Celebrate Green Blog

by Lynn

I try to shop at locally owned businesses when I can. But unfortunately, although I live in the Seattle area, I’m about 30 miles or more from shops that carry sustainable/fair trade clothes and most of what I’ve seen there in any case, isn’t necessarily appropriate for a “woman of a certain age.”

On top of that, I don’t like to shop. Never have. It’s not a form of entertainment for me (luckily), so like many people these days, I tend to buy online. (By the way, one of my secrets to buying clothing for myself online is to purchase brands I already have in my closet so I know how—in general—they are going to fit. This is especially helpful for shoes.)

But I know some people are hesitant to buy online so I asked a few people whether or not they shop online and why/why not:

• I buy most of my family’s clothing online because, as a single mother of three small children, it’s far easier to find the time to shop online. Also, I shop for myself mostly online because it is hard for me to find clothing and shoes that fit me in traditional stores.
• Kathy Raines Pine I do almost all my shopping online for both me and my family. I live on an island where the selection is limited and it’s so much easier to have things delivered to my doorstep than it is to take the ferry to go “over town” to shop.
• Alivia Hunter I look up the company I plan to buy clothing from. I look up their reputation, what the clothing is made from, if it tends to run small or large and how happy customers have (or have not) been with their purchases.
• Becca Klockars I tend to purchase kids clothing online to get the best discounts with coupon codes, prepping for school, birthdays and holidays throughout the year.
• greendiva I have occasionally in the past, but worry about size/fit. LOVED a blouse I got from @greenwglamour online
• I do purchase sustainable clothing when I can. Unfortunately, I don’t live close to shops that offer them. Couple that with the fact that I’ve never liked shopping anyway and online, for me, is the way to go.

Over the last few years, some great stores that stock sustainably made and Fair Trade clothing for adults have come online (along, of course with lots of choices for children).

Here are a few you might want to check out.

• Fashion and Earth
• Nau
• Earthtec
• Natural Clothing Company
• Fair Indigo

And of course, if you’re into vintage or lightly used, you can always try e-Bay and swap sites like Swap.com

Do you have a favorite online shop for women’s and men’s clothing?

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.