Fashion Goes Green

時尚吹起環保風When it comes to fashion, green is the new black by Chelsea Ewald.

Every day you wake up and get dressed. But have you ever stopped to think about the clothes in your closet? Most likely, they were manufactured in distant countries under hazardous conditions in pollution-emitting factories before being loaded into shipping containers or trucks. From there, they made the long, oil-burning journey across land and sea to finally arrive in local shops, and ultimately, in your closet.

Every time the fashion industry carries this process out, it's at the expense of the environment. And what's more, most of the clothes produced - including the ones found in your closet -are not made from sustainable materials.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this environmental problem: sustainable fashion. Also known as eco-fashion, it is the concept of considering the environmental impact of what you wear each day. So what exactly makes eco-fashion so eco-friendly? For one, it encourages designers to create clothing using green fabrics and fibers such as organic cotton and bamboo. In addition, designers and manufacturers are encouraged to use responsible production techniques, which include producing materials that use fewer toxic chemicals and striving for more energy-efficient processes.

Designers and manufacturers clearly have environmental responsibilities to uphold and so do consumers. Fortunately, getting a green wardrobe is easier than you think.

Shop your own closet
Instead of purchasing a new outfit from the mall, make what you already have look new again. Use your creativity to mix old items and accessories together in fresh, new ways. If you know how to sew, the possibilities are endless. Cut up old shirts and piece them together to make a new skirt or jacket. Have fun and be creative.

Be a thrifty shopper
Save money and avoid waste at the same time by shopping for gently used clothing items. Although thrift shops are most ideal for this type of shopping, many online sites, including eBay, sell used clothing.

Get to know eco-friendly brands
What brands do you shop for? Today, high-end designers like Stella MaCartney and Loomstate are supporting sustainable fashion. Likewise, more affordable options include popular chain
H& M, which is committed to responsibly using the planet's resources to manufacture its clothing. Buy brands that support eco-fashion. Become an environmental activist by starting with your closet. Dress green every day!

Grammar Tips:
....What's more, most of the clothes produced are not made from sustainable materials.
what's more -furthermore, in addition.
what's more -add more information to it...
Because we just bought a new house, we can't afford to go on a trip this year. And, what's more, we still have to pay for our kids' tuition.
Joe likes to use other people's things without asking. And, what is more, he always forgets to return the things he's borrowed.

Vocabulary Tips:
hazardous (adj)-有害的，有危險的．． dangerous, hazard (n)-危險，危險物
* A hazardous working environment can damage the workers' health in a very short period of time.
*The chemicals in the detergent were reported to be hazardous to human bodies.
"all the expense of something or somebody" (idiom) -　為．．付上代價 cost of something or someone. expense -refer to "犧牲，損失，代價 ".
*He made a lot money at the expense of his family.　．．．犧牲了家庭．
uphold -refer to up holding, suppurt ,obey and believe a rule, a standard, a principle.
outfit -combination of many pieces of clothing together, put shirt, pants, coat, tie on. 服裝,穿着打扮.
toxic -有毒的 poisonous, dangerous.
*These toxic chemicals need to be stored in special containers.
Toxic fumes can cause nausea and dizziness.　有毒氣體會使人噁心，暈眩
go green - material go more eco-friendly. It doesn't have to green color.
black - is a staple color, last long time an go well with everything.
ultimately - in the end, final, after some period of time or after all those concerned.
sustainable- able to last for long time, can be continue of over the time.
eco ＝ ecology = people, animal and nature are live together mingled.
responsible -here means" making right decision to be good for everyone."
energy-efficient - use energy wisely, not wasting. save energy.
green fabric - fabric made of eco-friendly material (green material).
wardrobe-衣櫃，衣櫥，或指一個人所有的衣物。
*Check your wardrobe before shopping so you can avoid buying things you already have.
*Betty showed us her new red-wood wardrobe.
accessories -配件。something added to pants, shirts or dress.
*The Store has all kinds of accessories to go with dresses.
*The accessories for the convertible are too expensive.
thrifty (adj) -(positive) a good way to save money.省錢的, 節儉的，cheap (negative) -吝嗇的,小氣
be a thrifty shopper.-花錢買東西會精打細算的人.
thrift (n)-節約,節省
*Even though Eric is very rich now, he's still very thrifty.
*Mom has always been a thrifty housewife.

Chat Room:
When it comes to fashion, green is the new black.　注重環保，新的色彩，新的流行，新的主流．
40 is the new 30 -指人很會保養自己，４０嵗看上去像３０嵗．
30 is the new 20 -　３０嵗看上去像２０嵗
small is the new big -　（電腦趨勢）小型的取代了大型電腦．
--------------------------------------
tightwad-把錢抓得緊緊的, 守財奴
wad-一曡的東西
a wad of bills -一曡鈔票.
tight -緊的,緊緊的
Pay an arm and a leg-付出一支手臂和一條腿. 即"付出昂貴的价碼才買到,花大价錢買.
"cost" or "charge" can replace "pay"
That hair salon charges an arm and leg for a haircut ...索取价錢 好昂貴.