The Gemara says that the me’il atoned for lashon hara. Hakadosh Baruch Hu says “Let clothing that has a sound atone for the aveirah that was committed with a sound.”

But why would the sound of the bells at the hem of the me’il atone for the sounds of lashon hara? Wouldn’t it be better to atone for lashon hara with silence?

It is because silence is a virtue, but an even greater virtue is to speak properly – words that help and encourage others.

~ R’ Elimelech Biderman