Try a greener alternative like the Ditto™ hangers available at Let’sGoGreen.Biz.  These practical, strong and earth friendly hangers are 100% non-toxic and can hold over 20 pounds.  The best part, they are made from 100% post-consumer waste paper and the ink you see on them is from vegetable dyes, making them completely non-toxic and recyclable in all paper recycling systems (even compost systems).  They are aren’t just for kids either.  Pick up a 10 pack in your choice of three sizes, infants priced at $13.48, children’s priced at $17.98 and adult sizes priced at $20.98.

If you prefer the standard wire or plastic hangers, don’t fear as long as they are being put to good use.  But, when you are ready to move on, don’t casually toss them in the trash – give them a new home!  Dry cleaners may reuse wire hangers or find other vendors who can re-purpose the metal.  If you strike out there, donate your unwanted hangers to a local thrift store or resale shop.  Chances are they could put them to good use.  Still have more to unload?  Consider dropping them by a local church.  They can always use extra hangers for Sunday service and social gatherings.

Starting small is a good start to paving a bright future for our kids.  Whether you’re an avid eco-friendly recycler or just getting started, every little bit helps.

Do you have some great ideas on recycling hangers?  Leave a comment below.  We always love to hear from you!

We’ve all heard of carbon footprints, but did you know you have a water footprint too?

Leading up to World Water Day, some very interesting infographics caught my eye on Pinterest about the number of gallons it takes to make just one pair of jeans (1,800 gallons!) or just one cotton t-shirt (400 gallons!).

Why all the water?  It takes this much water to grow the cotton, process it, dye it, and manufacture it into clothing.

These shocking facts inspire me to learn more about the pre-consumer issues our world is facing in just the area of dressing our kids.  And, it directly supports the concepts of a Conscious Kid’s Closet - a life cycle of conscious steps from purchase through wear and care, then passing on and recycling in a conscious way.

Most of us are inspired to buy and/or sell our kids’ clothing on resale based on post-consumer facts like these:

• Per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,  an estimated 13.1 million tons of textiles were generated in 2010 (5.3% of total municipal solid waste (MSW), and just 14.0% percent of clothing, and footwear were recovered for export or reprocessing.

• Given kids ages 0-17 make up about 25% of the population, we can assume that clothing our kids is at generating at least 3 million tons waste each year!!

BUT, back-up a bit.  Perhaps an even more urgent matter is the pre-consumer consumption and waste of water, a natural resource we all depend on for survival, that it takes to make all these clothes in the first place!

In poking around a bit more, I found an article written by a “fashionista”, ElenaSC, on the topic of  “Water footprint: how the fashion industry and your shopping impact the Planet“.  It’s excellent!  Well-researched.  A must read.

The article almost paralyzed me with a major dilemma around cotton clothing (which I adore for my kids).

Did you know that even buying organic cotton only marginally reduces the amount of water used in the clothing production process?  And, that the type of clothing made with the least amount of water are those that you synthetic fabrics?

Although, at the end of the line in textile recycling, cotton is easily recycled.  But, synthetic fabrics?  Not necessarily.

What Can We Do?

I believe there are three key habits, that if we were to all follow, we would see enormous environmental impact:

First, when buying new clothing, make it a habit to look for quality over quantity, and try not to succumb to “Fast Fashion“.

Quality clothing most likely followed less wasteful and harmful production processes.  It may cost more, but it is worth it.  It will last longer, and it will retain some value for you to sell it.  Think of it as an investment (I always say, “If you can throw it in your grocery cart while shopping for food, it’s likely to be very low quality”).

Second, when you are done with the clothing, make it a habit to sell it, swap it, donate it, or recycle it.   If you throw fabric in the garbage where it can get wet and contaminated, it is no longer recyclable.  Note:  You can list quality clothing that is still in good condition for sale on LoobaLee.com – for free!

Third, when you have ruined or imperfect clothing, make it a habit to mend it, upcycle it, or recycle it.  With a little bit of effort and creativity, can you think of a way to get more life out of the clothing?

