The perfect excuse for a new wardrobe

Something to think about: did you know that Quebecers consume an average of 40 kilos of laundry per person per year? That's the result of the Mutrec 2020 report. And it's huge! Unpointcinq even launched the Clothing Detox challenge , which consists of not buying anything for the entire month of March...

The textile industry, as we now know, is the second most polluting in the world , after the oil industry. From the production of synthetic fiber, to overconsumption and landfill, clothing is far from being as clean as what we see in the polished images in magazines. So what do we do?

We consume differently, it's the motto of the decade: recycle or even transform, otherwise buy local and responsibly designed. Slow fashion is in fashion.

We've told you about ethical Montreal brands like Marigold and Rose Buddha . Did you know that the latter, in association with Viita, has just launched the first absorbent menstrual leggings? Made of spandex and recycled nylon from fished-out nets, they have a retention capacity of up to two tampons! On the lingerie side, let's mention Belles Bobettes, which produces zero-waste collections made from scraps and trimmings.

There is also Louve, Cokluch, Jennifer Glasgow, atelier b and so many others, without forgetting the committed company Demain Demain which offers all kinds of woven accessories and bags, especially for your little ones' lunch boxes!

Getting in shape for summer

Say goodbye to those extra winter pounds: get moving! There are now several Quebec companies on the market that make sports accessories. You've probably heard of Chlorophylle (sportswear made overseas but in an eco-responsible way), MOOV Activewear, FigClothing or Lolë for yoga, but there's also Oraki , which, like Rose Buddha, uses recycled fibers, Peppermint Cycling & Co, women's cycling clothing designed in Quebec, or KSL , stretchy and ingenious clothing. It seems like we're more motivated when we're wearing the right outfit !

As for sporting goods, Quebec is developing its expertise: there is the running shoe manufacturer YUL (formerly MATH sport), Raccoon Skis in Bromont or Xalibu Skis in Rimouski, the legendary Rocky Mountain for cycling, or Lafo Bikes, iGrip Store, Laurentian Trading and Moi & Jody from the serial entrepreneur couple Claude and Jody , the kayaks from Boréal Design , not to mention the SUP boards from Taiga Board or DoSport from the windsurfing and paddleboarding medalist Dominique Vallée .

The big spring cleaning

Spring also means spring cleaning: we wash the windows, we dust the drawers, we've been indoors long enough! No question of poisoning ourselves with cleaning products that strip! Eco-responsibility has reared its ugly head even in our homes.

The pandemic has allowed us to revisit the proper use of essential oils and multipurpose products, especially homemade ones. We can think of Les Trappeuses, now Les Mauvaises Herbes, who were surprised by the craze for their blog that taught how to make eco-responsible cosmetic and cleaning products. They ended up opening an online store, then a real one, and they even have two DIY recipe books.

And what more can we say than in our article on Planette, and its hundreds of mother nature ambassadors, who seized this wind of change on the fly ? From Attitude to Pure, including BioVert dishwasher tablets, Madame Blancheville's magic powder, dishwashing cake or stain remover from Savonnerie des Diligences, Kliin's ecological dishwashing paste, also known for its pretty reusable and compostable paper towel square, or the new Bigarade laundry service that delivers soap or fabric softener to our doors in returnable glass containers, we no longer have any excuses for not cleaning the bottom of our drawers!

Excitement in the garden

When the mercury rises a notch, gardeners are feverish, even the most novice! However, the price of plants in nurseries can be daunting. So it's time to start sowing. Flowers, plants, fruits or vegetables, organic, rustic, native or ancestral, edible or ornamental, medicinal or aromatic, there is something for everyone!

Some will know the great organic seed company of Quebec, Ecoumène, but there are also Semences du Portage of Montreal, Solana, Akène, le Jardin de Julie, la Société des plantes, les Semences nordiques and la Terre Promise… evocative names that will sow poetry in your flowerbeds well before summer!