Perhaps the only truly ethical way of dressing ourselves in this day and
age is with second hand clothes. We would suggest you spend time getting to know your local second hand stores, particularly those run by charities. However, be aware of where the money goes from those charities ... Personally I tend towards my local hospice charity shop, and steer clear of medical charities known to support animal testing.
If we choose to buy cottons, we risk complicity with a trade that is known
for being environmentally dirty, exploitative and rife with greed. Organic
cotton is hard to find (check the links below). Do we
instead use animal fibres, leather and wool, and support what for some is
the ethically dubious animal trade? Or do we support the manmade fibres industry?
Your ideas and comments are welcome.
If you have other ideas, please ethical [at] druidnetwork [dot] org">send
them to us!
LINKS
The following are based in Britain.
The Clean Clothes Campaign works to improve working conditions and empower workers
in the industry worldwide.
http://www.cleanclothes.org
Tel : 01603 601993
Ethically Me
http://www.ethicallyme.co.uk
Tel : 0870 005 7080
Ethical Threads
http://www.ethicalthreads.co.uk
Tel : 020 8682 4224
Ethical Wares is a mail order company, focusing on shoes
and accessories. It is run by vegans and holds to the premise of not exploiting
humans, animals or the environment.
http://www.ethicalwares.co.uk
Tel : 01570 471 155
Gossypium is one of my favourites, selling organic and fair trade cottons, clothes and household textiles. One of the sexier ethical outlets ...
http://www.gossypium.co.uk
Tel : 0870 850 9953
Greenfibres offers all kinds of textile products, made of
organic cotton, wool and linen, hemp and untreated silk.
http://www.greenfibres.com
Tel : 01803 868001
Howies sell environmentally friendly clothing which donates
a percentage of profit to grassroots environmental and social projects.
http://www.howies.co.uk
Tel : 01239 614 122
The Organic Cotton Directory
Cotton is ethically one of the dirtiest crops in the world. This website links
to you organizations and businesses that discuss and trade organic cotton
products around the world.
http://www.organiccottondirectory.net
One World is Enough
Ethical clothes bought fairly traded direct from Nepal. Some really
lovely stuff ... like fleece-lined woollen jackets with hoods and toggles!
http://www.one-world-is-enough.net
The People Tree is a pioneer in Fair Trade and Ecology Fashion.
People Tree works with groups in 20 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America,
helping marginalised producers to improve their lives, by giving design and
quality skills, a fair price, regular orders, and advance payment as needed.
Check the website for a catalogue and a great deal of inspiration.
http://www.peopletree.co.uk
Tel : 0845 450 4595
The Vegan Store has many products inline with a vegan attitude, includng some cool t-shirts.
http://www.veganstore.co.uk
Tel : 01273 302979
