Eco-Friendly Shopping for Kids Clothing

Buying Clothes That are Good for the Family and the Environment

Aug 15, 2009 Tamiko Nicholson

Look for clothing that is organic and made of natural fibers when shopping for the family. Here are some tips to help make greener choices when it comes to clothes.

When possible, parent should choose clothes that are made from organic fibres. Natural fibres are ones that come straight from plants and animals, such as cotton, hemp, linen, silk and wool.

Importance of Choosing Organic Fabrics

Just because a textile is natural, it doesn’t mean it has an environmentally-friendly history. One of the most heavily sprayed crops on the planet is cotton. More than 10 per cent of all pesticides sold go to the cotton farming industry. These chemicals can contaminate water, damage the earth and poison wildlife. That’s why it’s best to choose organic fibres whenever possible. Buying organic clothes means making a better choice for the environment and exposing kids to fewer chemicals.

Chemicals in Manufacturing Clothes

Before clothes reach the rack at the shopping mall, they usually go through a number of chemical processes. They are dyed or bleached, and some of the chemicals used have been connected to allergies.

Some clothes go through more processing than others, such as easy-care fabrics. The process they go through to make them easy-care is not easy on the environment because it releases formaldehyde and ammonia. These chemicals can irritate kids with sensitive skin. As well, insecticides and fungicides are sometimes sprayed on fabric to preserve them while they sit in warehouses.

Phthalates and Plastic Designs on T-Shirts

Especially for babies and toddlers, parents may want to avoid buying outfits with plastic designs. Plasticized printing is regularly put on clothing, but it can contain harmful chemicals called phthalates. They can have an impact on hormonal balance and there are concerns that phthalates could have a link to cancer. Prevent kids from chewing or sucking on clothes with plastic decals, to avoid ingesting these chemicals.

Tips for Buying New Clothes

Read the label on clothes to see what they are made of and how to take care for them. Try to avoid the ones that say dry-clean only. A lot of solvents are used to dry-clean clothes that can be damaging to the environment.After buying new clothes for kids, it is important to wash them before they wear them. This will rinse out the chemicals used to process and store the clothes, to prevent them from possibly irritating a child’s skin.

Go for Second-Hand Clothing

Shop at second-hand stores for kids or hold a clothing swap with other parents. Pass on clothes kids have grown out of to friends and family with younger kids. If pants have holes in the knees, use fun and colourful material scraps and cut them in shapes like hearts or stars to cover the holes. As well, there are all sorts of cool patches that can be glued, sewed or ironed on to update hand-me-downs.

Parents can get kids involved in finding ways to reuse and recylce clothes. For example, old pants can also be turned into shorts by cutting the legs off. Encourage siblings to share their clothing, and if they old enough or big enough, parents can share some of their clothing with their kids too.

Shopping Smarter for the Kids and the Environment

Encourage kids to buy more classic pieces that will endure over time versus the latest trend. That way kids will get more wear out of an outfit, making it better for a parent’s wallet and for the environment. Choosing clothes that are well made and more durable will also help them last longer. Parents might have to pay more for such clothes, but it is best to avoid cheap clothes. Clothes that seem to be a “steal” when it comes to price are usually so for a reason. They are likely made in a sweatshop in a developing country where workers are underpaid, working under poor conditions and where potentially harmful chemicals are used as well.

Recycled Clothing Options

More stores are offering organic clothing options and some even have innovative eco-friendly clothes. There are companies that make clothes and accessories out of second-hand clothes and items, like a shirt made of old ties and jacket made from old sheets. Parents can also choose fabrics that are made from recycled plastics, like fleece. If parents are handy with a sewing machine, they can piece together or fix up clothes to give them new life.

Remember to choose organic natural fibres whenever it’s possible when shopping for kids clothing. Look for pieces that are of good quality and will last longer when it comes to trends as well. Pass on clothes that kids have grown out of and look for unique pieces at second-hand shops and clothing swaps.

Parents can also read about making greener choices for toys, green ideas for making school lunches and how to look for natural bath and body products for kids.

References: Goldsmith, Sheherazade. A Slice of Organic Life. NY: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2007.

The copyright of the article Eco-Friendly Shopping for Kids Clothing in Parenting Methods is owned by Tamiko Nicholson. Permission to republish Eco-Friendly Shopping for Kids Clothing in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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