If we began strip-mining landfills today, we could have enough recyclable material to feed, clothe, and dress the nation for the next 150 years. Yes, there would be some other Hazmat issues, considering the inappropriate chemicals also dumped therein, but the bulk of the material would be untainted, and much of it surprisingly well preserved. This is interesting, if a bit kooky-hippyish, you say. So what does this have to do with plus size fashion?



And herein is the rub: it doesn’t, but it should. There is a new order of trashion and green designers cropping up to create some truly gorgeous clothing options, clothing that never once makes someone mutter, “damn hippy!” Converted fabrics, innovations on origami, and new crops are adding daily to the body of natural and recycled fibers consumers may choose from. Even hemp fabric has changed dramatically - gone are the burlap sack like pieces shoved in the corner of some wink-wink-nudge-nudge head shop, replaced with a smoother, sexier, long-lasting and sustainable fabric.



But one thing hasn’t changed: most of the environmental couture is still only available in sizes 10 and below. I’m sure there are mainly financial and design-skill reasons behind this; these hip young designers still haven’t experienced hips themselves, and certified organic fabrics are already prohibitively expensive. These are new businesses, who don’t recognize immediately the loyalty they would gain by simply including plus sizes as a matter of course - and they have no idea how much money there really is in that market.



There is also the possibility that because plus sizes are plus, there might be an assumption that our body size makes our existence environmentally “incorrect.” It’s a silly assumption, but it may also be driving the absence of inclusion of plus sizes in the rising sustainable textiles market.



If someone can find me a hemp skirt in the new, smooth texture, you can bet I’d do a dozen pics of myself wearing it!