Santa Cruz clothes shoppers who like to buy local and buy green are finding great value in the area’s consignment shops, each with its own style and specialty.

While most folks may choose to shop second-hand to save money, there’s no denying that buying re-sale clothing is a boon to the environment. Even clothes made from natural fibers take an environmental toll with all the dyeing, bleaching, and pesticide use. Approximately 1,500 gallons of water are required just to produce the cotton for one pair of jeans. Cotton production is responsible for 25 percent of all insecticides applied worldwide