Easy Way to Go Green for Costume Departments

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Lately in my personal life I have been trying to live "Greener". I compost, always have a reusable water bottle and bag with me, and use scratch paper if possible. I have been thinking how to make my career more green as well. I wrote an article about the "green movement" in theatre. 

At the end of the summer I started a new job as a Costume PA and the costume department does a bunch of things to be more green. The easiest thing we do (that more costume teams should do too) is we reuse our bags. Whether they are the 99 cent ones you can buy at the register or the paper ones from places like DSW and Victoria's Secret, we reuse every bag. It's great! Our 2nd Assistant Costume Designer either refuses a bag and puts the clothing in her own (I do this in my everyday life) or when we have to return items we use the bags we got when purchasing them. Reusable bags come in so many sizes that you can always find one to hold your purchases. 

Here is a very short list of stores that give you a "reusable bag" at check out:

• Urban Outfitters
• Free People
• Steve Madden (But only specific sizes I believe) 
• Beacon's Closet (Thrift/Vintage)
• B&J Fabrics

Here are some stores that sell reusable bags:

• Burlington Coat Factory
• Buffalo Exchange (Thrift/Vintage)
• Trader Joe's (Get yourself a snack while shopping?)
• Whole Foods (2nd Lunch?)
• Mood
• Cass Art (UK, but only 1 pound! I own many of these)

​Are there any I have missed? This list is just one I have compiled from my time shopping and returning on many different productions. 

Once you get the reusable bags down, you can move on to reusing scrap paper for taping up your receipts, have a bin for recycling packaging pieces, etc. Let's make our passions and careers better for our earth!

UPDATE! Aerie, the underwear store that is attached to American Eagle also recycles bras! Bring in old bras and get a coupon for a new one! Gently used ones go to Free the Girls, while older ones are sent to recycling; any brand, and style!