Green Fashion

In honor of this year's Earth Day, we've decided to turn the spotlight on some of our favorite lines with eco-friendly practices and fashionable sensibilities. We've been sourcing green-minded brands for ages now—both for WhoWhatWear.com's content, but also because we're personally interested in supporting the environment—so it was totally thrilling to see all the amazing choices currently available. Rather than the utilitarian packaging and sad burlap-like sacks we were forced to chose from in years past, we uncovered loads of lovely lines that are sustainable and stylish. We found fabulous new brands like Alexx Jae & Milk, a collaborative effort between designer Alexx Levin and the LA boutique, which solely uses deadstock fabrics (vintage is the ultimate) to create pieces like the Cut-Out Front Dress ($306) and the Babydoll Long Sleeve Dress ($125). Also noteworthy: the gorgeous designs from Bodkin, the line that won Ecco Domani's first Sustainable Design Award last year. With a focus on earth-friendly materials, designer Eviana Hartman creates gorgeous pieces, like the Nimbus Tunic ($288) and the outfit shown in today's art (Bodkin's Cirris Top ($320, 212.343.0692), which is made from biodegradable Tencel, and the Monsoon Skirt ($299), which is 100% organic cotton). All in all we're pleased as can be by our discoveries and hope you adore them too, as each item offers a small way to honor our planet in a visually pleasing way. Some pieces are more eco-savvy than others, but all are delightful. 1. People Tree Fedora Hat ($55) You might have heard of this eco-conscious brand already—Emma Watson recently created a collection with the People Tree team, which is currently available online—but if you haven't, check it out immediately. The company follows the World Fair Trade Organization's principles and works with 50 Fair Trade groups in 15 countries to ensure you get beautiful, sustainable products like this straw hat. The trilby is hand-made in Ecuador and the perfect accessory for spring and summer. 2. 3.1 Phillip Lim Draped Tee ($150) Phillip Lim is definitely a master at designing the kinds of easy-chic pieces we love to buy. We think this draped t-shirt is a perfect example of his nuanced style, plus it's made from a combo of modal and organic cotton, which means it's a contentious choice too. Aside from the material, the top's soft terracotta color and gorgeous cowl neckline offer a refined take on the t-shirt. 3. Arcona Cranberry Gommage Exfoliant ($42) We've been obsessed with this incredible line since the moment we first tried it and have a hunch you'll fall for it too. Arcona essentially applies the idea behind the raw food diet—namely that when you cook ingredients, the heat breaks down their nutrients, which makes them ineffective—to skin care with fabulous results. The company creates products in small batches using a cold processing method, ensuring your skin gets enzymes, antioxidants, and amino acids in their most helpful form. Additionally, the entire range is free of harsh ingredients, meaning no petrochemicals, binders, fillers, chemical stablizers, dyes, or perfumes. Topping our list of Arcona's products is a skin-changing star, the Cranberry Gommage Exfoliant. It's the most wonderful pore minimizer, yet it's gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. 4. Coclico Veronique Sandals ($320) Coclico shoes are designed in New York and manufactured in Mallorca, Spain using environmentally friendly processes—meaning they use locally sourced leather that is dyed with natural tanning agents like bark, fruit, and seeds. Aside from the brand's savvy production, we just think these ankle-strap sandals are totally darling! Even better: in honor of this year's Earth Day, you can get a one-time $25 credit towards a new pair of Coclicos. All you have to do is clean out your closet and bring your old shoes to the Coclico shop in New York—they'll then donate them to Soles4Souls! 5. 7 For All Mankind Josefina Organic Slouchy Skinny Jeans ($198) All denim aficionados know and adore 7 For All Mankind for their consistently flattering and always on-trend offerings, so it probably comes as no surprise that we'd include the brand in our Earth Day roundup. Who could blame us, especially when the 7FAM team created such a darling pair of jeans that are made from 98% organic cotton? (The other 2%, for those of you who like math, is spandex.) These slim boyfriend jeans have a minimally distressed look and the same excellent fit we've come to expect from these denim gurus. Buy them now—guilt free—and wear them for seasons to come! 6. Ija Designs Cuttlefish Ring ($246) Though jewelry can be a thorny issue when discussing eco-friendly wares, we're delighted to share a line that is just as thoughtful as it is beautiful: Ija Designs. Their sterling silver Cuttlefish Ring is a total statement piece and it also happens to be hand-crafted from recycled metals. If that isn't enough for you, we'd also like to point out that Ija Designs certainly does more than just talk the green talk: in addition to using recycled metals, their studio is run on 100% renewable energy and they recycle all of their scrap metal. 7. A Beautiful Life Natural Nail Lacquer ($12) in Blues While many nail polish formulas are free of carcinogens like DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde, we're always on the hunt for brands that uphold these chem-free standards and perform well. Happily the team who created The All Nighter Styling Powder ($18) just launched a line of pretty polishes that both last and look gorgeous. Right now we like the surf-inspired color Blues, shown here, but be sure to check out all twelve shades. 8. Pureology Antifade Complex Essential Repair Shampoo ($30) Green girls have long loved Pureology's thoughtful products for a number of reasons. Since the brand launched nearly a decade ago, their formulas have been 100% vegan and totally sulfate free, making them go-to shampoos and conditioners for the environmentally aware set. In keeping with the company's ethos, Pureology is now ramping up their already conscientious behavior and plan to increase the amount of post consumer recycled materials in their bottles and packaging (all plastic packaging is already recyclable), using soy-based ink on all printed materials, and are working on 100% biodegradable formulas. Aside from these efforts, we can attest to the fact that their products are gentle, yet effective, and highly recommendable! 9. Courtney Simmelkjaer Vintage Whistle Necklace ($163) Full disclosure: as much as we love vintage (a lot), sometimes we can't be bothered to sift through the mounds of so-so stuff to find the treasure worth buying. Fortunately, with Courtney Simmelkjar's line of jewelry, we get to enjoy the delight of finding unique pieces without the hassle of the hunt. Take this vintage whistle necklace, for example: it's recycled, therefore green, and really interesting, making it the perfect piece to pick up! 10. People Tree Maui Mini Skirt ($46) We were so excited by the People Tree collection, we couldn't help but include another item in today's story. In addition to the straw hat, we also loved this hand-woven cotton skirt. The bright stripes are a great festive choice for summer barbecues and the fit is fabulous too; the skirt has a stretchy waistband, so you can wear it as a high-waisted mini or in a more low-slung style.