Once viewed as a last resort if money was tight, shopping for and buying second-hand clothes has quickly become a popular option for people that value environmental stewardship regardless of their income level. You may have heard of fast fashion and the considerable waste it generates. A growing trend comes with a new buzzword you should learn: Sustainable Fashion. While it’s true that shopping consignment stores can save you a lot of money, there’s a much greater, greener impact happening too.
Residents of Grande Prairie have excellent options if they want to make a positive environmental impact with their clothing purchases. Local businesses such as Jaimes Tailor Consignment, Plato's Closet and Once Upon a Child provide vetted, high-quality, sustainable fashion options while promoting a sense of responsibility and unity within our community.
Jaimes Tailor Consignment, a beloved local consignment shop, combines a passion for fashion with a commitment to sustainability. Located in the heart of downtown Grande Prairie, Jaimes Tailor Consignment encourages individuals to cherish their clothes for longer, fostering a culture of reuse and reducing textile waste. Jaime Hughes, the owner of Jaimes Tailor Consignment, highlights the importance of sustainable fashion, stating,
"We believe that fashion can be both stylish and sustainable. By extending the lifespan of clothing through consignment, we can minimize waste and make a positive environmental impact. We aim to inspire the community to embrace a more conscious way of shopping."
Plato's Closet, another esteemed establishment, enables individuals to recycle their gently used name-brand clothes, shoes and accessories while offering them an opportunity to earn money instantly. By providing a platform for buying and selling pre-loved items, Plato's Closet promotes the concept of circular fashion and encourages residents to participate actively in reducing waste. Lisa Maguire, the owner of Plato's Closet, emphasizes the benefits of sustainable fashion, stating,
"At Plato's Closet, we are dedicated to fostering a sustainable and environmentally friendly shopping experience. Recycling and reusing fashionable items can significantly minimize our environmental impact and contribute to building a greener future for our community."
Once Upon a Child takes sustainability a step further by specializing in gently used kids' clothing, toys and furniture. Families not only save money when shopping, but they are also supporting responsible consumption and waste reduction. By offering cash on the spot for items, Once Upon a Child encourages parents to actively participate in the circular economy. Lisa Maguire, the owner of Once Upon a Child, highlights the importance of sustainability, stating,
"Our goal is to provide families with affordable and sustainable options for their children's needs. By extending the lifecycle of kids' items through resale, we are reducing waste and promoting a more eco-conscious approach to parenting."
In the realm of sustainable fashion, there is an urgent concern about textile waste in Canada. Imagine a staggering number of discarded fabrics finding their way to landfills and incinerators year after year, posing a grave environmental threat. In 2018 alone, Canadian households sent a jaw-dropping 10,848,238 tonnes of waste to these disposal sites, averaging 725 kilograms per household.
But let's not dwell on the gloom for too long because a flicker of hope emerges amidst this trend. That same year, passionate individuals and organizations rallied to divert 58,895 tonnes of textile waste away from landfills and incinerators. And guess what? You played a crucial role! Like beacons of change, Canadian households contributed a remarkable 58,407 tonnes to this feat.
The City of Grande Prairie hosts a free community gathering each year called the Drop & Swap, which marks the beginning of Waste Reduction Week. The community is strongly encouraged to participate in the Drop & Swap event by donating new and gently used clothing or shopping for items they need to enhance their wardrobe. Any remaining items from the swap are collected by Goodwill Industries of Alberta and transported to the Grande Prairie facility, where they will be made available for purchase. Stay tuned for more information on this exciting event in the upcoming weeks!
By choosing to shop at Jaimes Tailor Consignment, Plato's Closet, Once Upon a Child and events like the Drop & Swap, you help create a ripple effect of positive change, promoting a more sustainable and responsible approach to fashion consumption. Together, we can pioneer change, preserve our environment, and build a prosperous and eco-conscious future for Grande Prairie – and look stylish while doing so!