
In the guiding community, Arc’teryx is a brand you will find guides wearing quite often. This is because of their quality. Even Arc’teryx believes in their product so much, they offer an amazing warranty. This brand is not cheap though, but it will last you a very, very long time.

The other thing I look for is buying CLASSICS. When I was a teenager, I didn’t think about this because I wanted to be cool and trendy. However, those trends get old real fast and you are constantly buying new clothes. Again, it’s not good on the wallet. If you can find pieces of clothes that won’t go out of style and are good quality, you will be a consumer who is making environmentally conscious decisions.
SHOP FOR CLOTHING THAT IS UPCYCLED
This is really cool! Some amazing companies are coming out with some great ways to ‘recycle’ and ‘reuse’ clothing. This is called UPCYCLING. Upcycling is taking previously made items and basically reusing/recycling them. When I lived in Edmonton, I would take my torn clothes to the Ecostation to be upcycled. Now, I live in a small town and this isn’t an easy option, but I still saved my torn clothes for when I visited the big city. However, the last time I was there, I was told that they don’t do this anymore. It really comes down to economics and whether or not it is feasible for companies to recycle, reuse or upcycle. Which can lead me to a whole other blog on recycling and why it is going out of style, but I’ll have to save that for another day.
So, who upcycles? I recently came across a company right here in Canada who is upcycling: Message Factory. This is great for multiple reasons:
- Shopping more local means less transportation and fewer fossil fuels being used to get the item to me. These clothes aren’t being shipped from across the world by a big barge on the ocean.
- Buying directly from the source can mean less packaging.
- They care! So, they won’t be placing your item(s) in plastic, wrapped by plastic, wrapped by plastic, in a cardboard box 5 times too big with bubble wrap to use up the air void. Who else has had this problem?

When they care, they educate their consumers. They want people to feel good about themselves and the way they look, but also help them make good consumer decisions. I have a few items from Message Factory and I love them. They are comfortable and stylish. The items I picked can be dressed up or dressed down, so they are multi-purpose and I love that. I even spent much of my time in Panama wearing their Noyer Top; when I was hiking (mostly at the summit when I needed to throw on a layer) and then going out to eat. Then, I wore it until I even noticed that it really needed to be washed and then I decided it was time to do laundry, and then I wore it some more.

It is great to see companies emerging who are making environmentally conscious decisions. While sometimes it can be cost-effective for you, it isn’t always easy and takes work.
SHOP AT SECOND HAND STORES
This one may be a no brainer for you when I said it. However, we don’t always think about it or think that we won’t get that quality from the store. I love shopping at second hand stores and they often have a cause too. The Women’s Resource Centre in Crowsnest Pass raises money for women, children, and families in need. That in itself is worth me shopping there. You can find some amazing finds and again it is great on the wallet! Do you ever get that feeling that you want to buy something new to feel refreshed? I get it and when I go to the Women’s Resource Center on their $10 bag days, I get a new wardrobe and I feel even better about it because it is helping a good cause.
You can really find some great items at second hand stores. The pair of rain pants that I use on my adventures cost me $5! It pays off to know what is good quality. These rain pants would have been over $100 brand new and they were basically brand new. The other great thing about knowing your products is that rain gear often just needs a good washing with some NIKWAX to re-waterproof it. Here is a great article on how to re-waterproof your rain gear:
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE NAKED
There you have it folks – 3 ways to be environmentally conscious when buying clothes. You don’t have to be naked to be environmentally-friendly! (phewf) Shopping for quality and classics will reduce the amount that you need to buy, buy from companies who upcycle, and shop at second hand stores. Making conscious decisions when buying clothes, food, or any item will make you a smart consumer and in many cases is also good for your bank account.