Ethical Shopping

Eco Club Approved: 19 Conscious Seattle Boutiques to Shop Small

published on November 21, 2019 by Angela Hamilton

Updated 11/10/22 As promised, here are a few of our favorite Seattle boutiques featuring conscious goods from independent designers. When I set out to write, I knew that there were going to be so, so many shops to pull from. And then it took me weeks to put it up because I didn’t know where to stop. We’re so lucky that we have an abundance of options when it comes to shopping small in Seattle. (But if you’re not in Seattle, don’t click out! I’ve linked to each boutique’s website, which are all full of goods you can purchase online.) I tried to lean towards shops I’d personally visited so I could give a proper description, but I know there are so many more for me to explore this holiday season. Please feel free to leave links to your favorite boutiques in the comments so whoever finds it next sees an even bigger resource!

fruitsuper is a design-centric Seattle boutique featuring American made goods from over 80 independent designers. And isn’t it gorgeous? Plus, Pioneer Square is one of my favorite areas + while there you can visit several of the shops below, and be sure to grab a bite at one of the cute restaurants. And a fun note: I got to interview fruitsuper’s co-founder Sally-Ann Corn for a writing project, and she is all about embracing how brick & mortar can positively influence the local community. Photo by Krista Welch. fruitsuper.com

I strolled past Sfingiday in Fremont (and I don’t know how it took me so long!), and had to back up and take a peek. Yes. I walked backwards and then into the shop. I ended up with a handmade scrunchie + Palate polish (impulse buys from a girl on a budget) and a new favorite shop! Sfingiday stocks products from over 100 artists, from original art and design to dreamy ceramics (like sooo dreamy), fashion accessories and so very much more. They even have some basics for those of you going zero waste! All in a small, cozy space. Photo by Sfingiday. sfingiday.com

Update 2022: This shop has moved to online-only as well as offering photography + other creative services.

You don’t have to consider whether the products in Anders Shop are something you’d feel good about supporting, as owner Sally Honeycutt is committed to sustainable & ethically made artisan home goods. In her Seattle boutique, you’ll find home decor, gifts, accessories, beauty and more all in the most beautiful little space. Photo by Sally Honeycutt. andersshop.com

Update 2022: This shop has since moved to Georgetown and is available for private shopping appointments.

Clementines is a fashion boutique with women’s shoes, clothing, accessories, gifts, and more. While some of the designers featured here are a little more high end, they have lots of giftable goodies. Another reason they’re worth a visit? Vintage shop Swan Dive is just down the stairs inside the shop, and it’s a well curated little space full of affordable clothing. Stop by and shop the gifts that envelope brunch spot The London Plane next door too. Photo by Clementines. clementines.com

Formerly Tides & Pines, September is a Ballard boutique and a great place to go for a lot of designers you don’t often see on Seattle shelves, like Callahan, Cleobella, and Flynn Skye. They feature a selection of local goodies too. Photo by September. septembertheshop.com

If you know indie brick & mortar, you know Moorea Seal. Anyone else followed her journey since back in the early blog days? Moorea’s downtown shop is one of the prettiest you’ll find, and even stocks eco club members like Back Beat Co. Plus, Moorea Seal gives back—7% of all proceeds go to nonprofits. Photo by Moorea Seal. mooreaseal.com

Editor’s note: Moorea Seal has since closed.

I finally made it to Pipe & Row last week after curiously walking by on my way to get tacos in Fremont too many times to count. This shop is expertly curated. They’re another great shop if you’re looking for a mix of local and your favorite brands to follow on Instagram. And they do have fun little accessories and gifts to check out. Visit them in the same trip as Sfingiday, as they are right by each other. Photo by Sorelle Hardin. pipeandrow.com

Updated 2022: This shop is online-only with an extensive zero waste selection that ships plastic free!

Eco Collective is a one-stop shop for for sustainable alternatives to everyday essentials like toothbrushes, food wraps, package-free soaps, and basically any zero-waste staple you can think of. They also host events and workshops, so it’s a great spot if you’re just beginning your journey to zero waste. Photo by Eco Collective. ecocollectiveseattle.com

Looking for more zero-waste shops in Seattle? The Naked Grocer and A Public Shop are wonderful too.

