My friend sent me this article today to spark some inspiration for the blog, and indeed it was a success. The article goes on about what many of us consider true: that being “green” is becoming trendy. Major fashion mags and celebs tout green living and green products as hip, enticing us to join the club, as it were. In truth, there is much to be said about the author’s (and the people he quotes) assertions that living green actually means consuming less, not just buying Stella McCartney eco-friendly clothes. I get that, and I agree … but I also think that green products are an interesting solution to the perpetual consumer.
For instance, commenting on Elle magazine’s suggestion to buy eco-friendly greeting cards, the author wonders why people wouldn’t just send an e-card. Using the same example, I would say that there are people (like my grandma) who will always and forever only buy paper cards. Why shouldn’t they then choose cards that are better for the Earth? On the same note, women who are into high fashion will forever buy expensive, brand name clothing. Shouldn’t we be stoked then that they are remotely interested in clothing created in an eco-friendly way? Because I certainly don’t see high fashion turning to Rayon anytime soon (the article notes that it would be the most eco-friendly fabric because it takes less energy to clean/care for it).
I do certainly agree that if you are going to “go green,” then you have to actually look at the bigger picture and not the immediate moment (as in the energy expended for owning an item vs what was expended to make it), but I also think (again piggybacking on an example in the article) that if people are going to be fashionable lamps and replace them when they go out of style anyway, those lamps should at least use eco-friendly bulbs.
I was pretty impressed when Barneys jumped on the bandwagone with a bit of a green campaign in the fall. I still have the mostly postconsumer-material shopping bag that I received when making my purchase. And I use it when I go to the drycleaner. It’s an action that’s about 40% motivated by green passion and 60% motivated by self-image. But the end justifies the means, no?