sustainable

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!

Sustainable Home Decor for Every Style: Ethically Sourced Bohemian Decor

published on June 24, 2019 by Angela Hamilton
updated on May 1, 2023

Did you catch our first post in this series of sustainable home decor for every style? First, we covered the artisan home decor trend–you know, the one with playful colors, lots of natural textures, and some minimalist accents. Next up, another favorite of mine is bohemian decor, and I know it can come off as super trendy and not necessarily something that comes off as classic, which could turn any ethical shopper off from buying into. However, if your style leans bohemian season after season, there are definitely ways to get that laidback, free-spirited vibe with pieces that will last longer and turn more heads than your average department store finds.

Ivory tower reversible rug / Jakarta rattan dining chair / Jars of Dust teapot / Mustard woven bowl / Wildwood Candle Co Maple / Gardenia alpaca throw / Wicker fan / Wicker mirror / Ula oil burner / The essential companion tote from Ten Thousand Villages / Pie dish / Samaya meditation cushion

Besides the ninety thousand other arguments for purchase sustainable home decor when outfitting your abode, I’d say that one major reason is that you are bound to curate a look that’s entirely yours. There will always be trend, but finding handcrafted and slow-made goods to personalize your look means committing to finding and investing in objects that truly represent your style. Plus, the more you shop slow-made, the more you start to realize just how much every. single. thing. you find mass produced is influenced by (or straight up stealing from) an original artist, designer, or craftsperson. It’s jarring!

Back to bohemian home decor. I find my personal style being more of a mix of the artisan home, eclectic thrifted goods (so many quirky finds I try to incorporate in an otherwise fairly reserved space!), and a few boho pieces for added flair. I’d love to incorporate a little more of this look, if I could!

Stay tuned for the next in this series, where we talk modern goods for the sustainable home.

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.