Part of our series of articles about what we wear and how clothes make us feel.
Much like the recent farm-to-table food explosion, the new luxury crop in clothes is sustainably made, responsibly sourced, and recalibrated to make the smallest carbon footprint possible. Savvy style means recycled fabrics and fibers that pollute less and are shipped responsibly and designed for zero waste.
As NextTribe has reported earlier, the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters, using tons of water and pesticides on cotton crops. Toxic dyes and solvents and non-biodegradable synthetic fibers make the problem worse.
But don’t lose hope. Today, caring companies are working with sustainable silks, eco-friendly Tencels, and fabrics that meet the Global Organic Textile Standard. Manufacturers are also using certified organic cotton, organic natural dyes, and innovative, sustainable luxury fabrics. Many companies also contribute to an elevated social conscious: some plant a tree when you buy a tee, others fight against slavery and human trafficking worldwide with a percentage of their proceeds.
To show you how stylish sustainable fashion can be, we headed to the New Jersey farm owned by Emily Vickers, 67, one of last year’s runner ups in the Hooray for Gray Giveaway.
Feels Like Cashmere
At Bleusalt, founder Lyndie Benson uses a signature luxury fabric that feels like cashmere but is made from beech wood trees. It is “completely vegan and cruelty-free, grown from sustainable forestry plantations that multiply by themselves and require no artificial irrigation or planting.”
Bleusalt wrap in muted red, top photo, and in a selection of colors below.
Skirt worn as strapless dress under supple, robe-like duster.
“Church in the Rock” ring and “Blessed to the Bone Talisman” cuff from Collection 13.
Hunter boots: model’s own.
The Future is Female
Eileen Fisher built her business on being committed to what women want, and today that means fighting social and environmental injustices. Much of her collection now uses Tencel® viscose, which is made with responsibly harvested trees and is produced with near zero waste and low toxicity solvents, a safer option both for workers and the environment.
Morse Code print on Tencel® viscose crepe kimono jacket spells out “The Future is Female.”
Shown over Loup Charmant’s V-Neck midnight organic cotton slip with crisscross back.
“Calibration Grounds” quartz crystal pendant from Collection 13.
Hunter Military Red boots of pure plant-based tree rubber, available at Zappos.com.
Love Your Mother
Eileen Fisher’s organic, recycled cotton, which is grown without synthetic herbicides and pesticides, creates the chambray Diagonal Edo Knit Box top.
Styled with Eileen Fisher’s Ponte Skinny Jeans in sustainable Tencel®.
Artisan’s Choice upcycled bag with rattan handles from Mother Erth.
Vegan boots from Matt & Nat from ASOS.com.
“Bronze Medal Coral” pendant and “Re-Jeweled” recycled bracelet from Collection 13.
Mother Erth taps into both social and environmental responsibility. One artisanally-crafted bag uses the equivalent of up to 38 water bottles that don’t end up in the landfill or oceans. Plus, the company helps artisan mothers make a sustainable livelihood, at least nearly three times the average wage of her community.
Click here to see the special #Age Boldly Limited Edition Collection that Mother Erth made just for NextTribe.
Waste Nothing
The founders at ADAY focus on seasonless staples meant to encourage you to buy less, wear longer, recycle better.
ADAY’s Waste Nothing Jacket, in recycled wetsuit fabric, proudly made from 41 recycled plastic bottles.
Styled with ADAY’s Got the Scoop Tank in its signature technical silk with a bonded hem and neck shape, and Easy Days Pants, which are designed with a minimal-waste philosophy to design and production leftovers.
“The Right Stuff” chalcopyrite and recycled brass choker and “Goddess” bangle from Collection 13.
Joules’ “Molly” natural rubber floral printed rain wellies, available at Joulesusa.com.
Organic All the Way
At Loup Charmant, much of founder/designer Kee Edwards’ vacation-centric, beach-inspired pieces are crafted in GOTS certified organic cotton, with every item sewn and finished in New York City.
Loup Charmant’s Palla Hemstitch blouse in midnight organic cotton over black organic cotton Classic Slip.
“She Shell Sursi” gold pendant from Collection 13.
Loup Charmant’s black Classic Slip in organic cotton.
“She Shell Sursi” pendant, “Happy Hour Bar” crystal ring, and “Blessed to the Bone” cuff from Collection 13.
Couldn’t leave out this cute goat photo.
Photography by Lisa Ramsay.
Hair and makeup by Ashley DiSarro.
More in Our Fashion Series
Should You Wear Vintage Clothing When You’re…Uh…of a Certain Vintage Yourself?
What Was I Thinking?! Coming Clean About My Fashion Eff-Ups
Further Reading
The Sustainable Fashion Handbook
Alabama Studio Style More Projects, Recipes and Stories Celebrating Sustainable Fashion and Living
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