By EMMA DESIDERIO
For 23-year-old local Gianna Intile of Long Beach Island, starting a sustainable clothing business was a “no-brainer.”
Intile started out by making pairs of shorts for herself out of her old pairs of jeans, until one night when she realized she could make a business out of it.
“A lightbulb clicked in my head one night to make 10 pairs of shorts and sell them at a cheap price… I knew it would be easy to grab people’s sizes from the thrift store,” said Intile. “I made an Instagram that night, came up with the name Feelin’ Blue, and it all started!”
The fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, and produces about 20% of global waste water, according to the United Nations. Society has also become increasingly wasteful. The average consumer now purchases about 60% more pieces of clothing than in 2000, yet keeps clothing for about half as long.
“I think the biggest problem in the fashion industry is the phrase most people live by: you shouldn’t repeat an outfit. You most definitely can and should repeat outfits!” Intile said.
The rise of Instagram influencers has led followers to believe they need to buy everything that is advertised by their favorite influencers; Amazon has made shopping more convenient than ever; and fast fashion companies sell clothing at incredibly low prices.
All of these conveniences come at a price. In the United States alone, about 146 million tons of waste is generated each year.
Long Beach Island, New Jersey, grows to a population of up to 200,000 people in the summer months, but is a tight-knit community of people who love the island and the ocean year-round. Many are passionate about the environment and determined to keep LBI as green as possible, including these small businesses.
Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose
Feelin’ Blue is a repurposed denim and thrift shop based in the LBI area. The shop currently operates through their website, local pop-up shops, and through wholesale at a few local businesses. Intile collects denim donations, and sews old jeans into new, functional creations in order to reduce waste. Her repurposed denim shop includes (but is not limited to) items such as aprons, hair accessories, purses, coasters, and keychains.
“I truly repurpose every part of a pair of jeans, all the way down the seams. Every and any pair of jeans is acceptable to donate to us. No matter what condition, size, brand, shade, etc.,” Intile said.
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The impact of repurposing jeans is no small feat. According to the UN, it take about 10,000 liters of water to grow the one kilogram of cotton that is needed to make just one pair of denim jeans.
“I think it is important to rewear, swap, or repair your clothes before thinking to just throw your clothes in the trash or in a donation bin on the side of the road. I think its important to drop them off where you know they are going to get resold or reworn,” Intile said.
Root Green Shoppe: Sustainability can be simple
Rebecca Phillips is another young local looking to make a change in the community. She is the co-owner of Root Green Shoppe alongside her mother, Joan Phillips. Root Green Shoppe is a small storefront in Beach Haven, New Jersey, opened in May 2020, that specializes in eco-friendly products. It is the first store of its kind in the LBI region.
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“Our goal is really just to inspire people to choose a more sustainable lifestyle when they’re ready to,” said Phillips.
The mother-daughter duo sought a return to their “roots,” and were inspired to open a store that could help people to do the same. The store is filled with houseplants and sustainable products, including their liquid “refill bar,” where you can bring your own container to refill with laundry detergent, dish soap, and hand soap.
Phillips explained that the Root Green Shoppe is there to help members of the community. “The concept of making a switch to a sustainable lifestyle can be really daunting to some people. We wanted to be able to provide options to start with.”
LISTEN: Rebecca Phillips talks about the Root Green Shoppe
“We don’t even like to pressure people into buying anything here. Often, people will just come in to talk with us and we just try to inform them on more eco-friendly products they can use, and how to cut down on their waste,” said Phillips.
As the shop is unique to the area, Phillips expressed the need for more sustainability-focused businesses in the LBI region. “I think this is something that could fit all areas of retail. Maybe there could be a store that has food refill options, like pasta, rice, and spices. There could be one focused on just cleaning supplies, or just beauty products,” said Phillips.
Long Beach Island is filled with tourists each summer, who spend their days shopping, eating, and going to the beach. Though many locals are passionate about the environment and always do their part in the community, the influx of tourists causes many problems. There is overpopulation on the island, littering on the beach and in the bay, and tons of food waste created by our local restaurants who are overrun by people each weekend.
“We live on an island that’s six feet below sea level and sinking. I see the flooding get worse each time it rains. The shoreline is changing every day. We obviously are seeing the effects of climate change here, and will continue to in the future,” Phillips said, “so I think it’s really important to do something good for the environment, and to show people they can make easy switches.”
Intile also wants to encourage people to start living a more sustainable lifestyle at their own pace. “I think the first step is finding places to donate, people to swap with, and to choose a thrift store for small shopping needs like gift bags or a card or a pair of earrings for a gift,” she recommended.
WATCH: Local sustainable businesses Feelin’ Blue and Root Green Shoppe
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