^ FASHION FACTORIES ^

We are always going on about ethical fashion here at Eco Bird. We wouldn't want to enjoy fashion any other way. 
Here's a brief video explaining why.

xx Danii

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^ THE ECO-FRIENDLY HANGER

 Enough Clothes Hangers Are Wasted to Fill the Empire State Building 4.6 Times, Every Year!! 

Norman Hangers

As some of you may know Eco Bird is an Australian online eco-boutique, we love enjoying fashion as sustainably as possible. With everything that we do and everything that we bring into our business we make sure it's either recycled, up-cycled, eco-friendly, organic, second-hand, hand-made, ethically made and fair-trade. We wouldn't have it any other way.
With our upcoming pop up stall in Byron Bay weeks away we have been busy sourcing everything we need to bring our little online eco-boutique come to life, one thing in particular on our shopping list are hangers...and lots of them!
Whilst I enjoy the challenge of creating an entirely eco-friendly stall, I know that choosing the most sustainable option can sometimes be time-consuming to source and overwhelming, especially if you don't know where to look.  So I decided to save you all a heap of time and show you the eco-finds I found, starting with an organised wardrobes best friend: the hanger.

Coat hangers are something we all need to have, use everyday and can never, ever seem to have enough of...but did you know that they are also a massive pollution to our planet, with around 77 million wire hangers ending up in landfill every year, with each hanger taking more than 100 years to break down.
To some of us having an organised, cohesive, coat hanger matching, wardrobe is heaven. Whilst others simply don't mind our hangers an eclectic jumble between wire, plastic and timber and the rest have probably never given a single thought to the hangers in their wardrobes. We are all different and that's fine by me. But in all areas of our lives, not just our wardrobe, we need to look at using less of the materials that destruct and poison our earth and make an effort to enjoy the things we love sustainably. Plastic requires toxic chemicals and huge amounts of water and energy and also takes years to break down. With so much plastic ending up in our oceans chocking wildlife I'm pretty much over it entirely. Timber options are not much better leading to deforestation, loss of habitats for threatened species and a large carbon footprint. There are also enough wire hangers used each year by Australian dry cleaners to wrap around the earth! That's just the dry cleaners!
Whilst the most sustainable option is to keep the hangers we already have, there comes a time when we need buy more. So here is my list of eco-friendly hanger options I've been considering in my hunt for a bunch of hangers.
   

The Green Hanger

^ The Green Hanger
Made from 100% recycled post consumer waste, biodegradable cardboard, raw, natural, no glues, no inks and Australian owned and designed.
I know what you're thinking, a hanger made out of cardboard is not going to last. But don't underestimate the innovation behind the eco-industry; these hangers are made from some seriously tough stuff. The Green Hanger holds up to 4Kg of weight and are designed to add and provide extra strength in pressure point areas on the hanger for durability.
There are a few different brands on the market you can shop around at EcoHang, Ditto and Norman Hangers  as well as The Green Hanger - they all provide a great, sustainable hanger.

^ The Bamboo Timber Hanger
 These ones are great. When it comes down to a choice between timber and bamboo, I always go for Bamboo. Bamboo is a rapidly growing plant that does not require pesticides, fertilisers or much water. A bamboo grove also releases up to 35% more oxygen into the air then a similar sized tree. Bamboo is also incredibly strong and durable, making it the perfect choice if you really chuck your hangers around. Bgreen hangers use no chrome in their hooks, a soft, non toxic wax finish and buy responsibly from factories that pay fair wages. One tip when hunting around for Bamboo hangers is to make sure you've found the real deal, there are a lot of cheap, non-green imitations that offer a Bamboo "finish". If you are going to go for the standard timber hanger my only recommendation would be to make sure its FSC CERTIFIED and ethically made.

^ The Pre-Loved Hanger
The sky's the limit with pre-loved! You can grab a bargain and choose from pretty much any kind of hanger that floats your way. I ended up finding the perfect hangers for our pop up stall on Gum Tree for $50 bucks! From timber hangers, to plastic, to really cool vintage bamboo, adult, kids, soft silk covered hangers, etc.... take your pick! You're saving it from landfill! Gum tree is a hanger heaven. If you're after a HUGE amount though I would recommend Secondhand Shopfittings in Brisbane. (If you're after any kind of retail fit out from racks, displays and mannies these guys have it all!). My only caution for buying online is to make sure your actually buying a pre-loved hanger on E-bay and Gum Tree as sometimes retail outlets sell their brand new stock online there too - which for the context of this post is not a sustainable option.

^ The DIY Hanger
This one is for the creative peeps! I would of loved to have created these hangers for the stall but unfortunately I don't have the time or the perfectly shaped sticks. But I'm sure someone creative out there is feeling inspired enough to take on the challenge. The trick with making it eco-friendly...or the challenge, is to recycle and up-cycle the materials used. Even if you Google image search eco-friendly hangers you can see the amazing stuff people use to create hangers! I found one where someone used the ends of plastic water bottles, which even though it may not look that attractive imagine how perfectly the shoulders on everything would sit! For some DIY Hanger ideas check out EcoNestings post and Care2.com.

Image from Eco Nesting

Hopefully from this post you can see that it's easy to say no to the plastic/wire/timber hangers (unless they are pre-loved) and enjoy embracing the more sustainable options out there. It's so easy to just switch what we buy and create such a positive impact on our planet.