Cura is an artful and ethical boutique in Seattle’s Central District. They highlight impact driven artists and designers and offer inspiration for more intentional living. Photo by The Cura Co. thecuraco.com

If you love plant shops, you’ve probably seen some version of this photo on Instagram in recent years. Glasswing is a rare haven for both plants and fashion, located on the Pike and Pine corridor next to some great shops and restaurants. They also have mens fashion and unique gifts. After the success of their boutique, they opened Glassing Greenhouse in Capitol Hill, so if you’re in the market for greenery, you’ll want to hit up both. Photo by Glasswing. glasswingshop.com

A popular spot in Ballard, Prism is an inspiring, colorful boutique full of beloved indie brands like Lisa Says Gah and Ali Golden. They also stock a selection of beautiful jewelry and lots of quirky, cool gifts. Some items are a little pricier, but you can guarantee it isn’t something everyone else has. Photo by Prism. prismseattle.com

I love to stop in Flora Henri while in Pioneer Square (and grab a coffee or doughnut at General Porpoise). It’s a luxury lifestyle boutique that also has a lovely heirloom baby/kids section. I spotted Veja sneakers there last time which are definitely on my wishlist. Photo by Flora Henri. florahenri.com

Eco club member Nightshade is Seattle’s first and only hybrid plant shop and tattoo parlor! It’s located in lively lower Queen Anne (my old neighborhood!) near the Seattle Center and some amazing restaurants. They specialize in custom black and grey fine-line tattoos, a curated selection of common and collector house plants, and magical curiosities.

When it comes to sustainability, Owner Aleisha Tilson explains, A great portion of my plants are sourced locally from farmers and greenhouses in the state of Washington. We don’t source outside of the west coast. It is very important to us to utilize the resources closest to us to lessen our carbon footprint. Along with creating these close relationships from our purveyors, I also have started propagating and cultivating some of our plants. It is my goal for the future to have a plot of land where I can build my own greenhouse. tattoosandplants.com

Be sure to check out blumenkinder, Drygoods Design, Liten, and Velouria, all local boutiques that you can shop online too. I know there are quite a few more Seattle boutiques that deserve a spot on this list, so be sure to add your favorites in the comments. Happy shopping (small)!

Our favorite ethical fashion brands for adding COLOR to your wardrobe

published on July 25, 2019 by Angela Hamilton
updated on May 1, 2023

It’s midsummer and I am really feeling color. While I’m devoted to pastels year-round, I know when fall comes, I’ll sink into the earth tone trend that everyone’s obsessed with at the moment… But not yet. Everyone’s also soaking up the primary colors, which I could never really get behind until I bought a pretty green linen top, and now I’m sort of into it. All that to say, color is on the brain, and with that, all of the ethical fashion brands that bring us splashes of saturated hues and playful prints. It’s pretty impressive, what all of these favorites below have done, considering many sustainable fashion brands’ commitment to natural dyes. It’s amazing what can be done!

The Perennial Closet is on the pricier side because all of their clothing is naturally dyed and made to order (they even have a dye guarantee where you can send your piece back once a year to have it re-dyed!) but OMG is it beautiful.

Leroli is an Italian sustainable fashion brand with clothing made in New York City. Their patterns are too good.

eco club member Left Edit makes sure their fashion is bold and statement-making, but also versatile enough to pair well with the rest of your closet. Learn more here! Photo by Caitlyn Gaurano

Jungmaven‘s signature organic cotton + hemp tees come in a range of primary and candy colors.

Thread + Sprout offers really beautiful, completely sustainable handmade clothing. They’re made one at a time and each is like a wearable work of art!

eco club member Made Trade is an ethical shopping marketplace dedicated to making ethical fashion easier. Shop here!

The Slow Mode curates the most beautiful prints and colors, and while their pieces are on the (understandably) pricier side, they do offer free worldwide shipping on all orders. This dress is by Spanish designer Celia B.

