Expressing Your Inner-Green…
August 8th, 2008Written by Jessica Bacon
Seeing as this is the Green Buy Guide, I’ve been compiling a list of green companies, products, blogs, resources and organizations as the foundation for our upcoming buying guide. In doing so, I’ve discovered scores of (mostly small) companies that are dedicated to making environmentally-friendly products using sustainable production and manufacturing practices, Fair Trade standards and other earth- (and people) friendly initiatives.
Since discovering so many eco-friendly companies, I’ve decided to write several posts that highlight the supply-side of green consumerism. And while it’s difficult for me to think of any consumerism as being green, it’s gotten to the point where I have to admit that we all need to buy all kinds of things (clothes, furniture, linens, shampoo), so I might as well embrace consumerism as a necessary fact of life, and promote green goods as much as possible.
So, without further ado, check out these eco-tees, and drop me a line if you know of other t-shirt companies who should be on my radar.
Mission Playground is a California-based company that uses progressive visual designs, “…to make environmental awareness exciting, appealing and (to) breathe new life into environmentalism.” Made from 100% organic cotton, the company designs long and short sleeved t-shirts for men, women and children. If you’re looking to offer express your feelings about the nature of this planet, you may like the short-sleeved Intelligen t-shirt. Available in green and stone (for men), or white (for men & women), this organically made shirt retails for $27.
Both funny and poignant, Mission Playground’s “Daddy, what did forests smell like?” t-shirt is a witty way to express the consequences of ignoring the human impact on the environment. Made from 100% organic cotton, this t-shirt comes in chocolate and white and can be purchased for $24 on the company website.
If you’re looking for a radical eco-message, you might like the tees from Ban T-Shirts.
With a range of political, environmental and peaceful messages, the company’s eco-line of? t-shirts are manufactured in sweatshop-free conditions out of 100% organic cotton.
The Think Green shirt fits both men and women, is 100% organic and produced in a sweatshop-free environment. Printed on American Apparel t-shirts, the Eco Terrorist design is also a sweatshop free product and comes in men’s and (limited) women’s sizes. You can pick up Think Green for $17.95 and Eco Terrorist for $16.95
If you’re looking for cool clothes for your kids, you might like Wire&Twine’s new Play Station design. While also available in adult sizes, this shirt conveys a great message that’s easily lost in our plugged-in world. With so many kids attached to their devices, it’s easy to forget that some kids still love to play in trees. Grown ups can get advocate for the environment too with the 50 Ways to Help the Planet cotton tee. Manufactured under sweatshop-free conditions in this country, this shirt is a conversation starter and is covered with tips for those looking to go green.
Headquartered in the UK, Tonic is described as an “ethical clothing company..created for people who want high quality cotton clothing with sound ethical sourcing and great designs.” Most tees from Tonic are ethically sourced (meaning they’re made by highly skilled laborers who are paid above the UK minimum wage), fairly traded and made from 100% organic cotton. Personally, I’m partial to this Egg Bacon shirt, because even though it doesn’t express any deep environmental messages or eco-friendly tips, it does have a picture of bacon on the front, and well, everything goes better with bacon…
Other companies making eco-friendly t-shirts include:
Tags: Ban T-Shirts, Eco-Shirts, Mission Playground, Organic T-Shirts, T-Shirts, Tee Shirts, Tees, Tonic, Wire&Twine
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