We had waited a very long time to venture out on our own and felt that our business should be a direct reflection of who we are. We wanted our business to have a purpose other than being just another outpost for women to indulge their shopping habits. We wanted to help women find their voice in fashion and express their individuality. We wanted to contribute to local charities. We both, along with our husbands, are very passionate about recycling and upcycling. We wanted to do even the smallest positive thing for our environment. Rogue Vintage has given us the opportunity to do all of the above and more.
As everyone well knows, or at least should, yesterday was Earth Day. Many people don't really think about the negative impact that the clothing industry has on our eco system. It goes well beyond the energy expended producing the clothing, the amount of water used in dyeing garments and then the run off into our rivers and sewers, even the negative effects of the transportation of goods during distribution. Having been in the fashion business I have seen first hand the tremendous amount of waste that goes into the packaging of new apparel. Every single garment is shipped on a plastic hanger and wrapped in an individual plastic bags that are not recyclable. Look at the average amount of clothing in a boutique or clothing store, imagine each piece being individually wrapped, and then picture the piles of plastic associated with it. Better yet, take the time to visit a dumpster out back at your favorite store and see what they contributed to your local landfill that day. It's not quite the same pretty picture as your frilly new dress on a delicate padded hanger.
Packaging is oddly not even the most frightening of the issues. Did you know that polyester is made from petroleum? That the manufacturing of nylon emits nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas with a carbon footprint 310 times that of carbon dioxide? That it takes almost 1/3 a pound of pesticides to manufacture the cotton for a single t-shirt? Better yet, that all "easy care" and "permanent press" garments are treated with formaldehyde. All of those facts are pretty grim realities associated with the fashion industry.
We certainly don't think we know it all so to better educate yourself on the topic visit Earth911 or take a look at some of the shopping tips from the EPA. Additionally, we don't in any way shape or form pretend that we don't indulge in new things ourselves. We are just saying that it wouldn't hurt to make a few "educated" purchases now and then. The average American throws out 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per person per year. In return, the average American only purchases about 10 pounds of recycled clothing per year. This year, try to make sure you are balancing out that ratio and purchase recycled or upcycled goods.
For more reasons to purchase vintage clothing, see our next blog post: Why Vintage? Our Earth Day Rant Part Deux. We promise that there will be lots of pictures of hot chicks!
Till Next Time,
Tricia and Jennings
As everyone well knows, or at least should, yesterday was Earth Day. Many people don't really think about the negative impact that the clothing industry has on our eco system. It goes well beyond the energy expended producing the clothing, the amount of water used in dyeing garments and then the run off into our rivers and sewers, even the negative effects of the transportation of goods during distribution. Having been in the fashion business I have seen first hand the tremendous amount of waste that goes into the packaging of new apparel. Every single garment is shipped on a plastic hanger and wrapped in an individual plastic bags that are not recyclable. Look at the average amount of clothing in a boutique or clothing store, imagine each piece being individually wrapped, and then picture the piles of plastic associated with it. Better yet, take the time to visit a dumpster out back at your favorite store and see what they contributed to your local landfill that day. It's not quite the same pretty picture as your frilly new dress on a delicate padded hanger.
Packaging is oddly not even the most frightening of the issues. Did you know that polyester is made from petroleum? That the manufacturing of nylon emits nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas with a carbon footprint 310 times that of carbon dioxide? That it takes almost 1/3 a pound of pesticides to manufacture the cotton for a single t-shirt? Better yet, that all "easy care" and "permanent press" garments are treated with formaldehyde. All of those facts are pretty grim realities associated with the fashion industry.
We certainly don't think we know it all so to better educate yourself on the topic visit Earth911 or take a look at some of the shopping tips from the EPA. Additionally, we don't in any way shape or form pretend that we don't indulge in new things ourselves. We are just saying that it wouldn't hurt to make a few "educated" purchases now and then. The average American throws out 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per person per year. In return, the average American only purchases about 10 pounds of recycled clothing per year. This year, try to make sure you are balancing out that ratio and purchase recycled or upcycled goods.
For more reasons to purchase vintage clothing, see our next blog post: Why Vintage? Our Earth Day Rant Part Deux. We promise that there will be lots of pictures of hot chicks!
Till Next Time,
Tricia and Jennings
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