Sotela‘s Sol Collection featured this lavender beauty. Speaking my language. See more in our jumpsuit guide! Photo by Michelle Terris Photo

OATS features cute handmade crop tops, dresses, and pants crafted in Melbourne.

Alice Alexander offers plenty of size-inclusive neutrals, but when they do color, they do it right.

If you’re located in Europe, Berlin-based fineyellow is a sustainable fashion marketplace stocked with options.

More color blocked, candy striped goodness! Seek Collective has the yummiest colorways.

Let us know what other ethical fashion brands with amazing color we should add!

5 Small Steps to Becoming an Ethical Shopper

published on July 8, 2019 by Angela Hamilton

When you hear people talk ethical fashion or conscious consumerism, it’s easy to assume they have it all figured out. But the truth is, there’s no rule that defines what it means to be an ethical shopper. Yes, there are clear boundaries—cheap clothing made of synthetic material produced in sweatshop, that’s pretty obvious—but for the most part you just have to keep learning and making decisions as learn more about how to shop ethically. If you think of ethical shopping as a whole, it’s very overwhelming, but there are plenty of small steps you can take for direction, and those will lead to big changes. Here’s 5:

5 small steps to help you shop ethically

Research your favorite brands

Start with where you are now, by looking into some of your recent purchases. What can you find out about the materials? (Once you find out what they are, get Googling!). What does each brand you already love say about sustainability or ethical manufacturing on their own websites? Can you detect any areas of possible greenwashing? Honestly, listening to what my gut tells me when I read marketing language and product descriptions is a huge help. Discerning customers can tell when something isn’t up to their moral code.

Search for ethical clothing in the major stores

Counterintuitive, I know. But when you’re used to shopping at department stores like Nordstrom & Macy’s, it’s hard to find everything you once found there elsewhere. While pretty much everyone is throwing around the word “need” these days, there will be a few times when you indeed do need a new article of clothing. There are times when you have an important work event, or times you need a new bra and don’t have $100 to spend on one you can guarantee is ethically made from sustainable materials, and you just aren’t the one who lucked out at Goodwill. These are the times that knowing the most ethical brands in mainstream stores will come in handy. It may not get you all the way there, but it IS a step, which is important. I started off by searching “made in USA” at Nordstrom and then Googling individual brands (not to say it has to be made in USA to be sweatshop-free—definitely not—but it makes tracking a little easier when in a pinch). Department stores do sell a small % of ethical brands, they’re just not actively seeking them. But you can actively seek them!

Don’t buy online just because it’s convenient

Cut down on waste and resources by leaving online purchases to items you can’t get by shopping in-person. If you can pick up the item next time you’re running errands, it doesn’t need to be purchased online. Plus, this helps you be more mindful about what you’re purchasing… We all know how easy it is to fill up a virtual shopping cart when we would be much more discerning in store.

Be a better thrift shopper

Not everyone is super comfortable shopping secondhand from the beginning. It can be a tedious task, especially if you haven’t spent a lot of time in thrift stores and consignment shops. Learn how to be more efficient and mindful when shopping secondhand with these four tips and you will be on your way to a more ethical home.

Go down the Instagram rabbit hole

If you are like me and tend to get exhausted by all the noise of Instagram, I recommend setting a timer and only spending more than a few minutes on this when you’re feeling really inspired. If you can wade through the clutter long enough to find hashtags you really enjoy and accounts that lift you up, educate, and inspire rather than make you feel overwhelmed or inadequate, you can really learn a lot there. Check out some of the hashtags we’re following on our own account, or that we leave in the comments, and use them to bounce around and find your own favorite ethical shopping resources!

Want more tips on how to shop ethically? See what to do with a closet full of non-ethical stuff, and learn how to create a sustainable fashion budget here.

10 Sustainable Wrap Jumpsuits for Frolicking in This Spring

published on May 6, 2019 by Angela Hamilton

Hope you like linen.

When jumpsuits first came back into fashion a few years ago, I was unabashedly not on board. For one, I am very short. Two, I have to pee all the time. It just seemed complicated. But I’ve since grown a little less apprehensive, especially after seeing how versatile they can be, and that most of the ones I really covet are made of sustainable fabrics like linen and Tencel. Plus, some of my favorite LA brands like BackBeatRags and Mien are known to make a mean casual jumper, so who am I to judge? I just won’t hydrate those days. (Kidding.)

It’s no surprise that when searching for sustainable wrap jumpsuits you’re bound to come across almost entirely linen options. There are a few others thrown in the mix, but honestly, I think this material lends itself absolutely perfectly to the easy breezy style of a wrap jumpsuit. And if you’re gonna have a material that wrinkles, it might as well be something as effortless-looking as linen. Right?

Margo Jumper by Robyn King Studio / $209 / Wraps around the back, 100% linen Made in LA

Kindness Jumpsuit by Mien Studios in brushed cotton twill / $188 / Made in LA, and nursing friendly

Also comes in grey, dusty rose, and mustard. I love the mustard! Moms can get the mini version for their littles, too!

Linen Jumpsuit from Blue Anemone Clothes / $150 / Mid-weight European linen

Lark Jumpsuit by Lauren Winter / $290 / Mid-weight linen in oatmeal (also comes in Tencel)

Bright Pink Linen Jumpsuit by Ms Wrinkle / $110 / OEKO-TEX certified linen that comes in eco-friendly packaging

PS: Hello, romper version!!!

Wraparound Jumpsuit by Lauren Winter / $260 / Can be made if natural denim, Tencel, hemp blend

Rhys Jumper from Phoenix General / $355 / by ace&jig / Made in India

Stella Wrap Jumpsuit by Sotela / $249 / Tencel twill or Tencel + Flax Canvas (also comes in petite + tall!)

Symbology Baby Cacti Jumpsuit in Chambray from Made Trade / $140 / Fair trade and made by women artisans with eco-friendly dyes

Aurora Linen Jumpsuit by LoveAndConfuse / Linen and made to order

Which wrap jumpsuit would you invest in? I’m feeling really into this moss green, myself.

Find more sustainable jumpsuits here!

The Only Market Bag You’ll Ever Need Is Also The Most Sustainable Option

published on April 26, 2019 by Angela Hamilton
updated on November 1, 2021

Who else is in the “bigger is better” camp when it comes to market bags? I prefer to carry all the things, at all times. Especially in the summer, when I’m quite literally going from a coffee shop work session to the gym to the park and topping it all off, a long walk home. If you’re not that extreme, I get it. But oversized market totes are pretty much on every summer wishlist, right? Just imagine the flowers, the beach blanket, the book, the rosé, all in one place, adorably discreet.

At least that’s what came to my mind when I spotted Abacá’s oversized two-toned market bag from sustainable modern goods shop MAAARI. Obviously, if you can thrift yourself a good bag, by all means. But if you choose new, this one is truly sustainable in all ways: the makers, the material, the social impact, the quality, and the versatility.

MAAARI was a happy Insta-discovery which led me to connect with one of their co-founders, Ivy, who shared with me that she and two of her friends (all based in different US cities) created their online marketplace as a space for shoppers to discover and fall in love with sustainable goods that elevate and preserve traditional Filipino craft. Each of the artists they stock design and craft modern goods inspired by indigenous art, and you can learn all about the makers behind the goods right on site.

As its name implies, this market bag is handwoven using abaca, an incredibly strong natural fiber that retains its flexibility, even while resisting salt water damage (hello beach day!). Purchases of this bag in particular contribute to a sustainable livelihood for weavers in Southern Luzon, Philippines.

More about the brand, from MAAARI: Abaca tells age-old stories with a modern aesthetic. Based in Manila, Estela de Jesus and her two daughters, Beatriz and Ina, design quality handmade items and curate thoughtfully found objects. With a belief that every place has a story to tell and every culture has something to offer, Abaca aims to support culturally rich communities and preserve traditional craft. A portion of all their proceeds goes to Right Start Foundation, a non-profit for underprivileged Filipino children. The traditional methods they seek follow a long process—natural materials are hand-picked, washed, sun-dried, naturally dyed, and woven by hand. Due to the labor and scarcity of workers, each piece has limited availability.

