Get Your Eco Groove On

Ready to make the plunge into the ethical consumer world? Not sure where to begin? Check out this list to help get you started:

1- Etiko

Cooler than Converse and a thousand time better for the world, Etiko produce a range of footwear, clothing and sports balls bound to make you feel good. Like James Brown. Only with less lycra.

Etiko is ethical, eco and sustainable. They are the original, real deal. Since 2005 they were the first ecological footwear company established in the Australia-Pacific region. Their shoes are made from organic, fairtrade and vegan materials, they donate soccer balls to kids in need around the globe, they help fund sports programs in Walpiri communities in Central Australia and they are way cheaper than Converse. With these babies on your feet, you will feel like a (happy eco) sex machine.

2- Toms

Toms also provide a large range of vegan footwear and sustainable accessories for all ages. They also donate a pair of shoes or glasses to children in need for every pair bought. Social consciousness break down!

Toms shoes are made from organic, recycled and natural fibers. They are transparent about where their shoes are made (China, Ethiopia and Argentina) and how they strive to adhere to corporate responsibility standards, ensuring their policies actively work to prevent slavery and human trafficking. They support local production and donate to a range of health and environmental programs. That, along with the One for One program (donating shoes or eyewear to someone in need with every purchase made), a worker benefits fund, including training, paid leave, retirement, health classes and medical benefits, AND a range of funky and sassy foot wear and accessories, how can you go wrong?



3- Who gives a crap?!

Have your toilet paper environmentally friendly, socially conscious and delivered to your house. Yes that’s right, delivered to your house. Available in various sized packages, you can order a whole box to be sure that you never run out on Sunday mornings post breakfast ever again.

Costs are down and at $20 for 24 rolls (or $250 for 480 rolls), free postage and handling, it wins over Coles Recycled Brand hands down. Free from chemicals, inks and dyes, it's biodegradable and 100% recycled. 50% of profits are also donated to Water Aid for toilets and improved sanitation in the developing world, this is one way to kill two birds in one swipe.

4- Inform yourself

Inform yourself of the issues and join an advocacy group, to provide support, raise awareness and pressure key stakeholders. Clean Clothes Campaign from Amsterdam provide a range of answers to simple questions asked by many a Target consumer (such as gems like “Yeah but why do they need more money? It’s cheaper over there, they don’t need the same wages as us”). Inform yourself and teach the people around you.

5- Invest your super



Kakadu National Park, Uranium Mining

Invest in an ethical future. Literally. Australian Ethical is a superannuation fund that invests your super in environmentally and socially sustainable projects. Your money will not be secretly used to fund coal seam gas, coal and uranium mining, forest logging or other ‘negative investments’. Super is a great way to invest in companies trying to make a change. How many people actually know how their super is being used? This is a good one in my book.

6- Read! 

Sublime, bimonthly sustainable lifestyle magazine.

Sustainable living is not just for the residual hippy communes of the 70s. Check out a range of magazines to see what’s going down in the sustainable hood.

http://sublimemagazine.com/

http://peppermintmag.com/

http://www.ecochicmagazine.co.uk/

http://www.cocoecomag.com/

                  

7- Take an Op Shop Tour

For $40 you can take a group tour with op shop fashionista experts Jen and Jess to a select choice of shops, vintage and second-hand stores. The tour takes you by train to a diverse range of suburbs in and around Melbourne where, you'll be sure to find yourself a cheap, sustainable and sassy piece.  Review Here.

 http://www.melbourneopshoptours.com.au/

Go on. Be a fashion romantic.

 8- Make it yourself. Learn to sew.

The ultimate hipster style: self-made. There are many workshops, courses and books guaranteed to turn you into a sewing, designing and stitching aficionado in no time! Teach yourself. Go to a sewing lounge in Collingwood. Take a course at CAE. Or a more personalised class in Northcote. Don’t forget to visit your local Country Women’s Association: These chicks have experience and wisdom and cake.

9- Check your brands before you buy

Shop Ethical provide a guide to a huge list of brands of almost everything and rate their degree of environmental and social impact. Many popular labels do their bit for the environment and the people who make their products, it's handy to know who is using their powers for good!

10- Bamboozle yourself!

Five Bamboo sell a range of soft beautiful bamboo clothing at a great affordable price. They also have some of the best company philosophies I have read: try, take action, evolve, be mindful, be honest, be fearless and be grateful. They are from Seattle which does contribute to the transportation impact of the product. But they are cheap, environmentally friendly and proof that sustainable fashion can be affordable.

You too could own some of
these babies.