set, but time slipped away, and I realized I never would get around to actually doing it (I still haven't finished knitting the sweater I started for my daughter five years ago!). You can select plain silk scarves from Dharma Trading Company for anywhere between $1.00 and $4.00 and naturally dye them yourself to save money. Since purchasing a set of Play Silks, I am very pleased with how they have contributed to my daughter's dramatic play. Our Play Silks are over a year old, and they show no signs of wear and tear.

Yeah, yeah, I know that cheap clothing is cheap for a reason (or several): exploitative labor practices and environmentally-destructive materials, to name a few. And I support paying a premium for items that are ethically made, just like when I grocery shop. It's still hard for me to plunk down my hard-earned cash for upscale sustainable goods; I just don't have that disposable income, and, frankly, clothes aren't so important to me that even if I did have the cash to spare, I'd probably use it for something else. But a girl needs to feel good in her clothes, and I do have to exercise a modicum of professional dress when I'm teaching kids about renewable energy. So I set off on a quest to find five places where I could make better clothing choices without breaking the bank.

Disclaimer: "affordable" is a weighted word. What some people see as a bargain, others would and/or could never pay. My idea of affordable can best be described as middle-class: I'm a teacher, my husband is a teacher, we don't come from money, and we have bills to pay. I'm not really looking for high-fashion here, but mostly basic pieces I can use in a variety of ways with my existing wardrobe.

"Our eco-sensitive offerings are the next step in our journey to reduce REI's overall company environmental footprint," added Kelly Stone, REI Gear & Apparel director of sales and marketing. "As with every offering that carries our brand, REI's eco-sensitive items deliver on our promise of functionality, quality and great style that our members and customers expect."

Utilizing organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, recycled PET, and organic wool, REI has created both men's and women's apparel that they believe meet standards for improved environmental performance. Men's items range from organic cotton/recycled PET polyester cargo pants and t-shirts, to organic cotton hoodies, to recycled PET fleece parkas, jackets, and vests. The women's line includes recycled PET fleece jackets, hemp/recycled PET skirts and pants, and organic cotton t-shirts & hats. REI plans to increase the amount of "eco-senstive" products offered in coming seasons.

Each quarterly issue features 10-15 new patterns tailor to each season, as well as columns, articles, interviews, product recommendations and more. One of the consistent columns, titled "Frankenknits," is written by Kristi Porter, in which she chops up clothing, and transforms them into updated items of wonder (perfect for us reuse-loving crafters). Knitty's Fall 2007 issue recently went live, and the Frankenknits column features two handy dress incarnations: one for women and another for baby.

Editor's note: Please join us in welcoming Jason Phillip to the Green Options writing team! A freelance writer and editor based in Chicago, Jason will be focusing on the "green scene" in the Windy City for us. Mayor Richard Daly has committed to making Chicago the greenest city in the country, so we're looking forward to Jason's reports on these efforts.

My idea of sustainable fashion has always been making sure the clothing I wear gets as long a life as possible. I like keeping things in my wardrobe forever, and when they finally can’t be worn even one more time, replacing them with something from a thrift store that I know has had at least one previous owner. I like to think I'm buying classics, and also keeping material out of the waste stream. If I'm not buying something new, my purchase doesn't help spew any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere or exploit any sweatshop workers, right? Plus, I can save a bundle outfitting myself with recycled duds.

But as most fans of "thrifting" know, it can be tough to shop this way all the time. There's an element of luck involved—you have to make do with what fate presents you. The scavenger hunt feeling can be addictive, but sometimes it's just not practical—like when building a professional wardrobe, or looking for outdoor apparel with modern weatherproofing performance. No one has ever accused me of being a slave to fashion, but sometimes you gotta go retail. And for the eco-conscious consumer, going retail may now mean seeking out environmentally-friendly garments. In just the past year, it seems, the fashion industry has really begun to embrace the environmental ethos, and the choices available to consumers interested in ethically-produced clothing are growing by leaps and bounds.

Case in point: I got a pair of recycled sandals as a gift this year, after my decade-old pair of slip-ons finally gave up the ghost. My wife—never a fan of the old dork cork classics, but nonetheless tolerant of my penchant for comfort over style—found a decent looking replacement pair that compared favorably in the looks department, and had some impressive sustainability features. I appreciated the fact that the soles are made from recycled car tire tread, the straps consist of used (but clean) bicycle inner tubes, and the thread holding it all together is organic cotton. Alas, the whole shoe is less than the sum of its parts; the sad fact is that the new togs just make me miss my old pair. They don't feel anywhere near as sturdy, they fall off my feet when I walk because the straps can't be tightened, and the stitching in the soles looks like it's about to wear through after only three weeks of use. Did I mention I owned my old pair since the mid-1990s? These "sustainable" sandals don't seem like they'll last through next summer. The warm glow I felt around the purchase of this innovative product has faded pretty quickly, replaced by the creeping realization that I'm going to have to make another summer footwear purchase soon.

We like to think of this website as a virtual sewing circle, an open-source hub of ideas, expertise, and amazing patterns you can download and sew at home. We want you to learn something new every time you visit BurdaStyle. We want this website to inspire you. And most importantly, we want you to get involved: We're offering our ideas, expertise and download-able patterns to the BurdaStyle community, and we hope that you'll contribute, too.

Though the website has online been online since late January 2007, it has gained popularity in the crafty community quickly.

With users uploading images of their creations, and sharing tips and tricks via the wiki-style Sewpedia and How-To sections, inspiration is only a mouse click away. Though the images in this entry feature skinny, youthful models, nearly all patterns feature a wide range of sizes. As of late, the website's official blog has featured a number of user's pattern customizations for pregnancy.

Currently, there are 35 patterns available, with new ones being uploaded at least once a week. Everything from pants and dresses to accessories and lingerie are online in PDF format, easily printable from any home printer. As with any good pattern, difficulty ratings and details on amount of fabric needed are provided for each project, as well as direct feedback from other users who have completed them.