Meet Garik Himebaugh, the founder of Eco-Stylist.com, a site dedicated to promoting sustainable fashion choices. Garik’s journey into the world of sustainable fashion began with a background in peace studies and an MBA, and he discovered social entrepreneurship as a grad student and launched Eco-Stylist in 2018. There, he helps consumers make informed, sustainable fashion choices with a directory of brands that meet his criteria for ethical production and environmental responsibility, encouraging individuals to “dress like you give a damn.” He was kind enough to contribute a recent article on Earth911, How to Build the Sustainable Wardrobe of Your Dreams. He points to how the fast fashion crisis is burying some countries in the global south in synthetic trash that can take decades or centuries to breakdown into potentially toxic plastic byproducts. Garik joined the Sustainability In Your Ear conversation to discuss how to check the sustainability claims made by clothing companies, the power of reuse and upcycling as a way to reduce your personal environmental impact, and shares his favorite responsible fashion brands, including Adelante, Outerknown, Naadam, and Patagonia.

Fast fashion is a plague on the planet and your wallet. Fast fashion is responsible for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions and nearly 20% of wastewater production, according to the World Economic Forum. The World Resources Institute reports that producing just one cotton shirt uses approximately 713 gallons of water — that’s enough water to meet one person’s drinking needs for over two years. But, hey, you get a $10 shirt instead. The fast fashion industry is so destructive that the U.S. Government Accounting Office wrote in December 2024 that the nation needs a coordinated effort to reduce textile waste and promote recycling. But we can dress for success and the planet. Garik explains that the brands he admires “take responsibility for their clothes” by making them with organic and sustainable materials, providing repairs and take-back programs, as well as delivering durable products that can be made to last. You can learn more about sustainable fashion and shop Garik’s curated selection of clothing at https://Eco-Stylist.com.

Check out previous Earth911 interviews about sustainable fashion