A really great article that I read that really gives you a good idea on amount of plastic hangers that go into landfill a year is this one here from the Daily Green. Apparently some clothing stores have their stock sent to them pre-hung on plastic hangers and throw them straight in the dumpster once the product is sold! We shouldn't be using perfectly fine hangers once and disposing of it! It's such a waste of plastic, chemicals, water, cheaply paid wages and landfill - almost all for nothing.

xx Danii

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^ Nahko Bear (Medicine for the People) ღ Aloha Ke Akua

Mother Nature at her best.

This is one of the most beautifully powerful and magical videos I have ever seen in my life. It literally took my breath away reminding me how vastly incredible and spiritually awakening our stunning planet is and the life it holds upon it. 

It is such an inspiring reminder to spend more to simply appreciate and enjoy this planet for everything that it is, naturally. To tap into our inner goddess, feel the energy and life all around us and to listen to our spirits. To respect, nurture and protect this planet and it's magnificent creatures. And most importantly connect with it, to be as one with it. It's so often that we get caught up in our day to day lives that we forget how deeply powerful and peaceful nature is for us and how it can clear our minds, speak to us and help us to find our right path in life. 

It reminded me of this quote I read awhile ago - 

“It’s no wonder we don’t defend the land where we live. We don’t live here. We live in television programs and movies and books and with celebrities and in heaven and by rules and laws and abstractions created by people far away and we live anywhere and everywhere except in our particular bodies on this particular land and this particular moment in these particular circumstances.”- Derrick Jensen

xx Danii

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^ TUMBLING INSPIRATION

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All images are taken from the ECOBIRD Tumblr page where all original sources should be attached. I do not take credit for any images in this post// ecobird.tumblr.com

^ ECOBIRD.NET - ECO-WINTER

A little snapshot from our first AW photoshoot. 

All our AUTUMN/WINTER arrivals are in-store now at www.ecobird.net full of ethically made, fair-trade organic cotton goodness!

xx Danii

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^ SENDING OUR LOVE TO BANGLADESH

According to 'War on Want' more then 300 people have been killed at the tragic building collapse in Bangladesh which housed garment factories for well known brands including Primark, Walmart and Mango. Why? Because workers were ordered to remain on the premises with threats of their pay being docked if they didn't stay, this after factory owners received warnings the day before of dangerous cracks in the building’s structure. With a 1000 feared dead and many more injured, fashion is once again in the spotlight for its ethics with everyone calling on the fashion brands involved to take responsibility and to be held accountable for not ensuring work safety. 

Our heart goes out to all the people involved and affected by this disaster. Fashion should not come at this cost, it's not worth it. There are so many labels and designers out there that support everyone involved in the manufacturing and production of their products, paying them fair wages, allowing healthy work hours, and safe working conditions as well as teaching them new skills. We should be demanding more of this from our favourite brands and supporting those who make fashion ethically.
This tragedy comes comes just five months (November 24, 2012) after the Tazreen garment factory fire that killed at least one hundred and twelve workers who were trapped inside the burning building after apparently being told to keep working initially when smoke appeared and then finally discovering fire exits would not open as they attempted to escape.

Extract from Peppermint Magazines article:  
"It’s unbelievable that brands still refuse to sign a binding agreement with unions and labour groups to stop these unsafe working conditions from existing. Tragedy after tragedy shows that corporate-controlled monitoring is completely inadequate,” Pauli says. “Right now the families of the victims are grieving and the community is in shock. But they, and the hundreds injured in the collapse, are without income and without support. Immediate relief and longterm compensation must be provided by the brands who were sourcing from these factories, and responsibility taken for their lack of action to prevent this happening."


...


'Oxfam’s Gareth Price-Jones said companies need to demand change in the culture and conditions of clothing factories in Bangladesh, where profit comes before safety. “The only reason there were workers in that building was because management told them they would be docked pay if they did not go to work” – an option few could take in an industry where already perilously low wages have declined even further in the last 10 years. “Western buyers could be doing much, much more, and they have a moral responsibility to do so.” Consumers too, he said, have the power to “hold brands to account”.

Follow this story and read the articles in full at the below links. 
   
^ Peppermint Mag - Tragedy in Bangladesh
 ^Ecouterre - Bangladesh Garment-Factory Collapse kills nearly 100 people.
^War On Want - Take Action and Demand Justice For Victims Of Bangladesh Building Collapse 
^Counter Punch
^Ecoterre- Several Arrests Made as Bangladesh Factory Death Toll Soars to 348
^Ecoterre -Everything you need to know about Rana Plaza

xx Danii

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^ ANYWHERE BUT HERE ^

Anywhere But Here from Kowtow on Vimeo.

Winter is just around the corner, and here at Eco Bird we have already begun unpacking our new arrivals for the season. This stunning label is already online now with designs made from premium certified fair-trade organic cotton and water based dyes and inks that are gentle on the environment and GOTS approved (Global Organic Textile Standard). 

The 'Anywhere But Here' collection by Kowtow takes it's inspiration from lost youth and themes of revolution. Kowtow perfectly creates high quality minimalist styles with soft drape and endless layering options that can make a wardrobe come to life. Here at Eco Bird we fell in love with the collection signature print seen in the 'YES DRESS' and 'Dazed and Confused leggings' as well as the soft off-white in the 'Building Block Legging', 'Fluidity Top' and the 'Could You Be Love' classic trench and the deep black 'Reality Bites Dress'. Our favourite though has to be the bright zest of orange in the 'Building Block Drape Cardi' PERFECT.

You can shop these perfectly awesome organic winter styles online now at www.ecobird.net or just click here.

xx Danii

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