Fair Trade

When it comes to recycling paper, plastic, and glass, the Solid Waste Authority could call us model citizens. But when clothing enters the picture, some of our ethical choices would make Ed Begley Jr. shove his head into his homemade solar oven and refuse to come out. Regrettably, when examining the contents of the local landfill, the oft-overlooked contributor to its size is textile waste — with upward of 30 percent of the materials that end up in landfills coming from the contents of our closets.

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More About

• Solid Waste Authority
• Ed Begley Jr.
• Waste and Recycling
• Nature and the Environment

Enviro-minded folks have taken to recycling their wardrobes as just one more cinch in their commitment to lowering their negative impact on the planet. You too can do this at the Dirty Peaches Clothing Co.’s South Florida Swap-o-Rama-Rama at Trash to Treasure (1100 NW 53rd St., Fort Lauderdale). The clothing swap and DIY alterations workshop repurposes the ethos of “reduce, reuse, recycle” and applies it to the ordinarily vapid world of fashion, forcing participants to explore issues of consumerism and waste. Just bring a bag of leftover clothes, add them to the growing pile, and dig in for donated wardrobe pieces. With foraged finds in hand, head to one of several sewing or silkscreening booths to upgrade and alter your pieces. The swap runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, ending with a fashion show showcasing all your newly altered duds. Call 888-828-8242, or visit swaporamarama.org. Admission costs $5 with a bag of clothes, $10 without.
Sat., June 26, 11 a.m.; Sun., June 27, 11 a.m., 2010