How about you?  Do you have ideas or thoughts on how to reduce your family’s water footprint when it comes to outfitting your kids?  Please share below – thanks!

Astonishing!!  Since Moms make up a large percent of the population, apparently a lot of us are contributing to the problem.

I literally do not throw away clothing (at least not intentionally).   And, maybe you don’t intentionally either.  But, its inevitable that even in our best efforts to donate and recycle, receiving organizations will dispose of things that can’t be used.

The best way to avoid this downstream affect is up front by buying, wearing and caring consciously.   The clothing that most quickly ends up in our landfills is that which was cheaply made in the first place, and doesn’t hold up to a lot of wash and wear.

Then, don’t be part of the statistic. Be part of the solution. Trade, donate, resell, upcycle, and/or recycle your kids old clothing. Help prevent unnecessary waste and teach your kids the value of buying second hand and the ingenuity of resale.

LoobaLee is proud to be a resource to help you reap the rewards of buying and selling online and get the most out of your children’s apparel.

While you are in the midst of organizing your kids closets and starting fresh for the new year, think like the retailers do and start preparing for the warmer months.  Below are some ideas on how you can upcycle common clothes in your kids current wardrobe into practical favorites for the season ahead.

Jeans:  If your kids have a favorite pair of jeans that they can’t seem to part with that still fit around the waist but are too short, consider hemming them into capri length pants for girls or shorts for boys.  If you are a creative sewer, add fabric to the pockets or patches to the knees for a cool updated look.

Long Sleeve Tees:  The same concept can be put into action with long sleeve t-shirts that still fit in the body but have sleeves that are getting short.  If you are good at sewing, turn those long sleeves into short sleeves simply by cutting and hemming.  You can also turn the top into a permanent layered look by shortening the sleeves and adding the appropriate length of contrasting fabric.  Don’t be afraid to use the sleeves of an outgrown button down shirt.  This is a cool look too.

Dresses:  Turn your daughter’s favorite dress that is getting a little too short into a longer one by adding a fabric ruffle or tulle along the hem like the dress pictured above (from Makeit-loveit.com).  This is a great way to create a whole new look for her without disturbing the “It’s my favorite dress” vibe.  You can also change the length of the sleeves to accommodate warmer weather if necessary.  Add a little contrasting pin to tie it together and voila!

Think a little outside the box before getting rid of clothing this year.  Upcyling or repurposing is a smart choice for the environment, an economical choice for your budget and a clever way to get the kids involved in thinking about the greater good.   kids.

We use that same premise when talking about updating your kids wardrobes which let’s face it with the rate kids grow happens more often than not.  You don’t have to empty the closets completely and start from scratch (even though it sometimes feels that way).  Think about small attainable and inexpensive goals to accomplish and do a little a time.  Add a few new pieces to mix and cycle out the garments that no longer fit by reselling.  Use the money you make on resale to help stock up on new must haves and basics.

For those special pieces that no longer fit or are damaged, consider upcycling them.  Upcycling can help give new life to something old by re-purposing it.  The reuse can be as complicated as using fabrics from old garments to make new ones or as simple as pairing an old pair of jeans with a new top purchased on resale.  This way, you’re not only giving your kids wardrobe a fresh fix, you’re also leaving less waste which benefits future generations from your eco-conscience actions.

Create your new beginnings with smart, eco-friendly decisions that benefit not only you, but those around you.  Start small and build your way up to something big!

We found this great upcycling idea for making a felted sweater phone cozy from Craftbits but you don’t have to stick with wool sweaters to craft this unique and practical gift.  Use fabric from your kids favorite outgrown sweatshirt or pair of jeans, especially the name brands that kids love.    Add embellishments, rhinestones, iron-ons or fabric paints to make a fun phone case for all the tweens and teens on your holiday gift list.

