A Thankful Planet

By TINA WILSON

Above all else I am thankful for my family, and it is a huge family. I come from a family of 10 kids, me being the oldest and I have many nieces and nephews of all ages, Peanut Butter, Nookie, Joi-Toy, Butterfly, JJ, Chillywilly, Man-man, Poopah and Delicate Flower, just to name a few. And no those are not their given names; those are my nicknames for them.

I want for them a planet that can sustain them and their friends and one day their kids, I want them to be able to live in places that are not flooded, burned to the ground or deserts with no life. It’s no news that we are headed down a path of calamity, it took us awhile to understand just how bad it is, though some of us still don’t. It is estimated that fashion contributes some 10% of the global greenhouse gas emissions because of supply chains and energy production. We consume more energy than aviation and shipping combined. I’ve been to a few seminars and even call to action meetings in the homes of people determined to make a difference.We can still earn a living, make fashion and at the same time diminish our footprint, but it takes commitment and planning and there are brands out there trying.

Calida has a collection of I love Nature separates in Tencel that are certified Cradle to Cradle, for men women and kids, check it out.

I met Helena Stuart the genius behind Only Hearts when I was in my 20’s, she was a pioneer then and she still is. She has a lovely collection of recycled lace undies.

I love Opaak, I love the name, I love the clean lines. Their Sheer Outline collection is composed of Recycled micro jersey and a foam free spacer in the bra.

Underprotection’s Dina bralette and hipster is made of a soft recycled polyester in a sheer and opaque knock out zig zag pattern, it is a holiday underpinning if ever I saw one.

Uye Surana is new to me, they have collections of ethically made-in- Columbia undergarments. How clothing is made and by whom is equally important as what they are made of.

Organic Basics is a fantastic collection for men and women of what I love most; clean, classic shapes and colors.  They use recycled materials, organic cotton, and Tencel and Silver Tech to keep your garments fresh longer so you wash them less.

We Are HAH has a wonderful website and collection, I love the models they use, the colors, and the boho sexiness of the brand.  When you go to the site, they explain each area of sustainability and how they implement it in detail, such as digital printing, green packaging, factories and what each fabric is and what it does or does not do to the environment.

They educate as well as sell….smart move.

We can all do better by shopping wisely and manufacturing wisely. We will all be thankful in the future if we do. Happy Thanksgiving and Peace

And Resistance.