We’re all fairly clued up on the ways that we can live a more eco-friendly life when it comes to things like transportation and rubbish. But what about the daily purchases that we make, such as food shopping and clothing?

You may not even know that some clothing choices can be greener than others. And no, we’re not saying you should buy t-shirts made from leaves or recycled aluminum (because who would do that anyway!!). However, more businesses are adopting sustainable practices in their bid to help preserve the environment, so if they’re making an effort, you should too!

Take Dream for example. This Gastown boutique carries only local designers and focuses on eco-friendly collections, such as the Pillar collection by Allison Wonderland. This brand uses only biodegradable materials including organic cottons and silks, and as you can see, their designs are awesome.

So, if you want to go green, here are 4 great and easy ways to make your wardrobe more eco-friendly, and you don’t even have to sacrifice style or comfort!

1. Shop Local

You know what you avoid when you shop locally? Money & emissions. When you buy from stores that ship their products from half way across the world, that also means a whole load of carbon emissions from transportation. And when stores have hefty transportation costs to deal with, that means they’ll probably charge more for the product too.Flare Magazine recently did a great feature on Canadian Eco-Shops that you may want to check out if you want to go eco! By shopping locally, not only do you support local stores and designers, you save money and help to preserve the environment. Win win.

2. Opt For Recycled

Do you ever consider the material of your clothing? Well, you should! Let’s take a look at Vancouver’s own John Fleuvog Shoes. They design and produce creative boots and shoes that are made from eco-friendly materials. Many of their shoes are made from 100% biodegradable  Havea Tree Latex, and all shoe boxes are made from recycled materials. You can find them at 65 Water Street in Gastown – their designs are funky and oh so cool.

3. Wash With Care

What’s the point in making the effort to go organic and eco-friendly, if your laundry detergent is as toxic as it gets? Buy green laundry detergent instead.  It works just as well as normal detergent, but has so many added benefits as it doesn’t harm the environment and can be used for colder, 30 degree washes, which also means a lower electricity bill. Hurrah!

4. Buy Organic

Look at the clothing labels and see exactly what your clothes are made from. If you see materials such as cotton, silk and wool with an ‘organic’ label, it means they were grown free from herbicides and pesticides and other chemicals deemed harmful by organic agricultural standards. Watch out for repurposed fabrics too, which means leftover material from an old product has been used to create a new product.

Do you have any great tips to share about shopping eco-friendly fashion? We’d love to hear!

Image Credits: Lushlee / Scout Network Blog / Annakku