Green Living 101: Smart Eco-nomics

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What To Look For

Lucky for you, since green is the new black, it's getting easier to put your money where your ideals are without compromising them for a little name-brand hoopla. While browsing the clothes racks at your favorite haunt, be sure to check out the clothing tags. They do more than irritate the back of your neck. They provide info on where the clothes were manufactured and what they're made of. Look for clothes made with organic cotton, or at least fibers that require fewer or no pesticides like linen, wool and hemp. Avoid polyester and other petroleum-based synthetic fabrics such as rayon and nylon unless the label states that it's recycled.

Don't sweat the expense of organic clothing, which many have done before you. There are thrifty options! Check out American Apparel's "Sustainable Edition" organic cotton t-shirts, only $15 (www.americanapparelstore.com). For cold winters, try Patagonia's sweatshirts and jackets made from Synchilla, the company's trademark fleece that utilizes post consumer recycled polyester (starting at $65; www.patagonia.com).

Make a statement with your shoes by avoiding styles made from PVC vinyl, a plastic hazardous to our health and environment. There are shoes available in an array of styles, materials and prices to fit any foot. Consider these:

Nike's Considered Line (www.nike.com)
Birkenstocks (www.birkenstocks.com)
Splaff Vegan Sandals (www.veganessentials.com, www.mooshoes.com)
Ecolution Hemp Sandals (www.ecolution.com)

For more sweat- and PVC-free clothes options, visit our Clothing Product Report.

Yearning for a break from the hum drum rhythm of Clear Channel radio? Sure, it's free, but leave brain-numbing corporate interests behind and check out Calabash Music (www.calabashmusic.com). This site supports small, struggling international music artists who are often unfairly ripped off by large music labels. You can download songs for $.99 each, and you'll prevent yet another PVC CD case from entering the waste stream.

Spending the year guilt-free and eco-friendly may take some preparation, but the implications are global.

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