Live it. Preach it. Love it..."Eco-Friendly"

Possibly my choice of most influential event for 2012 fashion trends is wishful thinking more than anything. But the idea makes me feel hopeful for our future. Of course, my big belief lies in the root of One-For-One business plans across all branches of business, not just fashion.

TOMS was one of the first and most influential companies to term the title “One-For-One”. Blake Mycoskie is one of my biggest and most influential role models. Not only did he start TOMS from the ground up, but he is an amazing man with a beautiful heart. Recently I have seen a rise in the number of business advertisements stating they also have a One-For-One business plan. This absolutely warms and touches my heart because that is EXACTLY what I want to do with my future and I feel it is my calling in life to do just that. BUT as much I wanted to make this topic work, this weeks post I need an event in 2012 that influences fashion consumers… so it is time to branch off into the real subject.

Sticking with the same general concept there has been a rise in Eco-friendly and vegan consumerism for a few years now. TrendWatching.com has a great list of what to come in 2012, so I decided to pick from there (since they are the professionals and all). I loved the idea of “eco-cycology”. Recycling has always been on the rise, but in 2012 there is a new idea of brands actually taking back their products and recycling them in some way.

 “ECO-CYCOLOGY mentality is more than a just brand-led phenomenon; realizing its importance, various cities or states in US (San Diego, Seattle and San Francisco to name a few) have enacted their own mandatory recycling laws. Likewise, The European Parliament has voted for tougher regulations on the disposal of electronic trash, requiring each country to collect 4 kilos of e-waste per citizen by 2012, and to process 85% of all its electronic waste by 2016.” -TrendWatching.com

Nike Reuse a Shoe

Nike has always been the company on top of their game for new business trends. They started the idea of reuse a shoe way back in 1990, but more companies are starting to do the same general idea.

Patagonia, US outdoor brand, has a Common Threads Initiative program where when any of their products have reached the end of its “life” the consumer can then return it to them for recycling into a new fiber of fabric.

Preloved

Garnier also has a recycling program for all their beauty packaging. The consumer would be rewarded with points or money in doing so, and Garnier would pay for all the return fees via UPS.

Dell has a partnership with Goodwill Industries so consumers can bring back any of their equipment to Goodwill. Goodwill then can refurbish it or recycle it. It is called Dell Reconnect.

Preloved is a company based in Canada that uses left over textiles from the cutting mills and creates beautiful garments to be sold and worn.

Some fashion designers who have also jumped on the bandwagon and found a way to recycle textiles and other goods are:

GIORGIO ARMANI

ORSOLA DE CASTRO & FILIPPO RICCI

ROGAN GREGORY

LYNDA GROSE

KATHERINE HAMNETT        

PETER INGWERSEN

ANNIKA SANDERS & KERRY SEAGER

I do not think recycled fashion has to LOOK recycled, and that's the movement I see coming in 2012. It is not only because of laws being placed against the amount of textiles not recycled, but because I know as consumers we want to make this world a better place. Again, maybe it is wishful thinking to say this will be the number one trend in 2012, but wouldn’t that be amazing? My opinion of the future is companies and designers linking the consumer with hands on ways to make a difference in this world for the better.

Will you help us join the good cause? Will you reuse and recycle your goods and clothes when possible? Will you be the next designer to help make the fashion world eco-friendly?

We can make a difference. Live it. Preach it. Love it. 

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi