25 Eco-Friendly Brands to Shop Right Now
The planet is deteriorating, and many people are heeding the call to step up and make big changes to help protect and heal it
Photo: Londre Bodywear
The planet is deteriorating, and many people are heeding the call to step up and make big changes to help protect and heal it. This includes several fashion brands that understand it is possible have fashion and style without harming our environment. When you buy fab things for your wardrobe from companies like these, you also get to be part of that positive change for the planet.
It can seem daunting to research which fashion brands are truly eco-friendly, sustainable, ethical, and/or made with recycled materials. We don’t want you to have the good intent to discover these brands, and then get bogged down in the rabbit hole that is Google, so we decided to do the work for you. Here are 25 fashion brands that are helping the earth instead of harming it.
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Insecta
Insecta describes themselves as a “brand of vegan and ecological shoes and accessories, made in Brazil.” They had the genius idea of taking vintage clothing, with cool prints, and using the fabric to make unique shoes. In five years as a business, Insecta has used “almost one ton of recycled fabric.”
Capoeira Mule, Available at shopinsecta.com, $95.20
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LONDRĖ Bodywear
Born on a beach in Sayulita, Mexico, LONDRĖ Bodywear aimed to create suits that would pack well, were lightweight, and would survive sand, salt, water, chlorine, and sweat. The result is a stylish collection of one-pieces and bikinis, made ethically from sustainable fabrics.
The Asymmetrical Top – Scuba Barbie Pink, Available at londrebodywear.com, $79
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SOKO
When you want striking jewelry that is also strikingly ethical, then SOKO is the brand for you. It is a” women-led ethical jewelry brand and manufacturing platform,” with cool pieces you’ll want to add to your jewelry box.
Zuri Orb Threader Earrings, Available at shopsoko.com, $78
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dame
The classic, sporty sweatshirt continues to be reinvented, ensuring there is a version for everyone. We love this oversized, chic sweatshirt from dame. It is sustainable, made from 100% deadstock (never worn before) cotton fleece, and comes in navy, black, and grey.
The Oversized Sweatshirt in Navy, Available at shopatdame.com, $95
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Amour Vert
Imagine that, for every T-shirt you bought, a tree was planted. Rad, right? Brand Amour Vert does just that, and takes their dedication to the environment several steps further than that. According to the company, their “sustainable practices address all aspects of our business operations and the full lifecycle of a garment— the fibers and production processes used, how workers are treated, how it gets to the consumer and finally, whether it can be recycled or is forced into landfill.”
Itana Dream Rib Tee (White), Available at amourvert.com, $58
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The Root Collective
The Root Collective partners with artisans in Guatemala to create ethically made shoes and bags. This has created jobs with fair wages. When you buy from their site now, there is an option to donate money for food for Guatemalan workers from artisan groups who haven’t been able to work because of COVID-19.
Lee Boot in Chestnut, Available at therootcollective.com, $248
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Pact
Pact is all about making clothes–the right way. They use GOTS certified organic cotton, are fair trade USA factory certified, and guarantee that their garments are both ethical and sustainable.
Drawstring Jumpsuit, Available at com wearpact.com, $48
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Reformation
Reformation delivers the latest in fashionable clothing, with with an eye on how this clothing can make the planet better. This means using fabrics like recycled cashmere and cotton, organic cotton, deadstock (never used) and vintage material, TENCEL™ Lyocell and more.
Pinto Top, Available at thereformation.com, $148
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Re/Done
Recycling fabrics can give a tired garment a fresh new life, or take something great and make it even better. At Re/Done, they revive jeans. “We take the vintage denim apart at the seams, repurposing it as the fabric of our new jeans.” The result is modern denim that you totally want to buy.
Comfort Stretch High Rise Ankle Crop, Available at shopredone.com, $265
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ASOS Marketplace Vintage
You may already shop ASOS for their on-trend, affordable fashion. But have you checked out their vintage? In this section of the online store, you can nab deadstock and repurposed gear from a variety of vendors, which helps keep clothing out of landfills, while simultaneously giving you something to wear that no one else will have.
Vintage Red Checked Heavy Cotton Flannel Shirt, from Alabama’s Vintage, Available at asos.com, $21.36
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Everlane
Everlane’s way is: “exceptional quality; ethical factories; [and] radical transparency.” They want you to know you are buying quality apparel, accessories, and shoes that are made with heart, not driven by profit.
The Luxe Cotton Side-Slit Tee Dress, Available at everlane.com, $50
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ModCloth Swimwear
ModCloth took all the things you love about vintage clothing and brought it into 2020. You will see fabrics with stretch and other qualities not previously used in decades past, as well as a larger size range. Their swimwear is so adorable and vintage-y, which a variety of fun, vibrant colors and unique prints. Added bonus? Some pieces are made from recycled and/or sustainable fabric.
The Gilda One-Piece Swimsuit, Available at modcloth.com, $99
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Musier Paris
Musier makes classic, chic clothes that won’t ever go out of style. On top of that, they:
“take a more responsible approach, we work with local manufacturers and most of our models are made in our Parisian workshops., using natural fibres (silk, cotton, viscose) from the best European weavers. We aim for 100% French production, and each season we add new suppliers closer to us in order to limit our carbon footprint.”
Top Samantha, Available at musier-paris.com, $97.78
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Alternative Apparel
Alternative Apparel is where you head to when you want elevated classics that are both comfortable and stylish. The added bonus is that the brand cares about how their clothes are made. The majority of the factories they work with are WRAP-certified, they make sure conditions for workers are “fair, clean, and safe,” and use eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton and plastic bottles made into recycled polyester, and low-impact dyes.
Champ Printed Eco-Fleece Sweatshirt, Available at alternativeapparel.com, $39.20
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Patagonia Worn Wear
Patagonia gear is meant to help you trek through life protected, cozy, and prepared for whatever you encounter. It’s meant to last a while, but the brand wants to make sure you really get the most out of every garment they make. That is why they have Worn Wear. In that section of the website, you can purchase secondhand Patagonia clothing, packs, and gear; shop their ReCrafted line of repurposed Patagonia clothes, and send in your pre-loved gear for store credit.
Patagonia Worn Wear ReCrafted Overnight Bag – Large Blue Denim, Available at patagonia.com, $197
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Cuyana
Cuyana’s philosophy is “fewer, better,” which means that the brand, co-founded by Karla Gallardo, makes quality, classic clothing that can live in your closet for seasons to come. In fact, according to the brand “each piece is made with integrity and kindness from the highest-quality materials, and created by skilled craftsmen throughout Europe, South America, China, and the United States.” When you are ready to say adios to your Cuyana purchase(s), you can send them to thredUP through their joint program, which gives you credit towards a new Cuyana buy, with 5% of that purchase benefiting H.E.A.R.T (Helping Ease Abuse Related Trauma).
Mini Saddle Bag, Available at cuyana.com, $225
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Allbirds
Allbirds is a shoe and sock brand whose goal is “to have no carbon footprint from the start.” The materials that they use to achieve this include wool, castor bean oil, recycled cardboard, and recycled bottles. While you’re checking out Allbird’s cute offerings, be sure to check out the brand’s Buy a Pair, Give a Pair program for healthcare workers.
Women’s Wool Runners – Natural Grey (Light Grey Sole), Available at allbirds.com, $95
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Aurate
Aurate is a jewelry brand all about “durable materials,” “transparent pricing,” “sustainable production,” and “tangible giving.” Part of that giving back is that, for a limited time for Earth Day, Aurate will plant 10 trees with TreeSisters for every order placed.
Love Me Knot Ring, Available at auratenewyork.com, $90
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Nisolo
Nisolo delivers on fab shoes, bags, belts, jewelry, , while also delivering on fair wages to workers, ethical production in Trujillo, Peru, a collaboration with Soles4Souls to give old shoes new life, and offsetting their carbon emissions.
Lima Slip On Bone, Available at nisolo.com, $98
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Teysha
If you want truly unique shoes, then you have to check out Teysha’s offerings. Their cool products are made with fabric woven by Mayan artists, textiles that are often repurposed from these artists’ garments. You choose “a combination and design” for your shoes, that are then manufactured by machine and by hand in Guatemala (Teysha also works with groups in Mexico and Panama).
Custom Peace Boots, Available at teysha.world, $285 and up
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Catbird
Catbird makes stylish jewelry that you’ll want to invest in, but even more so when you learn about their practices. The brand uses recycled diamonds, conflict-free stones, and materials that are ethically sourced. Win win!
Diamond Pinprick Ring, Available at catbirdnyc.com, $238
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Camp Cove Swim
When you want to find a fun, vintage-y swimsuit, a great brand to try is Australian brand Camp Cove Swim. Founded by Katherine Hampton in 2013, all of Camp Cove’s prints are exclusive, designed in-house. Added bonus? The brand manufactures their swimwear ethically and uses recycled fabric for their linings.
Molly Full Piece – Terrazzo, Available at campcoveswim.com, $31.44
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Brother Vellies
Brother Vellies is a brand that cares about sustainability, “creating and sustaining artisanal jobs,” and preserving cultures worldwide. Materials they use include hand-carved wood, floral dyed feathers, vegetable-tanned leather, recycled tires (used to make soles), and more. This all creates shoes and handbags that not only have style, but have soul.
Nude Pump in Grace, Available at brothervellies.com, $595
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Rothy’s
Rothy’s believes “beautiful, sustainable style is the way of the future.” And they’re doing their part by making shoes and bags from over 45 million plastic water bottles, and marine plastic. In addition to this, Rothy’s has stepped up by working to source 100,000 masks for essential workers fighting coronavirus, and sharing how to donate money to Direct Relief.
The Loafer Burgundy Grid, Available at rothys.com, $165
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BAYTHE Swim
“Strongly influenced” by the laid back yet cool Bondi Beach summer vibes and all that it encompasses,” BAYTHE Swim makes pretty swimwear, in flattering cuts meant to “complement a range of body types.” An added bonus is that the brand focused on the environment for their latest collection, creating garments from “100% regenerated Italian fabric made from recycled fishing nets,” and biodegradable, re-usable zip pocket packaging.
Cocoa High Waisted Bikini Bottom, Available at baytheswim.com, $49
