Sometimes you don't DIY

Sometimes you don't DIY

• 4.13.2010

Green fashion, re-use, DIY, saving money, saving the planet, etc.  April is the right month to be talking about this, but I thought I'd share my thoughts about the new stuff at H&M this season!
Check out this press release from H&M.  They're doing all kinds of "green" stuff, including their organic cotton tees they've had for a while, but they also have some SUPER cute stuff that I at first thought of copying until I realized, wait... Only $18 for a tee that I could make myself that's made of recycled materials?  Uh, ok!

"This spring will see a women’s collection of floral and feminine fashion in sustainable materials. 'We are extremely proud of our Garden Collection for women, which has organic and recycled materials in every single garment,' says Ann-Sofie Johansson, Head of Design at H&M. 'The mix of floral prints and khaki classics works brilliantly for day to evening wear. I particularly like the sheer floral ruffle dress, the drawstring khaki jacket and the beautiful red rose bustier dress.'"

Here's a page from Glamour last month including a super cute rose-colored tank top.  $18, made of organic cotton and recycled linen and polyester.  I think JCrew has one that looks similar but is way more expensive, and not sort of eco-friendly!!  The super-cute shorts are H&M, too, for about the price of Old Navy shorts that are probably pretty horrible for the planet.

Here's an embellished dress from the Garden Collection also, with rosey things that we of course could figure out how to do, but what's the point when this is like $40?

I also love this white cotton tank from the green line.  I can add lace to stuff myself, but this supports the planet too!

And this is one of my fave pages from Glamour (May issue).  There's the dress again, in a pale pink, and do try to read the other tips on the page!

• Wash all your clothes in cold water (I've heard 90% of the energy used in washing clothes comes from heating the water)
• Eat more vegetarian food, choose chicken over beef, and eat organic
• Buy in bulk (I love how much money I can save this way, too!)
• Look for organic cotton tees (lots of brands have them now)

As much as I love to make things myself, and as green as it is to reuse old things (it really is best to make something new out of something old), if you don't have time or skills to DIY embellished tees and dresses, H&M is soooo doing the right thing coming out with this line.  Now, if only they'd open a store in Oregon, or let us shop online!!  They are always a fave stop when I go to big cities.  I've been to the one in DC twice!  Seriously, wish we could shop online.  It's great that they have the organic and recycled choices, and I hope lots of people will support them this year and make them want to do it more.
Have you found any great eco-friendly shopping tips or places?