Shop the tote.

PS: Zero wasters, MAAARI now has a zero waste section on their website. Take a look!

First photo by Geric Cruz via Abacá. All others by MAAARI.

A Sustainable Fashion Brand That Embraces Bold Color & Design

published on April 25, 2019 by Angela Hamilton

We’re excited to list new sustainable fashion brand, Left Edit, as part of our eco club directory. Their bold prints, unique colorways, and structured silhouettes are a direct answer to the question, can sustainable fashion be expressive and aspirational?, offering the more creative conscious consumer a fashion-forward option. To help you get to know them, and why we chose to spread the word of their conscious fashion in our curated guide, we asked Left Edit founders Kestrel (who you might know from sustainable fashion podcast Conscious Chatter) and Holly what makes their brand so special. And, furthering their mission to make “responsibly bold” clothing that’s just as versatile as it is unique, they’ve started a series called Flip The Script, which you’ll see the latest of in the photos by Lucy Eagleson sprinkled throughout this post. (More here.)

When conceptualizing Left Edit, did particular Conscious Chatter conversations inspire you? Did any words from designers come to mind when faced with the challenge of starting a brand?Absolutely! As Holly and I were building out Left Edit, conversations I would have on the podcast would become resources for us, and a bit of a sounding board as well. At times, when we were grappling with what to do and how to make the “right decision” when there are so many directions to go, insight from my guests helped us feel more confident in starting with the best product we could make at the time, and being comfortable with knowing we could iterate along the way.

It’s easy to see how one might think sustainable style equates with minimal, no frills kinds of wardrobes, filled with colorless basics. What led you to pursue fashion less from a minimalist perspective, more from the idea that personal style is an expression, or extension of one’s self?
Both Holly and I come from a stylist perspective. We continued to feel as though we were being put into a box when we shopped our values.

While we definitely appreciate a simplistic approach to our lifestyles, the truth was we wanted more for our wardrobes. On a daily basis, our outfits spark conversation and connection—and that’s how we like it.

We want to encourage people like us to have fun and play with their looks. Providing others with a piece they can relate to and reflects their personality was our ultimate goal. If we can get women feeling more uniquely themselves, then we have completed our mission.

And how did you balance that with the need to keep each piece “essential”—that would maintain quality and its appeal season after season, beyond trends?
We tried to keep in mind our customer throughout the entire journey. She is bold and on the go with little time to plan outfits but wants to step out of the house looking put together. We created garments that had very structured silhouettes that could span many occasions. In addition, we created a color palette that would stand out and be unique to the sustainability space but also cross over seasons and trends. We created original prints that were more an artistic expression than a trendy print. It’s been a learning experience to understand what our customers resonate with and we are excited to iterate on these learnings as we grow.

What did you learn from the process of launching your brand via Kickstarter? It seems like such a high-pressure, yet ultimately empowering, experience.
We didn’t entire realize it until we were in it, but Kickstarter is definitely a high pressure experience. While we most likely wouldn’t do a Kickstarter in the future, the experience allowed us to basically learn from our shoppers in a quick 30-day trial. It allowed us to understand which styles were resonating the most, and we took the process as a massive learning experience.

If you could give one piece of advice or encouragement to someone exploring sustainable fashion for the first time, what would it be?
Ask questions, and don’t compromise your style. There are always ways to find sustainable alternatives to achieve your personal aesthetic.

Whether it’s thrifting, supporting smaller brands or reusing what you have, being sustainable shouldn’t ever mean sacrificing the look that makes you feel the most like you.

Your favorite sustainable fashion brands.
Kestrel: Whimsy + Row, Back Beat Rags, Christy Dawn
Holly: Kotn, Nisolo, Tradlands

Photos by Lucy Eagleson