North Bay Woman

S P R I N G | S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 NORTH BAY WOMAN 23 shopping experience where you can find designer items at a fraction of the cost which allows you to create one of a kind ensembles. Mixing and match- ing vintage pieces with current trends is an art no doubt. According to RoadRunnerwm.com, Americans throw away 14 million tons of clothing annually. And please pause for a moment and understand – Road- Runner also states 84% of clothing packs our landfills and incinerators. RoadRunner urges consumers to do- nate to places like Salvation Army and Bloom to support charitable organiza- tions and to recycle, keeping clothing out of our landfills. GreenAmerican. org suggests we reach out to clothing companies and request they design clothing for a loop vs landfill. Com- monobjective.com plainly points out that a closed loop system means man- ufacturers are designing clothing to be worn with maximum capacity and have minimal impact on the environ- ment and waste generation while also being efficient in resources such as water and energy. Examples of these sustainable fashions in the Bay Area are brands such as Everlane, Tonle', Faherty and Amour Vert. So where does this leave us? Sus- tainable fashion pressed against en- vironmental impact is a polite balance between individual choice and social responsibility. Both smart shopping and responsible donating is key to fashion and waste harmony. Fashion and moods change quickly. Sustainabil- ity is the long game — what's good for the earth is good for the soul and the sole. n Willa top by Faherty is made from 100% organic cotton. The Willa top is a peasant style blouse that features romantic blouson sleeves and delicate embroidery along the neckline and chest. Available at fahertybrand.com. – Photo courtesy of Faherty Volunteer Naomi Polite wearing Marc Fisher shoes and Carlisle jacket purchased from Bloom. – Photo courtesy of Bloom It's a Win-Win at Bloom! B loom, a Marin County nonprof- it, accepts gently used cloth- ing, shoes and accessories. When receiving donations, they are able to extend their use by provid- ing them to those in need seeking a life of self-reliance. Bloom is saving our planet close to 9 tons of waste each year by keeping gently worn clothing out of landfills and into the wardrobes of women, men and chil- dren. Bloom's mission is to provide two weeks' free wardrobe, shoes, undergarments, accessories and hygiene kits to their clients. In addi- tion to recycling by providing clients in need with free clothing, Bloom is also a thrift store. Bloom Marin 1557 Fourth St., San Rafael bloommarin.org

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