SUSTAINABLY STYLISH

Eco-Fashion that’s Kind to the Planet

by Kajsa Nickels

The trendy “fast fashion” industry standard that originated in the early 1990s has had far-reaching eff ects that continue today. With a production turnaround time as short as four months, designer knock-off s made with inexpensive materials line the shelves of shopping centers throughout the world. But cheap textiles come with a hidden price tag.

According to the documentary Th e True Cost, consumers worldwide buy around 80 billion new items of clothing per year, a 400 percent increase from 20 years ago. A report by the UK-based Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which advocates a regenerative, circular economy, found that more than $500 billion in value is lost globally every year from rarely worn manufactured clothing and the lack of recycling. Th e greenhouse gas emissions from the production of these textiles total more than 1 billion metric tons per year, more than produced by international fl ights and maritime shipping combined.

Sustainable clothing is important for both the planet and those wearing the clothing, says Jeff Garner, a fashion designer in Franklin, Tennessee, who founded the eco-label Prophetik. “Th e worst eff ect is the washing of clothes. Th e synthetic fabrics and dyes come off in the laundry process and go into our groundwater and oceans, including the microplastics from polyester clothing.”

Jay Charlton, founder of the UK’s Viva la Vegan fashion brand, believes eco-friendly fashion does not have to be poorly produced or poorly designed. Nor does it mean choosing between a million diff erent options, says Charlton, who found her passion for vegan-statement apparel aft er adopting a vegan diet. “One easy choice here is organic cotton over conventional cotton. While not perfect, it is better for the environment. Most organic cotton is produced under better working conditions for the farmers, too,” she says.

She also stresses the importance of reading labels to determine where clothes originate. “Th e next time you go shopping, seek out sustainable vegan fabrics and fair wear policies to do what’s right for the planet, people and our animal friends.”

Clothing from companies like Fair Indigo use more sustainable fabrics and ensure better lives for garment workers. image courtesy of FairIndigo.com

Sustainable Yet Stylish

Just because something is safe for people and the planet doesn’t mean it can’t also be fashionable. Fair Indigo, located in Madison, Wisconsin, is a sustainable clothing company that specializes in garments made from organic Peruvian pima cotton. According to president and co-founder Robert Behnke, Peruvian pima cotton is prized for its longevity and durability. “We want to show the world that organic and sustainable does not have to be either too ‘crunchy’ or too trendy. Th e clothes that people wear every day— the clothes that make them feel comfortable—these are the brands that will have the greatest impact in truly changing the world.”

Fashion doesn’t have to be brand-new in order to be in style. Although secondhand clothing has been regarded negatively in the past by some, it has become more popular in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Market researchers predict that resale clothing sales will increase 185 percent in the

next decade compared to 20 percent for fast fashion. Creative ways we can help reduce clothing waste while staying in style include the following: Clothing exchange parties. Friends and family members can swap clothes and nonsized items such as purses, hats and scarves in fun, socially distanced events. Creative mending. People that have extra time on their hands may like to learn a new skill. Also known as visible mending, creative mending includes freestyle stitching around holes and tears, and both beaded and Japanese shashiko embroidery. Repurpose into something new. If an item of clothing is beyond repair, it doesn’t have to be thrown away. Old T-shirts can be turned into blankets, pillowcases and even coin purses. Men’s dress shirts can be transformed into dresses for young girls or onesies for babies.

Kajsa Nickels is a freelance writer in Salisbury, Massachusetts. Contact her at Kajsa.BlueMountain@gmail.com.

Holistic concierge Pediatric care

Thornburg Pediatrics is happy to announce the addition of ~ Mary M. Baron ~

Joining Thornburg Pediatrics in June, Mary will complete her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner in May. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Johns Hopkins University. Mary has 17+ years experience in healthcare, including 10 years at Boston Children’s Hospital. As the mother of a 10-year-old girl, she embraces a holistic view of health and wellness. Mary Baron will be a nice addition to the Thornburg Pediatrics team. We are very excited to have her on staff.