1. Cut a square of fabric to measure 6 inches by 6 inches.
2. Fold in half and stitch up two sides, leaving one side open for the top.  If sewing by hand, stitch the seam twice to secure it.
3. Cut a 1-1/2 inch square of fabric and stitch it to the center of the pouch.
4. Thread a shoelace starting at the top left side of the pouch approx. 1/2 inch from the top and tie to make the phone cozy closure.  Cut the excess shoelace to use in step 5.  Hint: Use a pencil or sharp tip of scissors to get a hole started in the fabric for easier threading.
5. Tie the remaining shoe lace into a bow and stitch it onto the center square from step 3.
6. Thread a key ring through the top right side of the pouch and enjoy giving!

This is an easy way to upcycle and the kids can help craft one of a kind gifts for their friends.  After all, there really is nothing more special than giving a gift made by hand!

How about crafting something special for the little turkey lovers in your family.  Lindsay from The Cottage Home shares a step by step turkey shirt tutorial on how to create this adorable shirt pictured below.  We always love when you can customize an article of clothing to suit your child’s style.  Choose your kids favorite patterns and colors so they’ll be exciting to get dressed on Thanksgiving morning.

No need to buy a brand new shirt or fabric to start creating.  Upcyle a solid color t-shirt or sweatshirt in your child’s closet or buy one on LoobaLee.com and turn it into something fabulous or use the fabric from an adored piece of clothing that can no longer be worn.  The body of the turkey would be great made from a pair of denim and a great way to upcycle a pair of ripped jeans that are beyond repair.  Add your own special touches like button eyes or use a fabric marker to add details such as the nose and legs.  Not a sewer?  The fusible backing can be ironed on and will hold the fabric turkey without threading a needle.

We love this idea!  It’s simple, fun and a clever way to recycle something unusable into something special.

Here’s just one great idea compliments of Family Fun for upcycling your kids outgrown t-shirts into a useful little backpack.

1. Turn the T-shirt inside out, then cut across the shirt from armpit to armpit. You’ll need only the bottom section.
2. Use the needle and thread to sew a simple stitch across the shirt, about a half inch in from the cut edge, to seal what will be the bottom of the bag.
3. Turn the shirt right side out. Snip the shirt’s hem almost all of the way through (do not cut any stitching) at the midpoint between the two side seams. Attach a large safety pin to one end of the clothesline cord. Feed the cord, safety pin first, through the casing of the hem.
4. Follow the eyelet or grommet kit instructions to add eyelets to the bottom corners of the bag.
5. Thread the ends of the cord through the eyelet holes and double-knot them to secure.

This is a great project to put your creative skills into action.  Add embellishments, fabric paint or iron on letters to give the backpack a one of a kind look.  We think this project makes a great birthday party activity too!

Get the kids in on the action for a little family time and most of all, have fun!

How about that little black dress your daughter wore out?  You can easily turn that into a clever witch costume.  The more wear, the better.  An old tattered dress is perfect for just the right witchy look.  Pair it with a hat and striped tights and she’s good to go.

You can use the same concept to make a beautiful princess or good witch for the girly girl.  Use a pretty tulle dress in any color, add a tiara and sparkle tights and viola… instant princess!

Got any super hero fans in the house? To create the look pictured above, start with an old pair of sweat pants or leggings and a solid color long-sleeve T-shirt.  Contrasting colors look best.   You can buy the accessories like head bands and masks if you are not crafty.  A cape, chest letters and lightning bolts can be easily customized to suit your child’s personality.  The best part, you don’t need to be a sewing expert to make it happen.

Click here for easy instructions on how to create a super hero costume.

Be creative and make this Halloween memorable for your kids by creating a one of kind costume for a one in a million kid.!

What’s Upcycling? The process of converting waste materials or useless products
into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

Your Turn: Looking for kids clothing to upcyle?  Perhaps you have a school play that you need to outfit with costumes.  Shop LoobaLee for a large selection of one of kind children’s apparel.  Share your ideas in the comments, and see you there!