Ethical Clothing Pledge- From Tasmania to Santa Rosa, California Why Our Shopping Decisions Matter

I love "Naked Lady" and "Get in My Pants" parties! These tongue in cheek, rather risqué titles are meant to incite (not excite) ladies to get together and swap the unwanted or underused stacks of clothes on our clothing racks.  Swaps keep clothes out of the landfill and needed cash in mommy's pockets- but what if we need to dole out cash for clothes? My fellow blogger Isis of Launceston, Tasmania  encourages taking the "Ethical Clothing Pledge" to ensure we keep the environment, humanity, and our pocket books in mind:

T H E _ E T H I C A L _ C L O T H I N G _ P L E D G E

"I pledge to only wear clothing that is one or more of the following:
1. Pre-loved
2. Handmade (preferably by me)
3. Reconstructed
4. Made with ethical / environmentally friendly materials
5. Made by a company with strong ethical policy & workers' rights

* Companies with environmentally friendly practices (such as cutting down on waste/energy/water) get brownie points
* If I get one little inkling of sweatshop labour, I'm outta there!
* Above all though, I think the most important thing is reducing the amount of things we use in the first place. Not purchasing ANOTHER piece of clothing just for the sake of it is the biggest statement we can make."

How to Implement the Ethical Clothing Pledge in Sonoma County

Pre-Loved:  Local Thrift and Second Hand Shops

Please leave a comment with your favorite thrift store here and mention the good sale days if you know them!  SF Station has an extensive list of "vintage and used clothing" in the North Bay (click on the city name on the far left under the North Bay heading).  Sonoma Backroads and Byways publishes a pretty good county-wide list of thrift stores.  My favorite local consignment (where you can buy and sell clothes) stores are:

Kids:

Sprout (Healdsburg) "previously loved clothing" is my number one choice for kids clothing, books, toys, shoes, and more!  Check out this local mom owned shop at 177 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, CA 95448 •  707-433-7355 • info@sproutchildrensclothing  (Note:  Sprout also sells local artist Isla Corbett's handmade Modern Felt Accessories!)

 (photos courtesy of Amanda Lucey at Sprout)

Wee Peats (Santa Rosa)  1007 West College Avenue • Santa Rosa, CA 95401 • (707) 525-9333 •  customerservice@weethreechildrensstore.com

Kid Exchange & Zoe Women's Clothing (Petaluma) 108 Kentucky St • Petaluma, CA 94952 • (707) 775-3239  This store carries women's fashion and adorable kids clothing!  Let your wee one play in their kids corner (small chair and wooden toys ready for their delight) while you try on those new boots you've been wanting...

(photo of Kid Exchange and Zoe Women's Clothing)

Ladies:

Ooh La Loft - is my top choice for ladies clothing.  Owned and operated by two local sisters (former Petaluma High and SSU grads) who really seem to know how to combine fashion, fun, and environmentalism.  Local ladies love this shop so much, the store often stays open until 9 p.m. on the weekends.  109  Petaluma Blvd. North •   Petaluma, CA  •   (707)769-7787 • oohlaloft_boutique@mail.com

"Our purpose is to create a unique retail experience where shoppers can buy top quality recycled and new fashion as well as receive cash or trade credit for items they sell to the store. The re-using of clothing is our vital contribution to the environment." Click here for more ooh la details!

Knimble Clothing and Knick Knack (Cotati)  8200 Old Redwood Highway • Cotati, CA 94931 • (707) 665-9401 • knimble@gmail.com  (Note:  Knimble also features a new section boutique of fair trade items and items using organic cottons, bamboo and other sustainable materials.)

Pine Grove General Store (Sebastopol) 149 N Main St • Sebastopol, CA 95472 • (707) 829-1138

Favorites (Healdsburg) 435 Center St Healdsburg • CA 95448 • (707) 433-2660

Sister's (Sonoma) "You will find great brand names such as Michael Kors, BCBG, Ann Taylor, Ralph Lauren, J Jill, DKNY, Tahari, Theory, … to name just a few, and compared to full retail, our prices at SISTERS are just amazing!"  120 West Napa St. • Sonoma CA 95476 • 707-933-8422

Local Handmade / Ethical Clothing Shops

Sonoma County has a wealth of local artisans, one of my favorite designers being Isla Corbett.  Her modern felt designs are totally swinging.  You can find Isla's items at Sprout, Cast Away, and Santa Rosa la Belle Fluer.  Share information on your favorite local clothing and accessories makers by leaving a comment! 

Indigenous Designs is another renowned local company that supports ethical clothing manufacturing and sale.  (Read this company's righteous manifesto here.)  Stay up on the Sonoma County Bargains blog to get the super-secret down low on Indigenous Design's overstock sales, such as the one offered in June 2009.   

Reconstructed:  Ideas for "Up-Cycling" Used Clothing

Use old clothing to create new accessories, clothing and gifts!  Turn jammies into lunch sacks, sweaters into hats (as pictured here - great patterns in Warm Fuzzies too!), and more.  Betsy White  "Stitch beautifully, tread lightly" offers a wealth of ideas through her website and books.  I just made an adorable puppy doll by recycling a cashmere sweater by following the pattern in Bety's Sewing Green. 

Hosting Your Own "Naked Lady Party"

Portia Sinnott of LITE Initiatives cites a 2007 Sonoma County Waste Management Agency report finding:  #1.) Textiles represented more than 3 percent of home waste in landfills - totaling approximately 53 pounds of textiles per family.   #2.) Much of this waste is potentially reusable clothing that people don’t have the time or energy to take to charities or sell at yard sales.  (Excerpted content from Clothing Swaps Press Democrat Article 9/1/09)

Inspired?  Read how to throw your own Naked Lady party here. 

(Note:  If you must discard clothing or other items - see the West County Gazette's "Ask Eco-Girl" for a great list of local resources that will help you put your items to good use.)