As someone who has recently become more and more interested in living my life as sustainable as possible, I have run into questions that, instead of floating around in my mind, would best be released, in the hopes that someone out there has asked the same questions and can share their experiences. The questions that plague me regards how one integrate one's clothing choices, something most of us encounter daily, into the realm of sustainability.

 Here is what I've encountered:

The Sea of Information 

I've realized that not many people know where their clothes really come from or the conditions of the workers who labored on them, since these facts are not blatantly advertised. There is a lot of information out there concerning these issues, and while "source 1" labels "company X" as unsustainable in its manufacturing (usually because of human rights abuses and environmental degredation), the same "company X" will not make the watch list of "source 2." So, the first question is this: Where does one get accurate information regarding the practices of clothing manufacturers?

Search Problems

From there I search for sustainable clothing. Where do I find it? I refuse to go by stereotypes and automatically assume that all clothing sold at "hippie-store X" is sustainable, thus being confronted again with the question of reliable information on clothing manufacturers. Plus, the clothes at stores like "hippie-store X" or "outdoor-gear-store X" are usually incredibly overpriced--comparable to the price-gouging designer clotheir's indulge in--and I feel that such money could be spent better elsewhere, such as a donation to a sustainable organization or put towards feeding the hungry. If a particular item of clothing is sustainable, how can one justify spending $65 on a pair of pants, be they designer or sustainable? Admittedly, I've purchased expensive clothing it on the basis that the quality of the pants--and thus the sustainable action of not having to buy more new pants--will, in time, surpass the exorbitant price. But I'm always faced with the question: couldn't the money be spent better elsewhere?

So we still have all these clothes... 

So, in the interim time between finding reliable information and reasonably priced sustainable clothing, I have the clothes I own before I started investing my effort in a sustainable earth, and many of such clothing items are from companies I know have records of nonsustainable practices. I was confronted with two options: do I throw them out and buy sustainable clothing, or wear what I have until it wears completely out and plan on buying sustainable clothing or second-hand clothing. I settled on a sort of modified second option. I knew that simply giving all of my clothing away in order to BUY more clothing was stupid and not considered sustainable, but I knew I had more clothing than I needed, which is essentially clothing better used by other people in the community who have less. I steadily narrowed down the contents of my closet to about 25% of its former, grotesque size by donating to thrift stores and other organizations.

Yet another question: by still wearing clothing from unsustainable organizations, aren't I advertising for them? In order to remedy that problem, I've marked out places on my clothing where the names of these companies can be seen.

Another note on thrift stores: by donating clothing to a thrift store, am I justifying buying brand new clothes?

Concluding Thoughts Quite Open-Ended 

I know these questions I've presented are random and seemingly unconnected, but we all know sustainability isn't clear-cut, and moving a lifestyle towards sustainability is a confusing and messy process, comparable to navigating through knee-deep mud-river of varying sources of information and opinions. I need some confirmation, some answers, and some suggestions. Can anyone with some experience share what they've learned?