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Looking Good and Helping the Environment

Looking good and helping the environment was never so easy. Don't believe us? Read on to find out how fashion and social consciousness are being threaded together in new ways.


You can plan a clothing swap in your community! Photo by interrobang. If you're like most people, you probably have a pair of ill-fitting pants or an outdated dress sitting idly in your closet. Instead of your clothes becoming throwaways, try Rehash, a website that thinks somebody else might look good in your unused duds. From bandanas to socks and everything in between, Rehash encourages trading of apparel and accessories with anyone in North America. By signing up on Rehash, you may not only discover a new look, but you'll also help save unnecessary landfill space.

Over in western Australia, the volunteer-run Belmont Clothes Library takes the concept of lending to a whole new level. The library replaces books with professional attire to help relieve some of the stress of the job interview. If you're unemployed, you can pop in for a new suit and some confidence to make a good first impression—all for free. Another answer to wasteful wear comes from the nonprofit La Leche League in England. For a small fee, their Maternity Clothes Library allows moms-to-be to check out pregnancy clothes and keep them for the whole nine months.

On the same page as these innovative ideas? Browse our list of related organizations for some more inspiration.