Does your summer need a little sartorial splendor? Of corset does! We’ve put together a head-to-toe eco-ensemble that proves innovative designers are giving green a new look. (Of course, the greenest route is to shop secondhand, and those fashion finds you’ll have to dig up yourself.)
Shaun Deller Wheely cap
Cyclist — or rather, recyclist — Shaun Deller makes his hats from thrift-store garments. Pull a wheely for “military styling without the war” in wool, cotton, or linen. Cap it all off for $30.
Cellphone keypad button earrings
Call attention to your face (and your values) with these earrings made from used cell-phone keypad buttons. Turning waste products into winning creations is SECCO’s secret. Be the talk of the town for €22.50 or about $30 U.S.
iWood sunglasses
These cool shades framed with lightweight, sustainable, exotic-wood veneer are sure to grow on you. Each pair is individually handcrafted, and even comes with a reclaimed-leather carrying case. Alas, one pair will run you $350.
Water Is a Human Right bamboo scarf
More than just a fashion accessory, this bamboo scarf helps support clean-water initiatives through eco-designer Linda Loudermilk’s Water Is a Human Right product line. You can wrap it up for $65.
Grace & Cello colonial jacket
Keep warm on cool summer nights with this short-sleeved linen jacket that’s as fashionable as it is functional. The Montreal-based designers make sure their garments are made sweatshop-free from organic or other eco-friendly fibers. You can jack this jacket for a cool $139.
Katharine Hamnett graphic tee
Katharine Hamnett’s loud slogan tees were all the rage in the early ’80s (see FRANKIE SAY RELAX). But she’s reissued the vintage looks on organic cotton tees with water-based, eco-inks. This “Clean Up or Die” tee leaves nothing to the imagination, and proceeds help Hamnett green the fashion industry. Price: £45 or about $89 U.S.
Bamboo underwire bra
Using a blend of bamboo fibers and spandex, this Swiss Hanro bra provides soft support with a conscience. Bonus: the fibers also boast antibacterial properties. Price: $68.
Refinding watch
Keep time in style with a unique timepiece from Refinding. These watches are handmade from reclaimed objects ranging from sports equipment (tennis balls, footballs, basketballs) to matchbooks (sans fire, of course) to traffic cones. Seriously. It’ll cost ya $72, but truly, this “trashion” is priceless.
Ecoist bag
Made from a variety of repurposed materials ranging from candy wrappers to soda-can pull tabs to movie billboards, these bags will get you noticed. Bonus: Ecoist plants a tree for every purchase. Prices range from $20 to $200.
Reware Juice Bag
Sure, a handbag is handy, but if you’ve got gadgets galore, you’ll want a Juice Bag too. Made from the fibers of reclaimed soda bottles, these packs are strong and durable. Plus, they have a thin-film solar panel that will charge up anything from an iPod to a digital camera. Price: $225 to $275.
Littlearth soda-cap belt
To the unimaginative, old rubber tires, soda pop bottle caps, and seatbelt buckles could be just a bunch of junk. But to the creative minds at Littlearth, this trash becomes treasure in the form of a soda cap belt. And at $30 a pop (!), it won’t break the bank.
Del Forte jeans
Made in the U.S.A. from 100 percent organic cotton, these denim pieces are cut with the eco-chic woman in mind, and a portion of the proceeds go to The Sustainable Cotton Project, which helps connect farmers, manufacturers, and consumers to pioneer markets for organic cotton. When you’re done with your denim, send it back to Del Forte’s Project Rejeaneration for use in new products. Price: $150 to $200.
GreenKnickers
You’ll get a kick out of these sustainable skivvies handmade in the U.K. with organic cotton and other eco-materials. Try a pair with a tongue-in-cheek message to “Eat Organic,” or the global-warming knickers with seas that rise along with the temperature. Price: £25 or about $50 U.S.
Maggie’s Mantra socks
Your toes’ll be toasty in these knee-high socks made from organic cotton and nylon — each one with a “mantra” above the ankle. Stride in style for $9 a pair or $23 for a three pack.
Worn Again shoes
Looking for a casual way to reduce your footprint? Try these Worn Agains on for size. The sole is “regurgitated” rubber, the lining is old T-shirts and jeans, and the uppers are part e-leather, which is made from leather shavings and tannery scraps — making the shoes 99 percent recycled and 100 percent stylin’. These’ll run ya £65 or about $128 U.S.
And Some Extra Items for the Gentlemen …
C-IN2 bamboo underwear
Is that a bamboo shoot in your pocket, or are you just happy to C-IN2 me? This line of men’s briefs and tanks makes use of soft, renewable, antimicrobial bamboo fibers. And the company’s marketing makes use of … well, men. Buy the whole package for $19.50.
Ex Officio Tofutech shirts
We want to eat this product line up based on the name alone. Made from renewable soy fibers that have earned the nickname “vegetable cashmere,” the men’s travel tees are relatively reasonably priced at $34 and $48.
Levi’s ECO Jeans
The company that built its reputation on cotton has struck out into a new field: organic-cotton jeans. From bootcut to cropped, straight-leg to skinny, there’s a style out there for everyone — and organic T-shirts too. Just look for the {Capital E} and eco line — and be prepared to part with $59 to $245.
Patagonia Eco Rain Shell jacket
Patagonia has been a leader in eco-gear for years, and it keeps the good-conscience goods coming with the Eco Rain Shell, made from recycled polyester. Designed to make “staying dry and environmental top priorities,” the $190 jacket made Outside magazine’s short list of green gear for 2007.
Boll Organic
Can’t find the eco-item you want? Make it yourself! That’s what the twin brothers who founded Boll Organic did, and the result is a white organic-cotton dress shirt to dye for. Whether you choose a button-down or spread collar, the cost is $60 — and a portion of the price will go to green groups.
Did we forget to a-dress your favorite green garment? Tell us what else we should try on for size in comments below.
Sarah van Schagen and Katharine Wroth contributed to this list.
