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Morning | Living Me To We
MORNING
Wake Me Up
7:20 a.m.
Clothes Minded
Wear What Matters
RANSACKING YOUR CLOSET to unearth an outfit often leads to the same conclusion: I have nothing to wear! (Yes, guys think it too, ladies.) But more likely, we have nothing ethical to wear. Prices have plunged faster than V-necks on men. This means we’re buying a third more clothing than just a few years ago. All this fast fashion is bad for the environment (cotton is often doused with pesticides like it’s cheap cologne) and bad for the people in distant sweatshops. After seeing the factories where these here-today-gone-tomorrow togs are made, it’s impossible to feel good about what we’re wearing.Me to We Style says good-bye to guilt-ridden clothing. With the help of co-founder Oliver Madison, we launched a company that doesn’t rely on pesticide-coated cotton or children in sweatshops, or create untold amounts of pollution and environmental damage. To put that in fashion speak: that is SO last season! So few clothing companies follow ethical standards that Me to We Style had to set its own. We use organic and sweatshop-free fabrics, recycled polyester from plastic bottles – all manufactured in Canada. If that’s not enough, for every T-shirt sold, we also plant a tree, and half our profits go to our charity partner, Free The Children. A wardrobe that builds schools, digs wells and makes the world a better place. That doesn’t just solve your what-to-wear dilemma, it makes a real fashion statement.
PAIN IS NOT BEAUTYCut back on your closet! Save your cash for that extra special, ethically made something-something.Look for clothing companies, such as Patagonia, Icebreaker, Me to We Style, that account for its entire supply chain from start to finish.Remember sustainable, ethical clothing is often better made, lasts longer and saves you money.Shop vintage or second-hand for a true recycled fashion experience.Take note: not all designer or expensive clothing is ethically made. Checking websites, asking in-store or running a quick search online will turn up more answers.Check out local and hand-made products at craft festivals or online marketplaces, such as Etsy.
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Living Me To We | Morning
MORNING
Wake Me Up
7:20 a.m.
THE LIFE OF A T-SHIRT
GO TO PAGE 153 FOR MORE TIPS AND INFORMATION
Source: “Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry,” Environmental Health Perspectives, September 2007.
17
Morning | Living Me To We
MORNING
Wake Me Up
7:35 a.m.
My Chemical Romance
Cosmetics’ Ugly Secret
WORKING AT A NON-PROFIT where the majority of the staff is female, we’re surrounded by women all day. Most gravitate to the natural side of the perfume spectrum (and hey, that side looks great, too!) but on occasion a woman will pass us in the hallway, travelling in this perfume-scented bubble. Our first thought is usually “how can she smell exactly like morning dew?” But our second is usually one of concern. Every morning the average woman spritzes and dabs 12 personal care products on her face and body, exposing her to 126 different chemicals, some of them carcinogens, hormone disruptors and neurotoxins. We dudes don’t fare much better: the equation works out to eight personal care products and 86 different chemicals. We have no trouble reducing our “beauty” routine – Craig’s only consists of that dubious crystal deodorant anyways. We may be your typical guys, but we’re also loud and proud feminists. After considering the dubious chemical profile of so many cosmetics, we figured there had to be a way for the gals (and guys) in our lives to pamper themselves safely.So, we compiled a list of companies that care about our bodies and searched the kitchen cabinets for one-step primping products. We took tips from sources in the know, like eco-minded starlet Rachel McAdams’ blog. Check out the suggestions below and our resource guide for the fruits of our labour. Plus, now we understand the importance of the perfect moisturizer, shampoo or deodorant better than ever before. It’s not only about choosing a product that makes you look great, but also one that does us no harm. Whether that’s a homemade face scrub or a new local, chemical-free beauty company, there are plenty of ways to create a tried-and-true beauty regimen – minus the chemicals.
SHOP, BREW AND CONSERVETell your beloved but sinful cosmetic company it’s not okay to use sketchy ingredients.Read before you buy. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient name or have no idea what it means, hold off and research first.Beware of terms that seem gentler, but have no standards to prove it, such as hypoallergenic, allergy-tested, fragrance-free and dermatologist-tested.Is that green do-gooding company the real deal? Bleach company Clorox bought out Burt’s Bees, Colgate-Palmolive has Tom’s of Maine and L’Oreal has The Body Shop. Will formerly small, sustainable companies influence big-company practices or vice versa? The jury’s still out, so keep an eye on the ingredient list.Ever read the instructions for your products? We thought not. Most recommend using only a small amount rather than a massive dollop. Less product washed down drains and into waterways means your bottle lasts longer, too.Support local companies that prove they care about your health.
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Living Me To We | Morning
MORNING
Wake Me Up
7:35 a.m.
ONE STEP BEAUTY
The average North American splurges on personal care products every year – over $600 per year! Turn to your kitchen cupboard instead where a few universal foodstuffs can pamper as well as nourish.
Source: Green Beauty Guide, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and Femme Toxic.
GO TO PAGE 153 FOR MORE TIPS AND INFORMATION
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Morning | Living Me To We
MORNING
Wake Me Up
7:45 a.m.
Buy Some Time
Repair What You Wear
RIIIIIIIIIIP. WE ALL KNOW THAT GUT-WRENCHING SOUND: it’s the last dying gasp of your favourite pair of jeans. Putting aside the embarrassment of just splitting your pants (everyone’s done it, us included), what if someone told you that life is not over for those jeans of yours? Canadians trash 15 pounds of clothing every year, although the lion’s share of thrown-away threads rarely use their full lifespan. Our feisty, resourceful Grandma Mimi would have sat down and stitched up those jeans (not that Granny Mimi wore jeans), but nowadays trends change so quickly and advertising urges us to buy, buy, buy something new instead. On a global scale, we rarely preserve what we already have, junking 99 percent of the stuff we harvest, mine, transport and process within six months. And within this throwaway mindset, the clothing industry is one of the worst culprits; it’s a common quip in China that you can tell which colours will be hip next season by the colour of the dyes flowing through the rivers. This is bad news for the environment and the workers who receive very little pay.Now the good news: your beloved jeans can lead a long and happy second life, provided you give them a little TLC. The tips below,