First, let me say that I have been...remiss. Okay, let's not get fancy, I haven't posted anything in months, and that is just horrible. After all, it's not like there hasn't been anything happening in the sci-fi and environmental worlds. The sixth series of Doctor Who started. There was Earth Day. There was the anniversary of Chernobyl. So many things happened, and I...ignored them.
But then, so many things were happening to me.
As of early April, and officially to the public as of May 14, I am the new Monthly Book Review Columnist for Starburst Magazine! Starburst originally began as a print magazine in 1978, but stopped in 2009. Now it has been re-vamped as an online magazine, and it's pretty damn fantastic (because I'm not biased at all). As for my little corner of the mag, every month I review a different piece of genre fiction, be it novel or short story collection; sci-fi, fantasy or horror. It's proving to be a wonderful exeperience, and hopefully readers get just as much enjoyment from it as I do.
Now, for the primary reason for this post.
I was walking around town today, and noticed, right near my flat, a new shop had sprung up: {Think} Boutique. The clothes were lovely and the window display adorable and so, being in a window shopping mood, I went in.
All of the clothes and accessories are from "Fair Trade, organic, sustainable, up-cycled or locally produced sources" (here I quote the flyer that I took with me...the only thing that I could afford, unfortunately).
How is it that it's been there for almost six weeks and I've been oblivious?
I had a quick chat with the woman working there, and discovered that the Boutique is a pop up shop, temporary no doubt due to the cost of permanently owning the space. All of the clothes are and will continue to be offered online, however, I loved being able to see them in person. Because that is the issue with organic clothing: rarely will you see it in stores. Chains, of course, tote the organic label. H&M produces organic clothing, however, it has been under fire for its use of GMO cotton, which is as inorganic as you can get. Truely organic clothing appears to only be available from sources that aren't quite as mainstream, however, finding them in a shop where you can try them on is tricky. And unfortunately, combined with famously high price tags often leads to consumers going for cheaper, non-organic options.
Eventually, I hope, the use of completely organic, Fair Trade, and ethical materials will become more mainstream, and the issue those of us who wish to have all aspects of out lives be as eco-friendly as possible face when clothes shopping will be eradicated. Organic clothing will become the norm. But in the meantime, I'm going to bask in having an eco-friendly boutique so close to my home (because basking is all I can do). And when it packs up next week, I'll move back to some of my internet favourites, which I hope you'll enjoy as well.
VivaTerra
People Tree
For more, EcoSalon has an entire section dedicated to green fashion, with frequent items for you to lust over.
(Image borrowed from here.)
