My Definitions for Local, Natural, Sustainable & Ethical

Natural: made of fibers grown from the earth or sourced from animals that don’t have to go through any chemical treatment before being spun into yarn/thread and made into material. These include cotton, linen, wool, silk, and hemp. Materials such as Tencel and bamboo must go through chemical processes and are therefore not included.

Local: Some designers make the clothing themselves, have them made by a business in their home town, in their state or in their country. Being sewn as close to home is ideal but second best is in the same country meaning the designer isn’t taking advantage of a poorer countries status to make more money. In the local list, I include designers who have clothing made with materials like wool in Peru where the wool is sourced. Same with linen sheets being made in Portugal or Belgium. These practices still have integrity. At times, designers will have material or clothing made in a country that is more expensive than the US. I support this as well because these designers are paying what the materials and labor are worth and not taking advantage. There are always exceptions to the rule. Some designers have special relationships to third world countries (i.e. a designer born in China who moved to the US wants to support her home town.) If I could travel to these places and see that the designers are paying them similar wages to what they’d pay someone in the US, they could be included, but since this is not feasable currently, anything made in China, India, and any other country not as well off financially as the US is considered not local.

Ethical: Making healthy and charitable choices for the earth’s sake, the animals’ sake, and for each other’s sake.

Sustainable: Utilizing materials and processes that can be continued forever without depleting the earth, her resources or peoples’ energy and time.)