by Claudia Chan | I recently had the chance to go shopping with the very stylish Myriam Laroche, president and founder of Eco Fashion Week. We went around to some of her favourite stores in town (Deluxe Junk and Community Thrift & Vintage pictured above), during which time she shared her enthusiasm for Vancouver’s new wave of sustainability in fashion. She spoke at length of her 18 years working in the corporate apparel and fashion trade at home in her native Montreal, back when she was a buyer for chain companies like Historia and Jacob, and how the experience forever changed her attitude towards fashion. She found that there was cumulatively more and more unnecessary waste in the business, so after she moved out west and immersed herself in the environmental movement here, she took her experience and passion for fashion and integrated it with the principles of sustainable practices. Soon afterwards, Eco Fashion Week was born. Laroche has since dedicated a lot of her time to the entirely volunteer-run celebration of local, sustainable fashion in the hope that it might serve to educate the public and industry members about ethical production and consumption. Of course people are always going to keep buy things, she says, but it’s all about how you do it.

Here’s some of her advice on how to shop ethically,

1. Be honest with yourself. Ask yourself, “Do I really need it?” Shopping can be an addictive behaviour and in order to change that, you can change the way you think about it.

2. Wherever you buy, get educated about the origins of the product and its materials. Great websites to check out include Eco Fashion World and Eco Salon.

3. Learn about the store or the company you are buying from and the vendor’s philosophy.

4. Buy vintage or consigned clothing from places like Value Village, Deluxe Junkie, Community Thrift or Front & Company.

5. Support a local designer. Some of Myriam’s favourites include Nicole Bridger, Melissa Ferreirra, Kim Cathers, Lindsay Walsh, Gypsy Market at One of a Kind, and Wings + Horns at Roden Gray.

Consider these points on your next shopping adventure and remember that the changes you make don’t have to be drastic. Start slowly and know that you’re not just shopping responsibly for yourself but also for your local and larger communities, and for the greater well-being of the planet.

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Claudia Chan is an advocate of all things green. Born and raised in Vancouver, she is inspired by the work of local urban farmers, eco artists and policy makers who make this city the most lush and livable to work and play in. Her mission with Scout and her “Greenlight” column is to impart her enthusiasm for bike lanes, community gardens, farmers’ markets and more to her fellow Vancouverites.