Hi, I’m Dr. Brian Thornburg.

My concierge practice combines western allopathic medicine with functional healthcare.

I’m available 24/7 to my patients and deliver what you need, when you need it.

Contact me today to discuss how my practice can serve your family.

Here to heal, on your terms. 239.348.7337

www.thornburgPediatrics.com

5500 Bryson Drive, Suite 301, Naples, Florida 34109

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At Escape Hatch 2 Wellness It’s About Life in the Present Lane

by Linda Sechrist

When asked about the inspiration for her business, Escape Hatch 2 Wellness in Naples, Yvette Sechrist McGlasson answers without hesitation, “Years of observing passengers who went from the embarkation ramp to the guest services desk to ask about the process for debarking the ship on the same day that they boarded,” says the former cruise director turned yoga and meditation teacher, performance coach and public speaker. “Th e ship hadn’t set sail. Th e cruise wouldn’t be over for days and they were telling guest services staff , ‘I’ll be happy when I get to my cabin, when I have my fi rst drink by the pool or when I have my fi rst dinner.’ Even though they were embarking on a fun-fi lled, laid-back Yvette Sechrist McGlasson vacation and sharing my fl oating $250 million home where their meals were prepared, their beds made and their every wish fulfi lled, they were stuck in a future-based mindset. Th is signaled to me that I needed to remind them at every opportunity to be present and not count the days, but rather to make the days count.” Hearing the passenger mantra, “I’ll be happy when...” for the 15 years that McGlasson lived a life at sea onboard Holland American ships inspired her commitment to helping individuals change their mindset and open up to being fully present. “In serving others, helping my clients and my students to be present and give the best versions of themselves to their friends and loved ones and even to their work is where I fi nd my greatest joy. Leaving ships and transitioning to this work was a natural progression of everything in my life. My work in the cruise industry for 20 years and interaction with more than 1 million passengers gave me insights and perspectives on humanity that few people have the opportunity to experience and use in helping others live better lives and be their best self in the moment, and not in some future ‘when’,” advises the Blue Zonesapproved entrepreneur.

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Integrative Approaches to Men’s Health Travel for the Planet Tips for Eating Vegan on Vacation

McGlasson teaches yoga, yoga therapy and meditation locally at Naples Community Hospital (NCH) Brigg’s wellness center. “Aft er COVID-19, I began hosting online webinars for employees of NCH, which brought Blue Zones to Southwest Florida as a part of an innovative partnership between the NCH Healthcare System and Blue Zones Project by Healthways. Everything about this community well-being improvement initiative is totally aligned with all that I embrace in my life and business,” advises McGlasson, who looks forward to off ering her Journey to Authenticity program at other Blue Zones worksites as part of Blue Zones programs and tools off ered to inspire employees to be happier, more productive and take healthy habits home. For walking her talk and keeping her life in alignment with what she teaches, McGlasson lives yoga off the mat and uses her yoga nidra (YN) meditation sleep-based practice. “It’s been with me since my ship days, but in 2012 while being immersed in a yoga teacher training class at the Amrit Yoga Institute, in Salt Springs, Florida, I made the decision to become a certifi ed teacher. When I learned how to use YN to aff ect change in my life it shift ed me from ‘I will be’ to ‘I am.’ It connected me with my internal physical trigger sensations that happened before I externalized my reactions. YN taught me that that I could choose a diff erent level of consciousness in response to my life circumstances rather than reacting to them. It’s eff ortless, changes lives and allows for recognizing patterns that can be disrupted by using the practice of setting an intention for 11 consecutive sessions. Th is is how I began rewiring my brain and how I help others bring about change,” advises McGlasson, who recently added the business of selling health insurance to her repertoire, along with the title of author. “I’m published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Be You, a new collection of 101 stories and poems written by women of all ages about how they found their own truths and the best versions of themselves. It was a great way for me to share my story with the world.”

Escape Hatch 2 Wellness is located in Naples. For more information call 615-7397264 or visit EscapeHatch2Wellness.com. See ad, page 30.