Article about the fact that cotton clothes have less than half the climate impact of polyester clothes.

The Environmental Footprint of Fast Fashion

  • The equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017)
  • Approximately 60% of all materials used by the fashion industry are made from plastic (UNEP, 2019)
  • 500,000 tons of microfibers are released into the ocean each year from washing clothes — the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017)
  • The fashion industry is responsible for 2-8 % of global carbon emissions. If the fashion sector continues on its current trajectory, that share of the carbon budget could jump to 26% by 2050 (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017)
  • Each year, the textile value chain uses 215 trillion litres of water per year (the equivalent of 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools ) (Quantis, 2018)
  • Around 20% of industrial wastewater pollution worldwide originates from the fashion industry (Word Bank, 2020)
  • Less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new clothing, resulting in over $100 billion in material value loss (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017)
  • An extra $20-30 billion annually is needed to make the textile value chain more sustainable, with 60% focused on energy, water, and waste issues alone (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017)

How to Dress Well with Much Less Impact

Re-Fashioning Fabrics and Garments

Fabric Stores:

  • Santa Cruz Sew and Vac — 806 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA  831-464-8181
  • Harts Fabrics —1620 Seabright Ave. Santa Cruz, CA  831-423-5434
  • Beverly’s Fabrics —100 Cotton Lane, Soquel, CA 831-475-2811

(Beverly’s also has art supplies, fabric paint, dye, ink, stencils, brayer, beads, sashiko thread, embroidery thread, etc.)

Art Stores:

  • Michael’s — 3555 Clares Street, Capitola, CA  831-475-0500
  • (Craft store has limited fabric, dye, fabric paint, ink, stencils, beads, etc.)
  • Palace Art & Office Supply — 1601 41st Ave., Capitola, CA  831-475-9042
  • (Fabric dye, paint, ink, stencils, brayer, Fabric pens.)
  • Lenz Arts — 142 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA
  • (Fabric dye, paints, ink, stencils, brayers, Fabric Pens)
  • The Vintage Pick and Art Studio — 4900 Soquel Drive, Soquel, CA  831-331-0003

Online:

To be environmentally aware: Ask questions, know what you are purchasing and what its toll is on the environment.  Have Fun!

Santa Cruz Interfaith Dayenu Circle:  A Climate Action Group

PreOwned Clothing – Stores in Santa Cruz County:

  • Thrift Center—1305 Water Street, SC
  • Forever Thrift—1622 Seabright Ave, SC
  • Carolines – 8047 Soquel Drive, Aptos
  • Grey Bears—2710 Chanticleer Ave, SC
  • The Multi Shoppe – 2940 S. Main St., Soquel
  • St. John’s Helpful Shop– 246-A Center Ave., Seacliff
  • Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Thrift Shop – 870 17th Avenue, SC
  • Little Red Door –3550 Portola Dr., SC
  • Abbot’s Thrift – 6164 Hwy 9, Felton
  • Hope THRIFT – 1062 S. Green Valley Rd., Watsonville
  • Crossroads Trading– 811 Pacific Ave., SC
  • Motherlode – 1101 Pacific Ave., #C, Santa Cruz
  • Stop & Shop Family Bargain Ctr., 18 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville
  • Artifact—805 Pacific Ave., SC
  • The Daisy Store—1601 41st Ave., Capitola
  • The Closet Shopper – 1203 41st Ave., Capitola
  • Jet Set Bohemian– 8049 Soquel Dr., Aptos and 1211 Soquel Ave., SC
  • The Bizarre Bazaar – 6235 Hwy 9, Felton
  • Tomboy – 1207 Soquel Ave., SC
  • Salvage Hut – 3011 N. Main St., Soquel
  • Vintage Pick – 4900 Soquel Dr., Soquel
  • Attilia’s Antiques – 2630 Soquel Dr., SC
  • Hopes Closet of SC – 2555 Soquel Dr., SC (Children’s clothing and accessories)
  • Love Me Two Times – m121 Walnut Ave., SC
  • Virgo – 1517 Pacific Ave., SC
  • Seconds – 1855 41st Ave., H02, Capitola Mall, Capitola
  • Angel Aura Vintage – 108 Walnut Ave., SC
  • Maggie’s Place – 910A, Soquel Ave., SC
  • FreeStyle Clothing Exchange – 110 Cooper St., #100B, SC
  • Ivy Company – 930 41st Ave., Capitola
  • Goodwill Central Coast – 204 Union St., SC and 1550 41st Ave., Capitola and 224 Mt. Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley
  • Oasis on Pacific – 1339 Pacific Ave., SC
  • Moon Zoom – 813 Pacific Ave., SC
  • Cognito Clothing – 821 Pacific Ave., SC
  • Encore Resale Boutique—5163 Scotts Valley Dr., Scotts Valley
  • Amber Moon – 1129 Soquel Ave., SC
  • Portal of Love – 1535 Pacific Ave., SC
  • REI:  sells used (returned) outdoor clothes in their sale areas and also online
  • Patagonia:  Our local Patagonia store sells “worn wear”

Online Shops Offering Eco-friendly Clothing or Ways to Recycle Clothing:

Another option:

Organize clothing exchanges/swaps with friends, colleagues and/or neighbors

  • Santa Cruz Interfaith Dayenu Circle – A Climate Action Group